Adelaide has recalled emerging midfielder Brad Crouch for Saturday’s clash with reigning premiers Sydney at AAMI Stadium.
It will be the youngster’s first AFL game since injuring his hamstring at training on the eve of round five.
He’s played the last three games with SANFL side West Adelaide and showed his coach Brenton Sanderson last week he was back to his best.
“He’s had three games back with West. His first game for Westies was good. He had a bit of a stinker the second game, but he was sharp again last week and suits this game against Sydney,” Sanderson said.
“He’s a good, inside midfielder. We’re giving up a lot of experience to guys like Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack, but we’ve got to expose our young guys to the best midfielders in the AFL.
“It’s as tough as it gets for a midfielder, playing against the Swans.”
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Also returning to the side are Ricky Henderson and Shaun McKernan at the expense of Luke Brown (injured), Jarryd Lyons and Brodie Martin.
McKernan was a late omission in wet conditions last week and this week against Sydney the ruckman/forward will play an important role.
“Shaun was stiff to miss out last week. He would’ve played if it wasn’t pouring with rain. It didn’t suit talls – Fremantle subbed their second ruckman before half-time,” Sanderson said.
“Shane Mumford and Myke Pyke are two of the in-form ruckmen in the AFL. Sam Jacobs was good last week with 50 hit-outs, but McKernan gives us a second ruck option and also a target up forward.”
Crows fans who still have a soft spot for Marty Mattner – who shifted to Sydney halfway through his career – would be saddened to hear of his immediate retirement due to chronic hip issues.
Mattner 30, played 222 AFL games, 98 for Adelaide and 124 for Sydney, including last year’s winning Grand Final.
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He played the first seven games this year, the last of which was against Hawthorn in mid-May.
Mattner first experienced hip six problems six years ago when he joined Sydney from the Crows and underwent surgery.
He had more surgery at the end of last season, but the problem flared again and he decided on Tuesday that “enough was enough”.
“The last year has been quite hard, the pain has been with me nearly every day,” Mattner said on Thursday.
“That’s probably been the hardest thing, the everyday stuff and also mentally.”
Mattner will work with Sydney’s young defenders and reserves for the rest of the season.
With Tom Walsh, joining Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thomson on the injured list, Longmire was tossing up whether to play Adam Goodes up forward against the Crows in Adelaide this weekend, or promote Jesse White.
“They (Adelaide) have certainly added some higher uncontested possessions to their game,” Longmire said.
“They run really hard and that will be a challenge for us to make sure we restrict that and make the most of our chances.”
