Sturt will be without Jake Sutcliffe for the SANFL first semi-final against Central District
Sturt forward Jake Sutcliffe has been forced out of the first semi-final against Central District, but the Double Blues have regained classy onballer Aidan Riley.
Sturt’s attack has lost Jake Sutcliffe for Sunday’s first semi-final clash against Central District at Adelaide Oval after being forced out due to a knee injury.
Sutcliffe hurt his knee in the qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide last weekend, but he did some running drills on Thursday and the club was optimistic he would front the Bulldogs.
However, the knee “got worse” at training on Friday night, prompting the club to take his name out of the 23-man squad and bring in Mitch Crowden as his replacement.
Sutcliffe made six appearances for Adelaide as a top up player in 2015 before playing in Murray Bridge last season. He has played 17 games this season and bagged 25 goals.
Ruckman Jack Osborn trained with the Double Blues on Friday night and despite still carrying the effects of a “cold”, the club expects him to front the Bulldogs in the do-or-die clash.
Onballer Aidan Riley missed last week’s defeat to Port because of a neck injury, but he negotiated the club’s final session and will return to the side.
Bulldogs coach Roy Laird has also had to alter the team which conquered Norwood in the elimination final last weekend following the suspension of small forward Kyle Presbury for a game.
Laird has emphasised the need for pressure on the Double Blues defence and is considering a league debut for teenager Cooper Dahms.
“You have to put the Sturt defence under pressure, they do a lot of work and control the ball from there,” Laird said.
While the season is over for the beaten side, the winner will take on the loser of the second semi-final between minor premier Woodville-West Torrens and Port Adelaide.
The Eagles will regain classy defender Paul Stewart, who missed the final round loss to the Bulldogs due to a hand injury. Stewart had a plate inserted in a broken hand but used training this week to prove it was an issue.