The Crows will be bolstered by the return of Rory Sloane and Brodie Smith for Saturday’s clash with Carlton at the MCG.
Sloane has missed three weeks because of a fractured cheekbone, while Smith has been sidelined for a fortnight after sustaining his second concussion of the season against St Kilda in Round Seven.
Defender Kyle Hartigan, who was one of Adelaide’s best players in the SANFL last weekend, also returns to the team in place of the injured Jake Lever. Lever rolled his ankle in the last quarter of the Club’s loss to Fremantle. The 19-year-old was confident of being fit to take on the Blues, but his ankle hasn’t responded as well as hoped. Lever is only expected to miss one match.
Jarryd Lyons and Brodie Martin are the players to make way for Sloane and Smith. Lyons, Martin and untried ruckman Reilly O’Brien are the emergencies. Wingman Ricky Henderson, who last played against the Saints, will be sidelined for another week with a back complaint.
Read the AFL.com.au preview of Adelaide’s game against Carlton
Best-and-fairest winner Richard Douglas and Rising Star runner-up Brad Crouch will make their long-awaited returns from injury against Sturt in the SANFL on Sunday.
It will be Crouch’s first game of the season after fracturing his foot in Adelaide’s final NAB Challenge game in February. Douglas, who has also overcome a foot injury, hasn’t played since the Round Five Showdown. Ticketed Crows members receive free entry to the Club’s AFL games.
The Crows will have a light run at AAMI Stadium from approximately 9:15am on Friday (June 5) before flying to Melbourne. The training session, which will last about 45 minutes, is open to public.
For fans heading to the MCG on Saturday, the Club will have a post-match function in the Yarra Park Room in the Olympic Stand. Entry is via Gate 3 on Level 3. The match, which starts at 1:40pm (local time), will be Adelaide’s one and only game at the MCG in the 2015 home and away season.
See all the Stats That Matter ahead of Saturday’s clash.
It’s the Club’s last game before its bye in Round 11. Adelaide’s SANFL team also has next weekend off as part of the League’s split round.
The AFL team is:
IN: Rory Sloane, Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan
OUT: Jake Lever (ankle), Jarryd Lyons (omitted), Brodie Martin (omitted)