Star midfielders Richard Douglas and Brad Crouch will return from long-term foot injuries in Sunday’s clash with Sturt at Unley.
Douglas has been sidelined since last month’s Showdown with a plantar fascia strain while Crouch has recovered from a fractured left foot sustained in Adelaide’s final NAB Challenge match in March.
2010 Club Champion Douglas will play his first SANFL game since Round Nine of 2012 when he was aligned with Glenelg. It will also be his debut appearance for Adelaide’s State League team.
Crouch, the 2013 Rising Star runner-up, played two SANFL games for Adelaide last season, including his first-ever game in Crows colours alongside younger brother Matt, as part of his comeback from a broken leg.
Brodie Martin and Jarryd Lyons further strengthen the squad, with both men returning to State League level this weekend.
Defender Luke Carey adds height to Adelaide’s backline, while former South Adelaide junior Matthew Wilson has been named on an extended interchange after serving a two-game suspension.
Strong midfielder Charlie Molyneux will miss just his third game of the SANFL season with a foot injury, while Dylan Ribbons, Dale Armstrong and Nick Mott have been omitted.
Rory Sloane and Brodie Smith will also return to action this weekend and have been named in Adelaide’s AFL team to take on Carlton at the MCG.
Kyle Hartigan join the duo in the senior side following an impressive job on former AFL-listed forward Bryce Retzlaff in last round’s clash with Central District. Lyons, Martin and ruckman Reilly O’Brien are this week’s AFL emergencies.
Crows ticketed members receive free entry to the game, which kicks off at 2.10pm at Peter Motley Oval in Unley.
Central District and Port Adelaide kick off the SANFL’s Round Nine fixture on Saturday at Elizabeth Oval before League leaders Norwood host West Adelaide at The Parade on Sunday afternoon.
Two games are scheduled for the Queen’s Birthday public holiday on Monday.
Glenelg and North Adelaide clash at The Bay, with the match to be streamed live on the SANFL’s official website. South Adelaide needs a victory at home over the second-place Eagles to consolidate the Panthers’ place in the top five.
Adelaide’s SANFL team is…
B: Luke Carey (59), Sam Shaw (34), Harrison Wigg (35)
HB: Brodie Martin (36), James Podsiadly (1), Mitch McGovern (41)
C: Riley Knight (39), Jarryd Lyons (31), Rory Atkins (21)
HF: Anthony Wilson (42), Keenan Ramsey (46), Matthew Spencely (50)
F: Ian Callinan (37), Jack Osborn (30), Matthew Johncock (60)
FOLL: Reilly O’Brien (43), Richard Douglas (26), Brad Crouch (2)
INT: Sam Pfeiffer (61), Brock Castree (54), Matthew Wilson (49), Josh Wittwer (48)
IN: Douglas, Crouch, Lyons, Martin, Carey, M. Wilson
OUT: Hartigan (AFL), Molyneux (foot), Ribbons, Armstrong, Mott (omitted)
