Adelaide has made one change for Balfours Showdown XXXIV, recalling veteran Graham Johncock.
Johncock responded to being left out of the team last week by kicking seven goals for SANFL club, Port Magpies. Johncock replaces Ian Callinan in the forward line
Coach Brenton Sanderson said Johncock had demanded selection.
“Johncock did what good players do and went back and played well in the SANFL – he dominated,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“Nutta (Callinan) acknowledged after the game that he felt a bit rusty. He kicked four goals against Brisbane at the Gabba last year. He kicked 40 goals for the season and was our best small forward, so the temptation was always there to put him in straight away.
“He moved pretty well, but he couldn’t get his hands on the footy. He just needs a week to get a bit of touch back.”
Callinan will play for Central District at Elizabeth on Saturday night.
Defender Brodie Smith, who is on the comeback from a fractured collarbone, won’t play in the SANFL reserves (Woodville-West Torrens has a bye). Instead, he will ramp up his contact work at training this weekend.
“We don’t want to risk Brodie,” Sanderson said.
“He’s been doing some controlled contact work this week and he’ll almost certainly be available next week.”
Sunday’s twilight game, which starts at 4:10pm (local time) is a Port home game, but support bays are available for Crows members and supporters. Tickets are available online , by phoning 136 100, or at a Ticketmaster outlet.
The Shed will be open to all members post-match (normal admission prices apply to non-members). Car parks open at 1:15pm and the stadium gates at 2:00pm.
The team is:
B: Luke Brown, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Matthew Jaensch, Daniel Talia, Brent Reilly
C: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, David Mackay
HF: Jared Petrenko, Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane
F: Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Jason Porplyzia
RUCKS: Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Matthew Wright
INTERCHANGE FROM: Brad Crouch, Ricky Henderson, Graham Johncock, Bernie Vince
EMERG: Ian Callinan, Sam Kerridge, Tom Lynch
IN: Graham Johncock
OUT: Ian Callinan (omitted)
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