ADELAIDE defender Nathan Bock has been ruled out of Saturday night’s clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba with a hamstring injury.

Bock was named in the Crows’ initial 25-man-squad to tackle the Western Bulldogs on the weekend, but withdrew from the side after suffering a hamstring strain at training on Thursday.

The All-Australian centre half-back is no certainty to be fit for the following week’s home game against Carlton.

Adelaide midfielder Chris Knights said Bock would be a big loss as his side prepared to take on form Lions duo Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.

“Nathan’s a great player. He provides a great contest back there and he’s also good offensively as well,” Knights said on Monday.

“He runs and carries the ball well and we’re going to miss him this week against Brisbane, but we’re pretty confident we’ve got the cattle back there to take his place.”

In better news, skipper Simon Goodwin has been cleared of structural damage to his ankle and is a chance to take his place in the side against the Lions.
 
Forward Trent Hentschel (knee) should also be available, but is likely to come back through the SANFL.

Former captain Chris McDermott described the club as a “rabble” following Sunday’s third quarter lapse against the Western Bulldogs and said it was the “least competitive” side coach Neil Craig had produced during his five-year tenure.

Knights denied the players were confused by the transitioning game plan and said it was “extreme” to compare the current list to the successful sides of 2005-2006.

“I think it [Sunday’s game] was definitely an improvement on last week and I think we played some really good football. In fact, we played three quarters of really good football,” Knights said.

“We thought we took the game on quite well. Yes, we made some mistakes, but we just really needed to string four quarters of consistent football together and we believe we would’ve won the game.

“He [McDermott] is a pretty negative bloke towards our footy club at times. The reality is that in the third quarter we had eight goals kicked against us our one. You could probably describe that third quarter as a rabble, but definitely not the game.”

After the game, Craig said Adelaide supporters would need to put up with a bit of pain as his side perfects its fast, high-handball style of game.

The Crows have been working on faster ball movement since the start of pre-season, but Knights said the players needed continual reminders about getting the footy on quicker.

“At times, when the game is tough or when you’re down or in defence, when you’ve got the ball it’s a tough decision to make whether to play on quickly,” he said.

“When you don’t know what’s up ahead and play on with speed because you don’t want to get caught, turn the ball over and have a goal kicked on you as a result.

“It’s a bold move and it’s a bold style of football to play.”