Andy Otten will make his long-awaited comeback from a knee reconstruction in Saturday’s SANFL clash with Central District.
Midfielder Sam Kerridge will also return from injury in the game at Elizabeth, which will mark the Club’s first match since the tragic passing of Senior Coach Phil Walsh.
Otten, 26, hasn’t played since rupturing the ACL in his right knee during Adelaide’s clash with Brisbane in Round 20, 2014. The versatile tall has been meticulous in his rehabilitation and will contest his first match in 335 days against the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
Kerridge has been sidelined since Round Eight with an ankle injury. The 22-year-old had a delayed start to his 2015 campaign due to a pre-season hamstring injury, and has been restricted to just five games at any level this year.
Promoted rookie Jake Kelly strengthens Adelaide’s backline and will line up for his second SANFL appearance of the season. Kelly notched 10 consecutive senior games since earning his AFL debut in Round Three.
Tyson Lindsay, who was scheduled to make his SANFL debut in last week’s postponed match against South Adelaide, and Broadview wingman Steven Wellington are also in the mix to make their maiden League appearances.
Shutdown defender Sam Pfeiffer and midfielder Ben O’Donohue from the Club’s development roster complete Adelaide’s extended interchange.
Ruckman Jack Osborn still has a one-game suspension to serve, while injured youngster Brad Crouch is at least six weeks away from a return to action.
Riley Knight is poised to make his AFL debut against West Coast. Defenders Ricky Henderson and Jake Lever have also been recalled to the senior team.
Brodie Martin, Jarryd Lyons and Rory Atkins are the Club’s emergencies for the clash at Domain Stadium.
Saturday’s match at Elizabeth Oval begins at 2.10pm, with free entry for all Crows ticketed members. An audio stream of the match is also available via the SANFL website and smartphone app.
The players will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence prior to the match in the honour of fallen coach Phil Walsh.
Free secure car parking is available to all supporters in Fremont Elizabeth High School and in Club’s Paddock adjacent to the Bowling Club. A free bouncy castle is also available for young children to enjoy on game day.
In the remaining matches of the SANFL’s Indigenous Round, Glenelg will be aiming for three consecutive victories when it confronts West Adelaide at Richmond on Saturday afternoon.
League leaders Woodville-West Torrens travel to Peter Motley Oval to take on Sturt, while Norwood and Port Adelaide will compete in a Grand Final rematch from last season at The Parade.
South Adelaide host North Adelaide at Noarlunga in the weekend’s only Sunday afternoon fixture to complete Round 13.
Adelaide’s SANFL Team is:
B: Andy Otten (22), Sam Shaw (34), Sam Siggins (20)
HB: Jake Kelly (47), Luke Carey (59), Harrison Wigg (35)
C: Brodie Martin (36), Jarryd Lyons (31), Rory Atkins (21)
HF: Anthony Wilson (42), Keenan Ramsey (46), Matthew Spencely (50)
F: Luke Lowden (40), James Podsiadly (1), Brock Castree (54)
FOL: Reilly O’Brien (43), Sam Kerridge (17), Ian Callinan (37)
INT (from): Tyson Lindsay (49), Matthew Johncock (60), Sam Pfeiffer (61), Ben O’Donohue (57), Steven Wellington (56)
IN: Otten, Kerridge, Kelly, Lindsay, Pfeiffer, O’Donohue, Wellington
OUT: B. Crouch (foot), Osborn (susp), Knight, Henderson, Lever (AFL)
*These changes are from Adelaide’s last match against Port Adelaide in Round 11. Only a squad was released for the scheduled clash with South Adelaide.
