Victory vital for Adelaide, says Betts

STAR forward Eddie Betts has labelled tomorrow’s clash against Fremantle in Perth as one of Adelaide’s most important of the season.

Sitting outside the top eight with a 6-5 record and with seven first-choice players missing because of injury, Betts said the Crows are facing their moment of truth and must get a positive result against the struggling Dockers at a venue they have never played at.

“Considering where we sit on the ladder [ninth], this is one of our most important games of the year,’’ Betts said.

“It’s a new stadium and we haven’t played there before, so it presents different challenges. We have trust in our game plan and we’re excited. We need to go over there and get the win.’’

Betts said Adelaide, which has rushed captain Taylor Walker back into the side from injury, will not use a succession of injuries as an excuse for its poor form, which includes losing three of its past four matches.

“We’re excited for the young kids coming through,’’ he told FIVEaa. “We keep saying once we get injuries we need someone to come in and play their role, guys like Myles [Poholke], Jordan Gallucci and Hughy Greenwood.’’

Adelaide will fly to Perth this morning and train at the new Perth Stadium for the first time in the afternoon.

Heavy rain is forecast for Perth tomorrow, with up to 30mm of rain predicted.

Betts said the wet weather would not worry the Crows, who smashed the Dockers by 100 points in atrocious conditions at Adelaide Oval in Round 10 last year.