Crows coach Matthew Nicks has declared captain Rory Sloane a certain starter for Saturday night’s Showdown against Port Adelaide.
On Friday, Nicks confirmed Sloane would lead the Crows onto Adelaide Oval in Showdown 49 after missing four weeks due to a detached retina that required surgery.
“The specialist has given him the all-clear, he will play,” Nicks said.
“Sloane is an important leader around that stoppage, he’ll go straight in there and play around the footy.
“In the Showdown it’s going to be hot for five, ten minutes at the start then slowly even itself out and become a game of footy - Sloaney will be very important in that first five, ten minutes.”
Sloane is one of four changes to the side to face Port Adelaide, alongside Luke Brown, Will Hamill and Darcy Fogarty.
Brown returns after overcoming an Achilles issue with Hamill having recovered from a rolled ankle sustained against Hawthorn in Launceston.
Fogarty rounds out the inclusions following a strong showing in the SANFL last weekend of 18 disposals, seven clearances and one goal.
Shane McAdam, Andrew McPherson, Nick Murray and Jackson Hately have been omitted from the 22.
McPherson, Chayce Jones, Billy Frampton and Josh Worrell have been named as emergencies, with one to be confirmed as the Crows’ medical substitute one hour before the game.
Saturday’s game commences at 7.10pm ACST. It will be shown live on Channel 7 in Adelaide and Fox Footy nationwide.
Adelaide’s Round Eight team is...
IN:
Sloane, Brown, Hamill, Fogarty
OUT:
McAdam, McPherson, Murray, Hately
