The Crouch brothers, Brad and Matt, are set to play together for the first time at senior level.
Brad’s return from a two-month rehabilitation for a fractured leg starts on Saturday when he represents Adelaide’s SANFL team in its clash with Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval.
Younger brother Matt will also be in the midfield for the testing contest against the equal-top Eagles, from 1.40pm.
The Crouch brothers – born 15 months apart - played some school football together at Ballarat’s St Patrick’s College and spent one season in juniors with Ballarat Swans.
Brad was recruited by the Crows at the end of 2011 and Matt was drafted by the Crows last November.
The injury to 2013 AFL Rising Star runner-up Brad in the round two Showdown this year opened the door for Matt to make his AFL debut in round three.
Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said it was a great opportunity for Crows fans to watch the pair.
“Brad and Matt are different players in many ways but I’m sure they will enjoy being out there together in the same coloured guernsey,” he said.
Sam Shaw also returns to the side after he was a late withdrawal from Adelaide’s win over South Adelaide and key defender Kyle Hartigan is another AFL-experienced addition.
But Jared Petrenko has been sidelined by a stress fracture in his lower right leg and Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Luke Thompson and Shaun McKernan may be required at AFL level.
Younie said he wanted to see continued improvement from the side.
“We played some really good team football against South before the bye and we are going to need more of that against the Eagles, who I rate highly,” he said.
Younie’s line-up will be confirmed on Saturday when Adelaide finalises its squad to take to Perth for Sunday’s AFL clash with Fremantle.
Round nine of the SANFL season is Indigenous Round and kicks off on Friday night when West Adelaide hosts Norwood at Richmond.
Sturt is at home against South Adelaide on Saturday afternoon and then on Sunday, Port Adelaide clashes with Central District at Alberton.
Glenelg plays North Adelaide at Glenelg on Monday afternoon.
Premiership table: Port 14 premiership points, Eagles 14, Sturt 12, South 10, West 6, Norwood 6, North 6, Adelaide 4, Central 4, Glenelg 4.
The Crows team is:
B: Sam Shaw, Kyle Hartigan, Sam Siggins
HB: Brent Reilly, Jake Kelly, Riley Knight
C: Rory Atkins, Brad Crouch, Mitch Grigg
HF: Jason Porplyzia, Tyson Davis-Neale, Gene Robinson
F: Alex Spina, Jack Osborn, James Battersby
R: Angus Graham, Matt Crouch, Ian Callinan
Int (from): Addison Burns, Michael O’Malley, Will Paynter, Sam Pfeiffer
In to 22: B. Crouch, Hartigan, Shaw, Burns, Pfeiffer
Out of 21: Petrenko (leg), McKernan, Ellis-Yolmen, L. Thompson (AFL)
The game will be telecast by Channel 7.
Crows ticketed members receive free entry to all of Adelaide’s SANFL matches in 2014. Click here to browse the Club’s membership options and join the 19th Man today.
