Adelaide is optimistic over the availability of key defender Tom Doedee ahead of Wednesday night’s clash with Melbourne. 

Crows Head of Science and Medicine Steve Saunders said Doedee will need to get through the Club’s main training session at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday morning to be considered for selection.

“Tom’s had three or four good sessions on the track now,” Saunders said.  

“All he really needs to do tomorrow is pass the remaining monitoring tests we’ll put him through, have a good session on the track and we think he’ll be right to play.” 

Brodie Smith, who served as Doedee’s replacement as stand-in captain against North Melbourne, will need to prove his fitness in the next 48 hours after suffering a knock to the inside of his right knee in the opening quarter of Saturday’s loss.

“As a consequence of the knock, he’s had a low-grade injury to a ligament on the outside of the knee. He’s presenting really well,” Saunders said. 

“We’ll save tests on Brodie until the morning of game day itself. We expect him to be available, but obviously we won’t be taking any risks with Brodie Smith at all.”

Small forwards Tyson Stengle (dislocated finger) and Lachlan Murphy (corked thigh) suffered injuries in Saturday’s game but are expected to be available to play against the Demons. 

Darcy Fogarty is also pushing for senior selection on the back of strong training form.

“Darcy’s screening better in terms of his shoulder strength. He’s training well, has been for a few weeks, so I think he’s putting his hand up strongly to be selected,” Saunders said. 

Meantime, Taylor Walker returned to the training track on Monday after he was a late withdrawal in Round Nine with gastro.

“Taylor trained lightly today. He was a bit washed out yesterday after coming down with gastro the night before the game, but we expect Taylor to be right,” Saunders said.

Injury list as of Monday, August 3:

Tom Doedee – Hamstring (test)
Darcy Fogarty – Shoulder (test)
Brodie Smith – Knee contusion (test)
Brad Crouch – Hamstring (1-2 weeks)
Rory Sloane – Hand (1-2 weeks)
Wayne Milera – Foot (2 weeks)
Jordan Gallucci – Achilles (season)