Adelaide captain Taylor Walker will return from injury against Richmond on Thursday night.

Walker, 27, missed the Club’s Round One loss to Essendon as he recovered from a plantar fascia strain.

The two-time Crows leading goalkicker has trained strongly over the past fortnight and will take his place in the team for the Grand Final rematch.

Assistant coach Matthew Clarke said Walker’s inclusion was significant for many reasons.

“Tex’s had an interrupted pre-season, but he’s worked his backside off to be available and he’ll make a big difference to our team,” Clarke said.

“It’s great to have him back in terms of our structure, but the leadership he brings is also important.”

Promising onballer Wayne Milera Junior is also set to play his first game of the season.

Milera, 20, has built fitness at SANFL level over the last two weeks after overcoming knee tendonitis, which kept him out of the JLT Community Series.

“Wayne’s had a really solid block of training,” Clarke said.

“He possibly could’ve played (AFL) last week, but we were keen for him to have a really good hit-out (at SANFL level) and he did that.

“He’s got class … and he’s got flexibility, so I’ll imagine he’ll play some wing, some half-forward and probably some half-back as well.

“It’s a big in for us because obviously with Richard Douglas out that’s the flexibility we’ve lost and Wayne covers that in a lot of regards.”

Curtly Hampton (adductor) and Douglas, who had his one-game ban for rough conduct upheld by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night, are out of the side that lost to the Bombers.

Forward Tom Lynch, who missed the clash with Essendon because of a side strain, will also be sidelined.

“Tom had a little side strain and that has settled,” Clarke said.

“But he’s also been battling a bit of illness so we just need him to get some really solid training in and then all things being equal, he’ll hopefully be available next weekend.”

Young midfielders Jordan Gallucci and Matthew Signorello, defender Kyle Cheney and ruckman Reilly O’Brien are the emergencies.

If not required on Thursday night, the quartet will line up in Adelaide’s SANFL season-opener against Port Magpies at Alberton on Saturday.

The anticipated clash between the Crows and Tigers starts at 7:20pm (local) on Thursday with gates open from 5pm. Full match day information

Members and supporters are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays at the Club’s first home game of the season. Less than 200 single seats remain available for the match. Purchase tickets

Clarke said the team was excited to play in front of a vocal Crows crowd.

“Leading into the long weekend, hopefully we get a huge crowd there and it’ll be a great atmosphere and Adelaide Oval will be rocking again,” he said.

Fans should also be aware that Adelaide Oval food and beverage outlets now accept payment by card only. More information is available here

The team is:
IN – Taylor Walker, Wayne Milera Junior
OUT – Richard Douglas (suspended), Curtly Hampton (adductor)