Dangerfield back for Showdown
Adelaide will toss an AFL lifeline to forward Lewis Johnston and rush back Patrick Dangerfield to meet arch rivals Port Adelaide in Sunday’s Showdown.
Johnston is expected to debut for the Crows to try to cover for the broken ankle of tall forward Josh Jenkins, who joins teammates Taylor Walker (knee) and Brent Reilly (shoulder) on the season-ended list.
Johnston played three games for Sydney in 2011 before being traded to Adelaide.
The 22-year-old had been sidelined for two months with a knee injury earlier this year, but kicked seven goals in SANFL ranks on the weekend.
“He can’t do much more at the moment, that is for sure. He is playing some outstanding footy in the SANFL,” Crows captain Nathan van Berlo told reporters.
“He is certainly putting his hand up for selection.”
Johnston’s looming selection for Sunday’s showdown against Port comes as Dangerfield presses his claims to return from a two-game absence with a shoulder injury.
“I know he was itching at the weekend to try and get out there – this week I’m pretty sure he will be right,” van Berlo said of the star midfielder.
Ruckman Shaun McKernan faces a fitness test on a sprained ankle which forced him to be substituted in Adelaide’s loss to Fremantle.
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The defeat effectively ended the finals ambitions of the Crows, now three wins behind eighth-placed Port.
“Regardless of form or where you’re at on the ladder, it’s always going to be a big game against Port,” van Berlo said.
“We still certainly have got a lot to play for … we want to make sure we finish the year off strong and fight it out.
“And it’s always nice to be the team on top in the town.
“We have got a lot of young guys in the side, they will be around town this week and will feel that build-up, that hype around town. And that is enough to keep you on edge for the week and know that the result is really important.”
