Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane will miss Thursday night’s Qualifying Final at Adelaide Oval.
Sloane, 27, had surgery to remove his appendix last Tuesday and was unable to prove his fitness ahead of the blockbuster clash with Greater Western Sydney.
Crows Head of Football Brett Burton said Sloane hadn’t done enough to be able to justify selection.
“Naturally players want to play so we gave Sloaney every opportunity to get up including training this morning,” Burton said.
“Ultimately it’s a medical decision and the advice was that it was too short a turnaround between the surgery and tomorrow night’s game.”
It will be the first match the star onballer has missed since Round 23 last season.
Sloane expects to return for Adelaide’s second final.
“Like every player, I would love to be out there because it’s the best time of year,” Sloane said.
“I’ll be getting around the 22 blokes out there and, as everyone has been saying all year, we are a team that thrives on everyone chipping in and getting the job done.”
The Club will reveal its final 22 to tackle the Giants at 5.55pm via its Live Team Selection Show on Facebook and afc.com.au.
Adelaide’s Qualifying Final with Greater Western Sydney kicks off at 7.20pm on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.