Bernie Vince says he expects Adelaide to recall a host of stars for the Club’s second-round NAB Cup match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Vince, who had surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder blade in November, was one of several inclusions for the trial clash with Fremantle. Vince, skipper Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker all played a half in Saturday’s trial after sitting out the opening round of NAB Cup matches. Seasoned performers Graham Johncock, Richard Douglas and David Mackay, who all played at least one game last week, were rested.

Experienced players Scott Thompson, Ben Rutten, Brent Reilly, Jason Porplyzia and Sam Jacobs are yet to feature in the Crows’ pre-season campaign, but Vince said that could change next week.

“We injected a few players into the team this week. I know there are still a few guys to come back ... and I think this will be the week they all come back into the team,” Vince said after the trial win over Fremantle on Saturday.

“We’ll start to get a round one-type side together this week.”

Adelaide fielded a squad of 30 players in the thrilling five-point win over the Dockers. In rounds two and three of the NAB Cup, clubs are able to play up to 24 players (18 starting, three interchange and three substitutes).

A number of young Crows, including Luke Brown, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird and Mitch Grigg, and inexperienced players Josh Jenkins, Shaun McKernan, Lewis Johnston and Matthew Jaensch impressed against Freo. Vince said it would be difficult for the match committee to cut half-a-dozen players ahead of the clash with the Cats.

“Some guys, who have been playing pretty well, are going to miss out. It’s going to be tough for those players but it’s healthy competition,” he said.

“I thought Josh Jenkins was pretty special with that run through the middle in the last quarter. He has got himself really fit and works hard up and down the ground. Shaun McKernan was awesome in the second half.

“Mitch Grigg has been good all pre-season and Rory Laird has put his hand up. Richard Tambling and Luke Brown are another two, who have put their hands up for that Michael Doughty-type role. Sam Shaw has been out with a knee injury (but is almost ready to return) and Andy Otten was in and out last year.

“There are a lot of guys, who are right on the cusp and are a big opportunity to play round one. It’s going to be really tight for spots even next week.”

The Crows conceded six straight goals in the first quarter on Saturday, as Fremantle streaked to a 35-point lead at half time. The home team rallied after half time, adjusting to Freo’s pressure on the ball carrier and tidying up on the skill errors which resulted in turnovers in the first half.

Adelaide introduced six fresh players, including Vince, in the third term while the Dockers, who lost Stephen Hill and Michael Walters to injury, persisted with the same 25. Vince accepted the extra reinforcements had probably helped his team run over the top of the visitors in the hot weather.

“It was pretty warm out there. It’s tough to call though,” he said.

“I only played a half, but the guys who played the full game were feeling alright. Freo didn’t change players on the bench and that was their choice. They could have if they wanted to and our coaches decided to go that way, with a bigger squad.”

“I thought our intensity in that half was pretty good. (At half-time) Sando spoke to us about a few little things that we needed to change up. I thought we got the ball on the boot a bit more after half time. We were probably over possessing the ball in the first half, so we tried to be a bit more direct.

“We worked up the ground and worked hard back. Sando was pretty happy with our second half.”