AFL Adelaide v Carlton news: How Crows can handle Blues’ talls without Nick Murray

Adelaide have a huge task of stopping Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay on Saturday — especially given they are missing a crucial cog of their defence. Here’s how they can still get the job done.

Adelaide’s defence is better when Nick Murray plays.

The stats say it, and unfortunately for the Crows they have well and truly found this out.

Since 2024 when Murray plays the Crows have a 7-6 win/loss record.

When he doesn’t it is 5-1-11.

So it’s fair to say Murray being out for four to six weeks after undergoing an arthroscope on his knee isn’t ideal for an Adelaide side that will take on arguably the best key forward duo in the competition in Carlton’s Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay on Saturday.

Nick Murray’s absence will be felt by the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

Jordon Butts comes into the side, but can he do what Murray does for the Crows?

St Kilda champion Nick Dal Santo will be part of the team calling Saturday’s game between the Crows and the Blues that is exclusive to Fox Footy, available on Kayo Sports.

He said Murray would be hard to replace for the Crows.

“You think about that style of player, he (Murray) is that big bear in the square who locks down on his opponent,” Dal Santo said.

“A word we use a lot in footy is trust and I think he is a guy that you can trust, you give him his match-up each week and within reason you know that he is going to win it.”

“He is a big out, but Butts coming back into the team whether it is a like-for-like or a direct replacement I think that does give you a big body in that position.”

Jordon Butts will need to step up. Picture: Getty Images

After a slow start to the season the Blues have found form with Curnow and McKay kicking three goals each in their win over Geelong last time out.

“They are a handful regardless of who they are playing and how good the defence is of any team or any system,” Dal Santo said.

“They are both capable of winning the game off their own boot.

“The Crows defensive unit, I’m not going to say it is one or two it is going to be everybody who will have to get back and help support against those two key forwards who will be a handful.”

For Dal Santo, for a Murray-less Crows’ defence to stop there are three factors at play.

“You have to have pressure on the football,” he said.

“There is no hiding the fact that in the modern game players are far too good if they get time and space to deliver the ball to anybody so you do need fierce pressure on the football to delay the speed off the ball and alter the style of the kick to give your key defenders a chance.

“Then the two defenders on McKay and Curnow have a huge responsibility to try and neutralise their one-on-ones.

“And then the third layer is you need the other defenders to be aware that hey we don’t want anyone to be like an island, we don’t want any one-on-ones, we want someone to come and support in the air at all times.

“So it is almost three phases, pressure on the footy, key defenders do your job and find some aerial support from your other defenders who can roll off and are able to help at the right time.”

With Murray out it will again fall to Irishman Mark Keane to be the Crows’ rock in defence.

Since 2024 when Murray is not in the side his disposals go from 15.2 to 16.4 a game and his marks from 4.1 to 5.6 per game.

His intercept marks decrease from 2.5 to 2.1, while his intercept possessions remain at 7.3 per game.

Mark Keane is another Crow who is needed to fill the void of Murray. Picture: Getty Images

For a key defender Champion Data rates him as above average for disposals and metres gained, while his intercept marks and intercept possessions are rated as average.

But it is some of the free kicks he has given away that has almost caught the eye more at times when it comes to Keane this year.

Dal Santo said some had been “almost humorous”, but he loved that with Keane the Crows would know they are getting a player who has a crack every week.

“I find him an entertaining defender,” he said.

“He probably gives away some freekicks but when you put it in perspective he is undersized a little bit but you know he is going to have a crack, he is going to give it his all and scrap and fight.

“So I think he should get the Curnow matchup. That is a huge job but you think of athleticism and size and Curnow going up the ground a lot he is probably the best matchup for Curnow.

“He is a great story and wherever he ranks in terms of the best key defenders of the competition one thing you know is that he is going to have a crack.”