Crows head coach Matthew Clarke confirms teenager Nikki Gore will make her AFLW debut against Giants at Unley Oval on Sunday

She was their first draft pick last year, and after putting in the hard work at training, teenager Nikki Gore will finally make her debut in the Crows’ tricolours against GWS on Sunday.

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Adelaide is taking a debutant footballer and a game plan to combat congestion into Sunday’s must-win clash against Greater Western Sydney at Unley Oval.

With Unley Oval being slightly shorter, but slightly wider than Norwood Oval — where the Crows have played twice this AFLW season — head coach Matthew Clarke is expecting the game to be won or lost on contested football.

“GWS’s great strength is in the contest, their contest numbers are really good, particularly at clearance, and if you’re winning clearance at a small ground, that goes a long way toward winning the game,” he said. “So we’re going to have a great challenge in that area and we’ll have to be ready for it.”

Yesterday, Clarke confirmed that new draftee Nikki Gore would debut in the round six game, with the 18-year-old expected to start in the forward lines.

“It seems strange that she hasn’t had an opportunity (at AFLW level) before now,” he said.

“I’m really confident she’ll step up to the level, but clearly in your first game, the expectation isn’t for her to come out and dominate, it’s for her to be out there, be part of it and play her role when the opportunity presents.

“In all our trainings she’s been in the backlines … but I think she’ll start forward, however because she’s also a good little midfielder, she might get a look at everything.”

Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall presents her guernsey to new draftee Nikki Gore during the 2018 AFLW Draft at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on October 23, 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

The teenager’s versatility fits into Clarke’s game-plan this year, whereby he plays his footballers across the field.

Gore, who was drafted by Adelaide last year with their only first-round pick at No. 8, said that when Clarke rang her on Tuesday night to tell her she’d be making her debut, she’d just pulled up in her driveway after training.

The first thing she did was run inside and give her mum a big hug.

“It’s awesome and a privilege to come into the side and play alongside of the game’s best players,” she said. “I’ve been working really hard.

“I’m sure the nerves will start up closer to the game, but now I’m just really excited.”

Irish Gaelic football rookie Ailish Considine has been dropped from the side that last weekend beat the then undefeated North Melbourne by 35 points.

Crows head coach Matthew Clarke. Picture: Sarah Reed

The 26-year-old managed only two disposals last week.

But the coach they call “Doc” praised the utility’s game and was confident Considine could find a place in the side again.

“She’s been unbelievable, come from the other side of the world having never played the game and she’s slotted straight in,” Clarke said.

“But she was probably down a bit last week and maybe the effects of a pretty big campaign for her are showing a little bit, so I think a week off is going to be pretty good for her and hopefully she’ll bounce back into the team in the coming weeks.”

Considine and fellow rookie Maisie Nankivell (netball) have been named as emergencies.