\u2018Butts a stand out\u2019: Adelaide Crows\u2019 Dylan Clark<\/p>\n
The Adelaide Crows are looking to get revenge after a final\u2019s defeat to Collingwood last September, as the two teams come head-to-head at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
After a stellar season that saw the Crows finish on top of the ladder, they ultimately stumbled when it mattered, becoming the first minor premiers to exit finals in straight sets since 1983.<\/p>\n
But Crows Supporters Group vice-president Dylan Clark believes the team will bounce back against Collingwood this weekend after watching some \u201cpretty impressive\u201d performances in the pre-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got pretty good vibes about this week, to be honest. I\u2019ve been pretty good in the past years of predicting games, especially last year, but I think Crows will win by 23 points.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reckons defender Jordon Butts is set for a \u201cbreak out season\u201d and he lists another feisty defender, Mark Keane, as his favourite Crows player \u2013 Keane sidelined after an off-season leg fracture that required surgery.<\/p>\n
Clark is a long-time supporter group member after joining more than 15 years ago and not missing a game since.<\/p>\n
He will travel with fellow supporters this weekend to the MCG to cheer the team on, and said there were clear factors that set their cheer squad apart from other clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirstly, we follow the rules. Secondly, we have a very good following that does travel to every game both home anyway, and we\u2019re a very diverse group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite being a diehard Crows supporter, Clark has a surprise confession, saying he has a soft spot for another club\u2019s premier players \u2014 Melbourne captain and ruckman Max Gawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has accepted that he is my favourite player,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
Clark said he has an \u201cunorthodox\u201d game day ritual that provides a good luck charm to the Crows.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go to X Convenience and get two bottles of 600 ml Powerade and two white chocolate and raspberry muffins.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally, it\u2019s the red Powerade, but I do find that that makes your mouth look a bit bloody, so I try to get the orange one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Top four\u2019: big calls from Port Power\u2019s Robert Mastrolacasa<\/p>\n
Port Adelaide will also travel into enemy territory, where they are set to face-off against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Port Adelaide Cheer Squad president Robert Mastrolacasa has been a member since the early 1990s, before the team joined the AFL in 1997.<\/p>\n
Despite a disappointing season that saw Port finish 13th on the ladder last year, Mastrolacasa believes Port will return to form this season and \u201cwin comfortably\u201d against North Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a new coach and a reasonably easy start with the draw we\u2019ve got, I\u2019m hoping at least the top eight and hopefully even the top four.\u201d<\/p>\n
He has also tipped champion midfielder Zak Butters to take home the Brownlow Medal at season\u2019s end \u201cif he doesn\u2019t get suspended\u201d, and expects Todd Marshall \u201cto do special things\u201d in his new move to defence.<\/p>\n
Mastrolacasa is \u201choping to lead by example\u201d in his first game as cheer squad president after taking over from long-time president Ian Wilson this year.<\/p>\n
He will also travel with fellow cheer squad members to support the team, flying out to Melbourne on Saturday before returning on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all basically one big family and we\u2019re all there for the same reason to hopefully win a flag at the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike his Crows counterpart, Mastrolacasa said he doesn\u2019t have any pre-game rituals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just go and support the boys and yell my heart out and try to lift up the boys when they when they are not doing so well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n