Are Adelaide this year's Hawthorn?

This is a huge weekend for the Adelaide Crows.

It's a home game against Carlton, who haven't exactly gotten off to a flying start. Under normal circumstances, tipping this game would be elementary. But not after the start the Crows have had.

0-3. Losses against bottom four sides from '09. 15th on the ladder, just one spot ahead of Richmond. A horror injury list that's showing no signs of improving.

The club many thought of as top four contenders are struggling big time.

It is reminiscent of Hawthorn last year, who everyone had penciled in for a top two spot. At the Hawks, the off-season didn't run smoothly, the injury list built up and never fully recovered, and early losses put the pressure on.

That describes what's been happening at the Crows.

Which is why this week is so important. They need to start winning to avoid a similar fate.

A win this weekend would offer some hope. It mightn't mean reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated, but it would be a step forwards instead of backwards.

And with the direction they've been headed up until now, they'd take that.

The tip: Carlton by 20.

Other tips:

West Coast by 18
Sydney by 56
Collingwood by 12
Western Bulldogs by 9
Melbourne by 30
Geelong by 6
St Kilda by 24