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Dockers to hit the books for Crows clash

Dockers tip Crows to hit the books

Fremantle speedster Danyle Pearce says Adelaide’s injuries just mean they have more homework going into Saturday night’s clash with the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

The sixth-placed Crows will be without key midfielders Rory Sloane (cheekbone), Richard Douglas (foot), Brad Crouch (foot) for the crunch clash.

The Dockers go into the match undefeated after eight rounds and with their intimidating first-choice midfield available.

“They're a great centre bounce clearance team,” Pearce said. “They kick goals from the centre square.

“As a midfield group we've got to make sure we're switched on and prepare for the battle this week.

“They've had ups and downs but I think every team has shown if you're not 100 per cent on, on the day, that anyone can be beaten.

“We're preparing as we have every other week and looking ahead to the challenge.”

Pearce, one of four indigenous Dockers likely to feature in this weekend's AFL indigenous round, said Adelaide's absent midfielders made them more unpredictable.

“It just gives us more homework to do,” he said. “We've got to make sure we're thorough with every aspect of the game and make sure we're looking at everything. They've still got a lot of guns in there in (Scott) Thompson and (Patrick) Dangerfield and the All Australian (nominee) ruckman in there, (Sam) Jacobs.

“We've got to make sure we're switched on and just like every week give 100 per cent.”

Tagger Ryan Crowley, who is serving a provisional suspension for taking a banned drug last season, has been the man asked to stop Dangerfield in recent seasons but will not play this weekend.

“We’ve just got to make sure the next man steps up and fulfills his role,” Pearce said. “It’s becoming a bit of a cliche but that’s what we expect of each other.

“We have got 17 other players out there that everyone leans on each other and we expect the next person to help out as well.

“If we send someone to him, if we don’t, we expect the person next to him, standing beside him to hopefully limit his impact.”

Pearce, who is enjoying arguably his best season since crossing to Fremantle from Port Adelaide for the 2013 season, has not missed a game since arriving at the Dockers.

“A little bit of luck in there,” he said. “Not getting injured, and not having to miss games with that.

“And just trying to play consistently. “As Ross (Lyon) and the coaching group have shown, if you don't perform, you get dropped.

“So you've got to make sure you go out each week and do your job, and don't give them a reason to give your spot away.”