ADELAIDE assistant coach Ben Hart is confident the club’s injury cloud is starting to lift, with four key players back in the mix for round one.
 
Midfielder Nathan van Berlo (back), utility James Sellar (hand) and forwards Brett Burton (knee) and Chris Knights (foot) are all making good progress in their rehabilitation from injury, and could be welcome inclusions for the club’s clash with Fremantle on March 28.
 
Van Berlo, 23, has made remarkable progress since having minor surgery last month to alleviate the pain caused by a stress fracture in his back.
 
The reliable onballer was expected to line-up in the SANFL reserves this weekend, but will instead make his comeback with a half for South Adelaide’s league team.
 
Hart said a solid showing would catapult van Berlo back into contention for round one.
 
“There was even some thought of taking VB [van Berlo] over to Melbourne this week and giving him a little go, but to be fair on him, we thought we’d give him a chance to have a run around in the SANFL,” Hart said on Thursday.
 
“He just needs to get through and do what he has to do in a game of footy, like the jumping, the twisting, the bending, and see how he pulls up. He’s really fit and raring to go, but he hasn’t played footy for a long time.
 
“It’s a good hit-out for him, and if his form is good and he’s pulling up okay, he’ll be up for selection [for round one]. Whether or not he’ll force his way into the side, who knows, but he’ll certainly be around the mark.”
 
Sellar and Bernie Vince (hamstring/glute) will also line-up for their SANFL clubs next weekend, while Burton and Knights are also a chance to play ahead of the game against Freo.
 
“Chris and Brett are looking closer to round one to be available as well, so it’s all just starting to pick up,” Hart said.
 
“The good thing with most of those guys, apart from maybe VB, is that they’ve had solid pre-seasons and done a lot of work. It’s probably just recently in terms of the footy they’ve missed, so we’d be pretty happy with the fitness base of most of them.”
 
The Crows remain uncertain when leading goalkicker Jason Porplyzia will be fit to return from an obscure pelvic injury. Porplyzia, 25, hasn’t completed a full training session this year, and Hart admitted the club couldn’t put a date on the mercurial forward’s comeback.
 
“Jason’s a bit up in the air at the moment,” he said.
 
“We’re trying a few different things with him and he’s making progress, but it could be one of those injuries that improves dramatically over a day or two or hangs around for a little bit.”
 
Adelaide will field 22 players against Carlton at Visy Park on Friday afternoon with another two players to act as substitutes.
 
All-Australian defender Nathan Bock and ruckman Ivan Maric will play after missing last weekend’s win over Melbourne, while stars Andrew McLeod (back) and Scott Thompson have both been rested.
 
Rory Sloane, Myke Cook, Jared Petrenko, Will Young, Jarrhan Jacky, Tony Armstrong, Ricky Henderson and Chris Schmidt have all been named in the team to take on the Blues, and Hart said the hit-out would be a good opportunity for the younger generation of Crows to cement a spot in the side for round one.
 
“There are some spots available, and with the injuries, it’s not just one spot they’re playing for,” he said.
 
“It’s a big game for them and an exciting opportunity to put their hand up, put their flag in the ground and say, ‘we want to be picked for round one’.”
 
Nathan van Berlo is a $343,100 midfielder in this year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.

Brett Burton is a $229,400 forward.

James Sellar is a $163,600 ruckman.