Coach Brenton Sanderson is hopeful inexperienced trio Sam Kerridge, Rory Laird and Tom Lynch will add spark to the Crows side in Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium.
On Thursday, Sanderson lamented the inconsistency of Adelaide’s performances, saying the team needed more contributors across the full four quarters.
The Crows match committee reacted by making three changes for the match against the Dogs. Sam Kerridge, Tom Lynch and untried defender Rory Laird have been named at the expense of injured skipper Nathan van Berlo, and Bernie Vince and Graham Johncock (both omitted).
Sanderson backed Kerridge, Lynch and Laird to deliver sustained efforts despite their limited experience at AFL level.
“We’re not getting consistency of performance, and we know what we’re going to get with Lynch, Laird and Kerridge,” Sanderson said.
“They’re all fantastic athletes with great work ethics. They’ll also have a fair bit of determination. Laird is playing his first game. Kerridge is playing his second and Tommy Lynch has only played 12 (AFL) games.
“They’re all looking to establish themselves as AFL players. Because we’ve had guys in really good form for the first year and a bit (of their time at the Club), they’ve had to wait for their opportunity a little bit longer than they probably would’ve thought.
“Now, they’ve got their chance and they have to make sure they grasp it.”
Sanderson indicated Laird was likely to line-up across half-back, while Kerridge would rotate between the midfield and half-forward in a similar role to Vince.
Lynch is more of a ‘wildcard’. The 191cm, 88kg, utility played as a forward in six games for Adelaide last season, but has been used in defence and more recently in the midfield by SANFL club, Glenelg.
Lynch, himself, still doesn’t know where his best position is at AFL level.
Sanderson said he would shuffle the side to accommodate the inclusions this week.
“We’ve picked players in form. They’re not all exactly like-for-likes, so it’s an opportunity for us to mix things up a little bit and try guys in new positions,” he said.
“We’ll keep experimenting with the structure until we get one that works for us.”
One of South Australia’s better players at the Under-18 National Championships in 2011, Laird was overlooked at the AFL National Draft. The 178cm, 76kg, defender/midfielder trained with Essendon – the Club he supported growing up – and Adelaide in the lead up to the Rookie Draft but was snapped up by the Crows with pick No.5 in the rookie meet.
He will be the 193rd player to represent the Adelaide Football Club, and only the fourth to wear No.46 in an official game – Chris Schmidt, Daryl Wintle and Paul Patterson are the other former owners of the guernsey.
Laird is one of three players with the first name ‘Rory’ at West Lakes, along with Rory Sloane and draftee Rory Atkins – an AFL record.
Sunday will be the first time in AFL/VFL history two ‘Rorys’ have lined up for the same team.
In less than 12 months’ time the Crows will play home games at Adelaide Oval. Visit 19thman.com.au/adelaideoval to find out how to secure your seat at the world-class venue.
