Each top eight team’s most important player in the run to the finals

Adelaide Crows: Daniel Talia

Even if you do not think the Adelaide Crows are fully-fledged flag contenders, it’s hard to deny that they’re certainly in the race, so long as their forward guns continue firing. There is no problem up the front of the park, but those down back will need to lift in order to challenge the better teams in the league come finals time. Of all top eight teams, Adelaide’s defence is the worst, conceding 1,230 points in the opening 15 rounds, and their best key defender, Daniel Talia, will be looked at to lift his game and play some career best footy in order for the Crows to make a legitimate dent in September.