Crows captain Taylor Walker has been withdrawn from Adelaide’s Round One team to take on Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval.
Walker, 26, experienced hamstring tightness late in the Club’s last JLT Community Series match against Brisbane.
Crows General Manager High Performance Matt Hass said the Club didn’t want to risk the key forward.
“Tex was really close to playing,” Hass said.
“He completed all his training during the week, however, the Club has chosen to take a no-risk approach and will now aim for him to be fit for Round Two.”
Riley Knight has replaced Walker in the selected 22.
Vice-captain Rory Sloane will lead the team in Walker’s absence. Sloane is a confirmed starter after recovering from a fractured eye socket sustained during a pre-season training session last month.
Andy Otten is set to play his first AFL game for premiership points in more than two-and-a-half years.
Otten, 27, will run out onto Adelaide Oval 960 days after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee at the Gabba in Round 20, 2014.
Skilful forward Troy Menzel and utility Curtly Hampton will both make their Crows debut against the Giants.
The pair arrived at West Lakes via separate trades at the end of 2015.
Competitive defender Jake Kelly has also earned a starting spot. The 22-year-old last played at AFL level in Round 13, 2015.
The AFL has enacted its heat policy and Sunday’s clash will now start at 2:45pm (local) to accommodate longer quarter breaks.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs will play his 150th AFL match against the Giants, while Charlie Cameron will line up for game 50. See more stats that matter ahead of Adelaide’s clash with the premiership favourites.
LATE CHANGE
OUT: Taylor Walker
IN: Riley Knight
