Former first round selection Jordan Gallucci to miss and Jackson Mead in doubt for under 23 Showdown
Adelaide Crows will miss former first-round pick Jordan Gallucci, while Port Adelaide’s father-son selection Jackson Mead is in doubt for the under 23 Showdown.
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Adelaide Crows first-round draft pick Jordan Gallucci’s troubled pre-season has continued, with a hamstring injury costing him virtually any hope of playing in round one.
The 21-year-old small forward/midfielder suffered the “low-grade” muscle injury at training on Thursday and has been ruled out of Saturday’s under-23 trial match against Port Adelaide at Thebarton Oval.
It means Gallucci will go into round one without any pre-season games against rival clubs under his belt after he was left out of last week’s Marsh Community Series opener against Melbourne after being told by the club’s coaching staff that his pre-season training performances had been “okay’ without being great.
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His untimely injury will rule him out of Adelaide’s final Marsh series game against Gold Coast next Friday.
“He left the track early on Thursday with hamstring tightness and unfortunately for Jordy it’s a low grade hamstring (strain),” Crows development and State League coach Heath Younie said.
“He’ll miss the trial but next week he’ll get back into training.
“It’s really disappointing for Jordy because he’s had a really solid month of training and was looking forward to playing this game and we were looking forward to seeing what he could produce.
“So it’s disappointing for all involved.”
Younie conceded Gallucci would not get a full-scale match hit out under his belt but might be able to play an internal trial before round one.
Out of contract at the end of the season, it is not the start to the season the 2016 No. 15 draft pick would have wanted.
Meanwhile, despite being named in the Power’s side for the match, Port Adelaide father-son selection Jackson Mead is not a lock for the match.
Port SANFL coach Matthew Lokan said Mead would need to be assessed before the clash because of his hamstring niggle.
“I’m not quite sure if Jackson will play he’s had some restricted training over the past couple of weeks,” he said.
“So we need to make that call over whether he is exactly right to go and we won’t take any risks.”
Trent Burgoyne will play, as will No. 23 pick Dylan Williams – who played forward on Port skipper Tom Jonas in training on Friday.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Dylan play,” Lokan said.
“He is exciting and he probably only needs six or seven possessions to score four or five goals.”
Gun young trio of Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butter’s were not selected with Port keen to see what their other youngsters can do.
While over 23 Brad Ebert will get some more minutes after concussion cruelled his 2019, and Lokan expected him to again wear a helmet when playing.
Port did consider playing Hamish Hartlett, while for Jake Patmore it will be his first game since an ACL injury last pre-season.
No. 14 pick Miles Bergman is recovering from an ankle injury and could be a chance for the second Marsh Community Series match while Mitch Georgiades has been rested to freshen up.