Adelaide Crows players prepared to go into hub life in 2021 if required

Matt Crouch says the prospect of a second year of hubs doesn’t bother the Crows, the Adelaide star and teammates willing to do “whatever it takes” to complete season 2021.

Matt Crouch says the Crows are prepared for hub life — if required. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Adelaide players say they are comfortable if the AFL sends clubs into hubs again if it meant the upcoming season is completed.

Most teams were in them last season after COVID struck and bases were established in Queensland, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

The AFL wants to avoid that scenario this year to safeguard the health and wellbeing of players, staff and the community.

Darcy Fogarty says the Crows just want to play footy. Picture: Getty Images

It is committed to completing the AFL and AFLW seasons with minimal disruptions but the league is fully aware how quickly state restrictions can change as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, and it is prepared to adjust with them if necessary.

Crows midfielder Matt Crouch said clubs needed to be open to ideas to get through the campaign and returning to a hub would not bother him.

“I’m happy to do whatever it takes to play,” Crouch said.

“We’ve got to adapt and be pretty flexible with what’s going on.

“There’s a lot of other people out there dealing with worse things than we are.”

Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty held a similar view.

“Just to play footy is the main thing,” Fogarty said.

“Everyone was really good and just accepting (of hubs last year).

“We weren’t in too long and got quite lucky.

“To have to do it again, as long as we get games going, it should be fine.”

Taylor Walker says the Crows are more concerned about the on-field stuff than what might happen with the fixture. Picture: Sarah Reed

Former captain Taylor Walker was “not too fussed” about the fixture.

“We don’t know what will happen with COVID, so we have to be able to adapt and adjust on the fly,” Walker said.

“What we are practising and developing here will give us the best opportunity to play good footy.

“If that is at Adelaide Oval or down in Tassie or in Melbourne, wherever it is, we’ve got to rock up and make our supporters and members proud.”

Wayne Milera, who was in the Queensland hub for about 10 days while injured, said he had not thought about relocating again.

“We will just play it by ear,” Milera said.

“COVID is a bit of a weird one.

“At the moment it seems to be fine and we will see how we go.”

Round 1 of the men’s competition starts on March 18.

Adelaide’s opening match is against Geelong at home on March 20.

BRUTAL SESSION PROOF FOG MEANS BUSINESS

Veteran Adelaide defender Daniel Talia is racing the clock to be ready for Round 1 as he makes his way back from off-season surgery on his left knee.

Four months since having the arthroscopic procedure, Talia was restricted to rehabilitating on the AlterG treadmill on Thursday when his teammates had their three-hour training session at West Lakes.

Darcy Fogarty and Lachlan Sholl were also training away from the main group, running between the behind posts on the western side for close to an hour with rests of no more than a minute.

Both were battling minor complaints from earlier this week.

Fogarty had aggravated his back in a marking contest on Monday and was being managed, while Sholl hurt his hand in the gym and was not touching footballs.

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Darcy Fogarty and Lachlan Sholl running laps at training on Thursday morning. Picture: Mike Burton

On Tuesday, 21-year-old key forward Fogarty said a “lack of a fitness base” was the main reason why he had been inconsistent to start his season, and two days later 2km time trial winner Sholl was pushing him hard in morning heat that felt much warmer than 28C.

Fogarty was on his haunches at least twice when they reached the goals, looking exhausted.

But every time his short breather was over, he pushed through and went again, trying to keep pace with one of the club’s best runners.

Sholl typically finished 10m to 15m ahead.

Building up his workload after groin issues last year, No. 2 pick Riley Thilthorpe also spent a large chunk of the session off to the side of the oval, engaging in one-one-one contests with a coach.

Adelaide’s second selection in December’s national draft, inside midfielder Luke Pedlar (groin), and fellow on-baller Matt Crouch (hip) are also starting to increase their training loads.

Crows training this morning:
- Sholl + Fogarty running between point posts for almost entire 1st hour in 28C heat
- Sholl hurt left hand in gym; Fog aggravated back in marking contest on Monday + being managed but running fine
- SSP candidate Nick Murray out there impressing #AFL pic.twitter.com/eVR2tqvIn3

— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) January 21, 2021

Crouch is coming off post-season surgery.

Williamstown key defender Nick Murray was on the track looking to impress in his bid to become the newest Crow.

Murray – the younger brother of ex-Collingwood halfback Sam Murray – is training with the club during the Supplementary Selection Period, which ends on March 9.

Watching on from the sidelines on Thursday were two men who have played a huge hand in building the Crows’ squad: list manager Justin Reid and recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie.

This week they took Adelaide’s latest draftees out to dinner, having not met some of them in person due to COVID travel restrictions and them being based in Melbourne.