The Crows have finalised their team to play Port Adelaide in the NAB Challenge game at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
James Podsiadly, Matthew Jaensch and Brodie Martin, who all lined up against the Port Magpies in Adelaide's SANFL trial at Alberton, drop out of the AFL squad of 27. Rookies Keenan Ramsey and Jake Kelly will start as substitutes. Jaensch, who missed last week's clash with Geelong, had his workload managed in Adelaide's SANFL win over the Magpies.
Defender Ricky Henderson returns after also sitting out the game against the Cats because of illness. Charlie Cameron and Reilly O’Brien, who also lined up in the SANFL trial on Saturday, were the other omissions.
Coach Phil Walsh said there were still plenty of spots in the Round One team up for grabs this weekend.
“I need to see some things from a number of players to tick the box that they’ll be there in Round One,” Walsh said on Thursday.
“There have probably only been two standout performances in the first two NAB Challenge games, Eddie Betts against North Melbourne and Patrick Dangerfield against Geelong.
"The rest of the players, for mine, need to play well this week. I have a simple message to all our players, ‘Play your role, think team and good things will happen’.”
The match starts at 3:40pm (local time). Members receive free entry to the game upon presentation of their 2015 membership card.
If you plan to attend Saturday’s clash and haven’t yet received your new membership card, please contact Member Services on (08) 8440 6690 or in visit them person for assistance. Get more match day information, including details on car parking at the ground.
It will be the second of two games involving the Crows and Port on Saturday, with Adelaide’s State League team tackling the Port Magpies at Alberton at 11:30am on Saturday.
Trade Period recruit Luke Lowden won’t play at any level this weekend as he continues to build back to full fitness after an Achilles injury. Walsh said he expected the ruckman/forward to be available for the Club’s next SANFL trial match.
“Luke’s been managed. He came to the Club with an Achilles injury,” Walsh said.
“We’ve taken the approach that we’ll condition him and build him up this weekend (rather than play him) and, hopefully, he’ll play in the next State League trial.
“He won’t be available for Round One in the AFL.”
However, Walsh hasn’t put a line through Scott Thompson’s name for the season-opener against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, April 5. Get tickets for the match.
“Thommo is a chance (of playing in Round One) because he’s got great experience and has done a big chunk of the pre-season,” Walsh said.
“He won’t play a (pre-season) game going into Round One, so it would be a risk. Am I prepared to take that risk? I’ll probably tell you in two weeks’ time.”
Walsh said Saturday’s NAB Challenge game would be Adelaide’s final dress rehearsal for Round One.
“There’s lots of things (I’d) still (like) to see,” he said.
“The main thing I wasn’t happy with last week was our skill level, so I’d like to see an improvement in that. We got off to a poor start as well … they’re probably the two things (I’d like to see improve on Saturday).
“I want to play well, obviously, on Saturday but Round One is still the ultimate test.”
IN: Ricky Henderson, Keenan Ramsey
OUT: Matthew Jaensch (managed), James Podsiadly, Brodie Martin, Charlie Cameron, Reilly O’Brien (all omitted)
Team of 24
2. Brad Crouch
3. Josh Jenkins
7. Nathan van Berlo
8. Mitch Grigg
9. Rory Sloane
11. Matthew Wright
12. Daniel Talia
13. Taylor Walker
14. David Mackay
15. Kyle Hartigan
16. Luke Brown
18. Eddie Betts
24. Sam Jacobs
25. Kyle Cheney
26. Richard Douglas
27. Tom Lynch
28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen
29. Rory Laird
31. Jarryd Lyons
32. Patrick Dangerfield
33. Brodie Smith
45. Ricky Henderson
46. Keenan Ramsey
47. Jake Kelly
