Sam Jacobs expects Adelaide’s Round One selection picture to become clearer after Friday night’s NAB Challenge clash with Gold Coast.
The Crows travel to Metricon Stadium to confront the Suns in the Club’s final pre-season hit-out before Adelaide’s season-opener against North Melbourne later in the month.
New coach Don Pyke has introduced several fresh faces throughout the pre-season, and all have had their moments to shine. Trade period recruits Paul Seedsman, Dean Gore and Troy Menzel have showed glimpses in their new colours, while untried youngsters Wayne Milera, Harry Dear, Mitch McGovern and Reilly O’Brien have all pressed their claims for senior debuts.
Harrison Wigg and Curtly Hampton were also among Adelaide’s best in the Crows’ opening SANFL trial and could come into consideration for Friday night’s clash.
Speaking at Chemist Warehouse at Harbour Town, Jacobs expects a ‘settled’ side to take on the Suns this week, but he said there are still a handful of players vying for Round One spots.
“I’m sure a lot of clubs say it, but I’m glad I’m not a coach!” Jacobs said.
“We’ve got a lot of blokes who have had really strong pre-seasons and a lot of blokes who have been seeking that opportunity in the last few years who probably haven’t got the look-in that they wanted.
“You could probably throw a blanket over five or six guys who are going to press their claim. Hopefully they can get one more chance against Gold Coast to try and grab that Round One spot.”
Regardless of who gets the nod to take on the Suns, Jacobs said Adelaide would be aiming to win on Friday night and build momentum leading into the season proper.
“To steal Pykey’s line from a few weeks ago, ‘if there’s a scoreboard, we like to win’,” Jacobs said.
“I think you’ll see a Crows outfit that’s really close to our Round One team and guys will probably play the roles that Pykey wants them to play for the start of the year.
“It’s really important that we go up there with one eye on Round One, but to make sure we put a really good strong showing in.”
Midfielder Brad Crouch has yet to taste NAB Challenge action this year. Adelaide has taken a conservative approach with the talented onballer over the summer given his unlucky history of leg and foot injuries.
Jacobs hoped the 22-year-old would line up alongside him in the centre square at Metricon Stadium.
“He’s been training really well lately,” Jacobs said.
“He had a minor hiccup a few weeks ago but he’s had a good break from that. He’s been doing a bit more work on the track to make sure his fitness is up to the level. Hopefully we can see him put his name up against the Gold Coast.
“He’s obviously a really strong contested-ball player, he brings a lot of aggression around the pack and he’s a natural ball-winner.
“But if Crouchy did get the nod, we’d just expect him to come in and play his role like we would any other player. That’s the biggest thing for him this week, if he can get a look in, is to come in and just play his role for the team.
“Personnel is irrelevant to Pykey. Whoever is playing the role the best, he’ll pick.”
Rotations will be cut to the premiership season format of 90 interchanges for the final round of the NAB Challenge, while squad sizes will be reduced to 24 players – 18 on the field and six on the bench.
Heading into his 10th season in the AFL system, Jacobs doesn’t expect the drop in rotations to affect his role significantly.
“It will be different with the cap, but I don’t think it will affect me or the key forwards too much,” he said.
“I think you’ll probably find they’ll just play another extra runner.
“I’ve had another really strong pre-season this year. I feel that really sets me up for the year to play those high minutes.”
