AFL 2023: All the latest Adelaide Crows ahead for round 1
Only a few months after missing out on a spot in the SANFL Grand Final, Max Michalanney will make Adelaide Crows history. Here’s how.
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Matthew Nicks says he has felt like a “proud father” watching Max Michalanney’s rapid development into an AFL-ready player.
The 19-year-old has impressed coaches enough to make Crows history in round 1.
Michalanney will become Adelaides first father-son draftee to feature in the AFL against GWS on Sunday at Giants Stadium.
Michalanney, who was selected with pick No. 17 in the most recent draft, was told of his debut after training at West Lakes on Thursday.
Nicks said it was a special moment.
“Those are the moments as a coach where you stand back and enjoy it like a proud father watching your kids go to work,” he said.
“Maxy has been great, he is ready to play at the level.
“He will have some ups and downs as all young players do.
“He is a fantastic character that will add a lot to our group.”
It comes months after Michalanney, the son of four-time Norwood premiership player Jim, couldn’t get a spot in the Redlegs SANFL grand final winning team.
Nicks said Michalanney had added significantly to his game since coming to the Crows.
“Some develop really fast and Max is one of those who has added a lot to his game in a short period of time,” he said.
“Although when we drafted him we knew that he had a rock solid defensive game.
“He is very hard to beat. The question marks were around whether he was getting involved in the game enough in offence.
“It looks after itself at AFL level if you are strong defensively we will get a group around you and I think with our backs down there with Wayne Milera, Tom Doedee as leaders, Jordan Dawson being around there has really fast tracked him.”
At 190cm Michalanney stands at the same height as Doedee.
But Nicks said they were slightly different players.
“Maxy can play a lot smaller. He has a really good acceleration and top speed,” he said.
“He showed a little bit of that last week against West Coast.
“So they are different players.
“Who knows where Max develops to from here. He has got some size but would he be able to play on key forwards going forward we don’t know yet.”
Izak Rankine will make his debut for the Crows after his big-money move from Gold Coast while Tyler Brown will be tactical sub after he arrived at West Lakes in pre-season following his delisting by Collingwood – where his father Gavin and brother Callum played.
“He will be our sub, we see him as a real impact player and you saw that against West Coast he was able to come on at the start of the fourth quarter and really make an impact instantly,” Nicks said.
Riley Thilthorpe will stay behind in Adelaide and could be the lead ruck for the Crows SANFL side against Glenelg.
“He has taken to the challenge now that is a couple of areas that he is working on,” Nicks said.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from him … it is just a matter of time for Riley, he is making Elliott (Himmelberg) better, he is making Tex (Taylor Walker) better and he is making Fog (Darcy Fogarty) better.”
Under 12 months since he ruptured his ACL former captain Rory Sloane will also play against GWS.
Nicks said since Sloane suffered the injury against Richmond, he knew he could return for Round 1.
“I saw him that day after he did the knee and I thought if anyone is going to come back for Round 1 next year it would be him mentally and physically,” he said.
“And over the last few weeks I would say his game has gone to another level. His on field awareness has been outstanding at the moment.
“I think he learnt a lot from sitting back and watching football as frustrating as that would be.”
CROWS CONFIDENT ON MILERA DESPITE ABSENCE
Adelaide senior assistant coach Scott Burns says Wayne Milera will be able to face GWS in Round 1 despite being away from the club ahead the Crows season opener.
Milera has been away from the Crows due to a personal matter, which led to him returning to Adelaide early from the club’s pre-season trip to Perth.
He is expected to be back at the club on Wednesday after being away from main training in the lead-up to the Crows’ start to the season.
It is understood he has been training away from the main group.
Burns said he expected the time away wouldn’t impact the 25-year-old’s chances of facing GWS on Sunday because of his strong pre-season to date.
“There are some private reasons why he was away but that was planned a long time ago and the pleasing thing with Wayne is that we got the internal and the Fremantle game in so that’s eight quarters of footy,” he said.
“He hasn’t been around for the last week or so but he has definitely been racking up the numbers on the GPS with his running away from here.
“We think he is in a pretty good position to hit Round 1.
“He has played eight quarters out of 12, that is a great base.
“And from where he has been to where he is now he has had a fantastic pre-season and hasn’t missed a beat.”
Milera played 12 games for the Crows in 2022 after being limited to just two the pervious two seasons because of injuries.
Burns said missing the Crows practice match against West Coast and just focusing on running might be a good thing for Milera ahead of 2023.
“This actually could be a blessing in disguise in getting away for a week and not getting knocked around and doing straight line running,” he said.
“It may well be the best thing for him going into 2023.”
When asked if the leave would impact Milera mentally going into Round 1 Burns said “he is in a real good spot”.
In Milera’s absence, father-son draftee Max Michalanney and Patrick Parnell were able to put their hands up for a spot in the Crows defence against West Coast.
Burns said that anyone in that squad that took on the Eagles would be in the mix to take on the Giants.
Former Collingwood player Tyler Brown was in the squad, as was Matt Crouch but he suffered a minor fracture in his leg last week.
Burns said the Crows still had some calls to make on who would take on the Giants.
“Anyone who was in that 25 or 26 (against the Eagles) is around the mark,” he said.
“There could be one or two who come away from that 26 … we still want to look at them at training on Thursday and make a decision after that.”
MILERA MYSTERY: IS STAR CROW SIDELINED AGAIN?
Adelaide expects Wayne Milera to be available for the Crows’ Round 1 clash against GWS with the dashing defender due back at the club this week.
The 25-year-old took part in the Crows match simulation against Fremantle on February 24 but two days later he left the Crows’ pre-season trip to Perth early due to a personal matter.
While he was not at training on Monday he took part in the Crows official team photo day early last week, but was also not at training last Wednesday.
It is understood he has been training away from the main Crows group for the past two weeks.
The dashing defender is due back at the club this week and is expected to be available for the Crows Round 1 clash against the Giants in Sydney on Sunday.
After playing just two games in two years because of injury Milera made his return to action last year.
He played Round 1 against Fremantle but was out of the side for the next 10 games.
He ended up playing 12 games for the Crows.
Firmly entrenched in a halfback role, Milera has impressed this pre-season.
Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks has spoken of how impressed he has been with Milera this pre-season especially after his injury issues.
In Milera’s absence father-son draftee Max Michalanney and Patrick Parnell were able to press their cases for a Round 1 spot, which would be Michalanney’s debut for the Crows.
Outside of Milera, Matt Crouch is the only other senior player injured ahead of Round 1.
Crouch hurt his leg on Friday and scans revealed a minor fracture in his right fibula.
He won’t require surgery but the Crows don’t have a timeline for his recovery just yet.
They were the only players not out at the Crows flush run on Monday.
Former captain Rory Sloane didn’t participate in the light running and then soccer game that players took part in, as he did some handball work with Josh Worrell who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Andrew McPherson (knee), Billy Dowling (foot) walked laps along with Hugh Bond.
Tom Doedee also sat out the soccer game, instead doing some kicking.
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