The Crows have named a near full-strength squad for Friday night’s NAB Cup clash with Collingwood at AAMI Stadium, recalling eight senior players.
Skipper Nathan van Berlo, reigning best and fairest winner Scott Thompson, Michael Doughty, Brent Reilly, Kurt Tippett, Sam Jacobs, David Mackay and Matt Wright, who were all rested last weekend, will line-up against the Magpies.
Out of the 29-man squad are Brad Crouch, Richard Tambling, Brad Symes, Lewis Johnston, Aidan Riley, Jarryd Lyons, Tim McIntyre and Richard Douglas, who has been left out as a precaution after pulling up sore from Adelaide’s 51-point win over the Brisbane Lions in Alice Springs.
A non-travelling emergency last weekend, Brodie Martin remains in the squad.
Coach Brenton Sanderson said he was pleased to welcome back a host of key players, as the Club continues its preparation for the start of the season proper against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on March 31.
“Effectively, we’ve got no injuries now because Ben Rutten (foot) has resumed training,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“Richard Douglas was a bit sore from the Alice Springs game, but realistically could’ve played this week.
“We’ve got a full squad to choose from, which is great for the coach and the match committee, but at the same time it’s disappointing that a couple of guys, who have been outstanding in the first couple of weeks, miss out.
“It would’ve been a good game for them to get some AFL experience in, playing Collingwood on a Friday night at AAMI Stadium, but we’ve got to start thinking about what our team looks like in round one of the season proper.
“The guys in the 29 are probably the players we’re looking closely at for round one of the regular season.”
Teams are able to use up to 29 players in round three of the pre-season competition.
Sanderson said Adelaide would wait until Friday to decide how many players would take the field across the two halves against the Pies.
“With a squad of 29, we’ve got the opportunity to play a lot of guys for a half, but whether that’s the right build-up for round one I’m not sure,” he said.
“We have to start getting some match fitness, which is very different from pre-season training fitness, into guys and that’s the debate the coaches will have - how to structure our side to best prepare for round one.”
Adelaide and West Coast are the only two undefeated teams heading into round three of the NAB Cup.
A win over Collingwood would guarantee the Crows their first pre-season Grand Final berth since 2008, but Sanderson said the players and coaches hadn’t looked any further ahead than Friday night.
“Externally, there’s been a lot of talk about the Grand Final but internally I can guarantee you it’s all been about this week’s game against Collingwood,” he said.
"Collingwood are tough no matter what and our players know that.
“It’s pretty special for our supporters and players if we can knock off the Pies on our home deck.
“It would be great to expose our players to a match that most closely simulates the intensity of a regular season game - and the NAB Cup Grand Final is as close as you’re going to get - but we can’t look any further ahead than this week.”
The squad of 29 is:
3. Brent Reilly
4. Kurt Tippett
5. Scott Thompson
6. Luke Thompson
7. Nathan van Berlo
9. Rory Sloane
10. Matthew Jaensch
11. Michael Doughty
12. Daniel Talia
13. Taylor Walker
14. David Mackay
17. Bernie Vince
18. Graham Johncock
20. Josh Jenkins
21. Chris Knights
22. Andy Otten
23. Jared Petrenko
24. Sam Jacobs
27. Tom Lynch
29. Sam Kerridge
32. Patrick Dangerfield
33. Brodie Smith
34. Sam Shaw
35. Shaun McKernan
36. Brodie Martin
37. Ian Callinan
40. Jason Porplyzia
45. Rick Henderson
47. Matt Wright
Click here to purchase tickets to Friday night's clash with Collingwood at AAMI Stadium and redeem the AFL's free kids ticket offer.
