Adelaide has made four changes for Saturday’s Showdown clash with Port Adelaide.
Brodie Smith headlines the Crows’ inclusions, with the All-Australian defender set to play his first AFL game in almost 11 months after coming off a knee reconstruction.
Rising star contender Tom Doedee returns after spending a week on the sidelines with concussion.
“Tom trained really strongly, cleared all the concussion protocols and his form this year has been really good,” assistant coach Matthew Clarke told AFC Media on Thursday.
“(He’s) an automatic replacement for Kyle Cheney, who unfortunately is out through suspension.”
Tom Doedee returns to the senior side after missing a week due to concussion
Big-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen is set to play his first senior game since Round 12 and will add strength around the contest, an area in which the Crows were well beaten by Melbourne last week.
Ellis-Yolmen had 41 disposals at 75.6 per cent efficiency in his most recent SANFL game, including 23 contested possessions, 12 clearances and eight inside 50s.
“Cam clearly deserves his position in the team,” Clarke said.
“His SANFL form was really strong, he’s played some really good footy for us all year so to get him back in will be great for us around the contest.”
Line-breaking wingman David Mackay also returns to the senior side after overcoming a rib injury which has kept him in the grandstands since the Round 15 win over West Coast.
“D-Mac gives us a little bit of flexibility,” Clarke said.
“He’s obviously played wing, he’s played half back throughout the course of the year. He’s missed a couple of weeks with the injury but his training form’s really solid and he’s always in great condition so we’re confident he’ll be able to step straight in and perform a role.”
The Crows will be without Paul Seedsman (hamstring), Kyle Cheney (suspension) and Jake Kelly (omitted) from last week’s side.
Utility Mitch McGovern has also been ruled out after being unable to fully recover from an AC joint injury against the Demons.
“(Mitch) didn’t come up, the shoulder’s not quite right,” Clarke said.
“We don’t think it will be a long-term thing but just for this week he wasn’t able to complete quite enough training and so therefore he misses out.”
Veteran Richard Douglas was nearing a return following an ankle injury, but a minor setback during the week with illness keeps him out of the Crows side for at least another week.
“Dougy was a little bit similar to Mitch. They both trained but probably just didn’t get through the amount of work we needed him to,” Clarke said.
“Obviously did have the illness earlier in the week so probably just a little bit underdone coming back off a bit of an injury break.”
The clash between the Crows and Power starts at 4.05pm (ACST) with gates open from 1.30pm.
If any extra motivation was needed for the Crows, they must defeat their cross-town rivals to keep their slim 2018 finals chances alive.
“Massive game for us this week. The Showdown is clearly one we always take pride in getting over the line,” Clarke said.
“As well as that, our season is on the line. We can’t afford to lose any more games, so we need to win this one.”
All tickets are currently sold out, however, limited tickets will be released from seat returns Friday 11am.
The Round 20 team is…
IN – D. Mackay, C. Ellis-Yolmen, B. Smith, T. Doedee
OUT – J. Kelly (omitted), P. Seedsman (hamstring), K. Cheney (suspension), M. McGovern (shoulder)
