AFL 2023: All the latest Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 17 clash with Essendon

Luke Pedlar is the AFL’s Rising Star nominee for Round 16 after another impressive display against the Roos – a game that has caused a selection headache at West Lakes.

Irishman Mark Keane and Egyptian-born James Borlase are set to come into selection calculations after another injury to a Crows key defender.

Jordon Butts will miss Adelaide’s trip to Marvel Stadium to take on Essendon on Sunday after he entered the AFL’s concussion protocols following a head knock against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

With Tom Doedee out for the season with a knee injury, the Crows could call on Irish recruit Mark Keane or James Borlase – the son of Port Adelaide great Darryl, who was born in Egypt.

Both impressed in the Crows SANFL loss to North Adelaide on the weekend with Borlase finishing with 18 disposals and 13 marks while Keane had 15 and 10.

“They have both got unique skill sets,” Crows assistant coach Nathan van Berlo said on Monday.

“They’re both big strong boys. It’s not always going to be a case of like-for-like, but those two are certainly doing all they can.”

Van Berlo also said the Crows could go smaller in defence for the Bombers clash.

James Borlase is in the mix to make his AFL debut. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

First-choice defender Jordan Butts will miss due to concussion. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

It is shaping up as a vital one for the Crows’ finals chances, with Adelaide now two points ahead of Geelong, a win ahead of GWS, Fremantle and Gold Coast and two wins ahead of Sydney, Carlton and Richmond.

Van Berlo said every game would be important for the Crows now.

“We know we’re right in the hunt at the moment and it’s right where we want to be, to be honest,” he said.

“Obviously we know they are sitting right next to us on the ladder. It’s a really important game.”

The importance of the game puts Adelaide’s poor away record on paper under more scrutiny.

The Crows have only won once away from Adelaide Oval this year – their last-gasp win over Hawthorn in Launceston.

Their last effort away from Adelaide was a thrilling loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

Luke Pedlar has been rewarded for his impressive season. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Young Crow Luke Pedlar, who was named the Rising Star nominee for Round 16 after his two-goal game against North Melbourne, said he was confident Adelaide could stand up away from South Australia when it counted.

“We are one game from being in the top four and we are one game off being outside of the top 12 so we have to finish the year off well and hopefully we can win away and play finals footy,” he said.

“We obviously don’t have the best record playing away, but we have been close in games

so it is about putting together a four quarter effort and I think we can do that and win a few games away and finish the year off well.”

Pedlar said the loss to Collingwood showed that the Crows could compete with the best away.

“The Bombers are going to be a hard team to play against at Marvel,” he said.

“They are a good scoring team.

“Getting as close as we did against Collingwood, you never like to lose but you can take lessons from getting so close to the best team in the comp this year.”