Ricky Henderson will play his first AFL game of the season as one of two changes to the Adelaide team for Saturday night’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
Henderson and midfielder Brad Crouch have been recalled, replacing the injured Rory Laird (toe) and Jarryd Lyons, who has been squeezed out of the side.
Lyons, promising first-year player Wayne Milera Junior and veteran Nathan van Berlo are the emergencies.
Read the AFL Media preview of the clash
Henderson’s most recent AFL match was against Hawthorn in last year’s Semi-Final. The running defender, who underwent back surgery in December, had an interrupted pre-season but has played all five SANFL games this year, averaging 24 disposals, eight marks and four inside 50ms.
Crouch, 22, returns following a strong performance in the SANFL, where he collected 36 possessions, 10 clearances and 10 tackles. The 2013 Rising Star runner-up played the opening two games of the AFL season before being sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Saturday night’s match, which starts at 7:40pm (local time), will be Adelaide’s third at Etihad Stadium this season. The game will see the best attacking team in the competition go head to head with the best defensive team.
See more stats that matter ahead of the blockbuster
The Crows will hold an open training session at Football Park from about 9:15am on Friday (May 6) before flying out to Melbourne. The light session will run up to 45 minutes.
From 5:00pm (local time) on Saturday, the Crows Zone marquee and CROWmania will be located outside Gate 5 at Etihad Stadium. Victorian General Admission members can also collect their free merchandise item.
After the match, fans are invited to a function in the Victory Room on Level 1 at Etihad Stadium.
Adelaide’s SANFL team takes on North Adelaide at Prospect Oval from 1:10pm on Sunday, May 8. Ticketed Crows members receive free entry to the Club’s SANFL games upon presentation of their 2016 membership card. See the SANFL team.
The team is:
IN: Brad Crouch, Ricky Henderson
OUT: Rory Laird (toe), Jarryd Lyons (omitted)
