Adelaide’s hopes of playing finals football now rely on their good draw and the form of other sides after their weekend loss to West Coast.
The Crows sit one game outside the AFL’s top eight with four rounds remaining. Gun midfielder Scott Thompson says all the Crows can do is focus on getting four more victories on the board.
“In the context of the season it was a pretty important game for us and we just fell short,” he told the AFL’s website on Monday.
“We’ll control what we can control and that’s starting with beating Brisbane on the weekend.
“We’ve got four games to go and even if we win all four, there’s still a chance we don’t make it, so it’s up to us to control what we can.”
Tenth-placed Adelaide have a 9-9 win-loss record with matches to come against Brisbane (15th), Richmond (12th), North Melbourne (sixth) and St Kilda (last).
Two-time club champion Thompson gathered 31 disposals in last week’s 31-point loss to the Eagles at Adelaide Oval and his fitness will be closely monitored ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Lions at the Gabba.
Thompson has an ongoing back/hamstring complaint. The 31-year-old was rested on July 27 against Collingwood, breaking a run of 99 consecutive games.
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“It probably will be a week-by-week thing for me,” he said.
“I got through the weekend’s game and we’ll approach this weekend’s game and see how I’m feeling mid-week.”
In news from the AFL’s Match Review Panel, Steve Johnson is set to miss Geelong’s crunch match with Fremantle after being charged with kneeing Kangaroo Scott Thompson.
Cats coach Chris Scott faces a conundrum whether to challenge the ruling at the tribunal or be without the mercurial midfielder for one of the games of the season.
As well as a rematch of last season’s qualifying final that paved the way for Fremantle’s maiden grand final appearance, the Saturday night match is likely to be crucial in determining the final make-up of the AFL’s top four.
The offence – assessed as low impact to the body but reckless – sits on the borderline of reportable incidents and would normally produce a reprimand with a guilty plea.
Johnson’s bad record is the kicker, his six weeks off in the past two years handing the midfielder a 40 per cent loading.
Should the Cats choose to challenge the ban, Johnson risks a two-week ban which would see him miss the round-21 match against Carlton as well.
Richmond’s Reece Conca has been offered a two-match ban for lashing out at Giants youngster Devon Smith.
Conca’s brain-snap came after a tussle with Smith, with the 21-year-old midfielder swinging his elbow at Smith’s head from behind. It was ugly; a moment he’d no doubt like again.
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The charge was viewed as a level-four striking offence – seen as intentional, medium impact and high contact.
Brisbane defender Daniel Merrett has been cleared for a crude late shot on Melbourne forward Cam Pedersen. Merrett was reported for the hit, which left Pedersen bloodied and needing bandages to play out the game.
The Panel spared Merrett, saying he had eyes for the ball and caught Pedersen in a legitimate spoiling attempt.
ROUND 19 RAP SHEET
Reece Conca (Richmond) – striking – two weeks
Steve Johnson (Geelong) – kneeing – one week
Nick Graham (Carlton) – rough conduct – reprimand
Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs) – reckless contact with umpire – $1950
Dyson Heppell (Essendon) – negligent contact with umpire – $900
Bachar Houli (Richmond) – wrestling – $900
Rhys Palmer (GWS Giants) – wrestling – $900
Jack Newnes (St Kilda) – wrestling – $900
Tom Lynch (Gold Coast) – wrestling – $900
David Armitage (St Kilda) – melee – $900
Bill Longer (St Kilda) – melee – $900
Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast) – melee – $900
Dion Prestia (Gold Coast) – melee – $900
