Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke believes the Crows will need to handle congested footy better at Norwood

Coming off a great win against Carlton — in which the Crows conjured up a 30-point turnaround — Adelaide will be further boosted by the return of inspirational co-captain Chelsea Randall.

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THE Crows will be going into their round three home clash against Geelong buoyed by the return of star defender and co-captain Chelsea Randall who passed a fitness test on her twinged hamstring on Friday afternoon.

Praising the versatility of his squad — that has seen players including Marijana Rajcic and Stevie-Lee Thompson moved up and back — coach Matthew Clarke has made only one extra change to the side that stunningly beat Carlton in a 30-point turnaround last weekend, with rookie Maisie Nankivell being managed with post-game soreness, replaced by Randall.

Jenna McCormick and Sally Riley have been named as emergencies.

Clarke said there were two big reasons for the Crows’ improved performance last week where they beat the Blues by 13 points: the fact that Ikon Park was bigger and so there was less congested football and that the forwards kicked more accurately.

Crows coach Matthew Clarke instructs his players during their round two win over Carlton. Picture: Hamish Blair/AAP

So returning to Norwood Oval on Sunday - where they kicked 1.11 in their opening round loss to the Western Bulldogs - he said the side needed to learn its congestion lessons.

“We have to accept there is going to be a high level of pressure because the ground is slightly more congested than some of the other ones,” he said.

“That can play into our favour; (in game one) it allowed us to put lots of pressure on the Bulldogs and restrict them defensively.

“But when we’ve got the ball, we need to be perhaps at times that little bit calmer and absorb that pressure before we try and dispose of it.”

Gaelic football recruit Ailish Considine is cementing her place in the side despite having played her first game of AFL only a month ago.

“She hasn’t dominated a game yet, but she does the things we ask her to do really well,” Clarke said of his Irish import.

“She’s really clean in the contest, gets her head over the ball, takes the ball clean, and is generally in the right spots even though she’s just learning the game.

“She generally makes good decision in where to run and also her kick is really high end.”

Further selection issues could present themselves in the coming weeks if both Jasmyn Hewett (ankle) and Jessica Sedunary (foot sprain) return from their injuries, with Clarke saying they were both progressing in rehab.

The Crows celebrate their 13-point win against Carlton. Picture: Adam Trafford/Getty

“(Sedunary) is back to running … she’s a really dedicated athlete, really fit, so as soon as she cannot only run but get the change in direction she’ll come under selection consideration,” he said.

Clarke said the Crows were expecting a good contest against expansion club Geelong, particularly given the two stars returning to their side in captain Melissa Hickey and midfielder Richelle Cranston.

“They’re a young side, but playing a good style,” he said.

“They share the ball by hands quite a bit and they’re looking to move the ball quickly out their open side, and a lot of things that we’re talking about is how they’re going about it.”