AFL Round 11: All the latest teams news from the Power and the Crows
The Crows will get some serious firepower back for their clash with the Lions on Sunday, while the Power will once again have to use their makeshift forward line as best they can.
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Spearhead Charlie Dixon will miss a third straight game for Port Adelaide, who will also be without Todd Marshall for its clash against Richmond after he was not cleared to return after his latest concussion.
While Adelaide will welcome back some serious firepower as the Crows look to bounce back against Brisbane.
For the second straight week Dixon was listed as a test for the Power – who will go by the name Yartapuulti as part of Sir Doug Nicholls Round – for his quad strain and for the second straight week he has failed to prove his fitness to be selected for the clash at the MCG on Sunday.
Marshall will also watch the Power’s clash against the Tigers from the sidelines.
The 24-year-old suffered his second concussion in less than a month against North Melbourne in Round 9.
It was hoped he would return to take on the Tigers, but the Power said on Thursday night that he had not yet been cleared to return from the league’s concussion protocols after his second in a short space of time.
Former captain Travis Boak has been named by the Power despite copping a big blow to the ribs in their win over Melbourne last week.
Junior Rioli could return after missing the last two through suspension after the small forward was named on the Power’s extended interchange for the Sunday clash.
Defenders Lachie Jones and Jase Burgoyne have been named on the extended interchange, along with young midfielder Hugh Jackson – who will make his debut if he survives the cut.
Captain Tom Jonas, suspension, is the only out for the Power at this stage.
The Crows will welcome back Taylor Walker and Tom Doedee and are set to have Riley Thilthorpe return for their clash against the Lions at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
While Matthew Nicks hinted that Brodie Smith could be managed, after he ran laps at training on Thursday, the leadership group member has been named on the field for the Crows.
Mitch Hinge will miss the clash after he suffered a concussion against the Western Bulldogs last week.
Josh Worrell is in the mix to play his first game of the year after he was named on an extended interchange for the Crows along with Thilthorpe, Jackson Hately and Ned McHenry.
Nicks said he had been impressed with Worrell’s recent form.
“We go back to pre-season and he was probably our best player on the track,” he said.
“He’s done some amazing work around being a pro and the work he’s done off the field has got him to that position.
“He’s been really unlucky with injury, but he’s worked his way back, so he’s very much a chance to come in.”
Lachlan Gollant has been named on the interchange, with how Thilthorpe pulls up from Thursday’s session to be key to his chances of retaining his spot.
Elliott Himmelberg has been dropped while sub last week Sam Berry will play in the SANFL.
Nicks said the Crows were determined to make amends for a poor showing last time out against the Bulldogs in Ballarat.
“Our main issue is around getting back to that footy that we have played throughout the year,” he said.
“We dropped off on the weekend so the boys were hungry this week.
“We got a double session with a slightly longer week … we were able to get back to the contest.”
RICHMOND v YARTAPUULTI (PORT ADELAIDE)
Sunday May 28, 1:10pm at the MCG
TIGERS
B: N.Broad, D.Grimes – C, N.Balta
HB: D.Rioli, N.Vlastuin, L.Baker
C: K.McIntosh, T.Taranto, J.Ross
HF: R.Mansell, D.Prestia, J.Graham
F: M.Pickett, J.Riewoldt, D.Martin
FOLL: T.Nankervis, J.Short, S.Bolton
I/C (FROM): T.Young, H.Ralphsmith, T.Dow, T.Cotchin, S.Ryan, J.Clarke, B.Miller, S.Banks
In: T.Young, B.Miller, S.Banks
Out: None
POWER
B: D.Byrne-Jones, T.McKenzie, D.Houston
HB: R.Burton, A.Aliir, D.Williams
C: M.Bergman, T.Boak, R.Bonner
HF: J.McEntee, O.Lord, C.Rozee
F: Z.Butters, J.Finlayson, S.Powell-Pepper
FOLL: S.Lycett, O.Wines – C, W.Drew
I/C (FROM): J.Horne-Francis, H.Jackson, L.Jones, K.Farrell, J.Mead, F.Evans, J.Burgoyne, J.Rioli
In: H.Jackson, L.Jones, J.Burgoyne, J.Rioli
Out: T.Jonas (Suspension)
ADELAIDE CROWS v BRISBANE LIONS
Sunday May 28, 4:40pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
B: M.Michalanney, N.Murray, J.Butts
HB: T.Doedee, B.Smith, W.Milera
C: L.Murphy, J.Dawson – C, C.Jones
HF: L.Sholl, T.Walker, L.Pedlar
F: J.Rachele, D.Fogarty, I.Rankine
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays
I/C (FROM): R.Thilthorpe, J.Soligo, R.Sloane, L.Gollant, J.Hately, P.Parnell, N.McHenry, J.Worrell
In: T.Doedee, T.Walker, R.Thilthorpe, J.Hately, N.McHenry, J.Worrell
Out: M.Hinge (Injured), E.Himmelberg (Omitted), S.Berry (Sub)
LIONS
B: B.Starcevich, D.Gardiner, K.Coleman
HB: C.McKenna, H.Andrews, D.Zorko
C: J.Berry, Z.Bailey, H.McCluggage
HF: C.Cameron, J.Gunston, W.Ashcroft
F: L.McCarthy, J.Daniher, E.Hipwood
FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale – C
I/C (FROM): D.Robertson, D.Rich, N.Cockatoo, J.Madden, C.Rayner, T.Fullarton, R.Lester, D.Wilmot
In: D.Gardiner, D.Robertson, D.Rich, N.Cockatoo, J.Madden, T.Fullarton
Out: J.Payne (Injured), H.Sharp (Omitted), C.Ah Chee (Sub)
Another Crows star in doubt as Nicks hints at changes
Adelaide leadership group member Brodie Smith could be the latest veteran Crow to be rested.
The Crows managed former captain Taylor Walker for the clash against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat last week and now Smith could be in line for the same treatment ahead of Sunday’s match against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.
The 31-year-old ran laps at training at West Lakes on Thursday.
“Yeah Brodie is just having that management that we talk about during the week,” Nicks said.
“There is some soreness there, just general soreness so we will keep an eye on him, a close eye on how he progresses over the next 24 to 48 hours.
“Brodie doesn’t miss too much so for him to be managed this weekend it is one that we have looked at for the past three or four weeks.”
If Smith is managed, it could open the door for Josh Worrell’s first game of the season.
Worrell played four games at the end of last year for the Crows, but a pre-season injury hurt his chances of adding to that in 2023.
“He has done really well,” Nicks said.
“If we go back to pre-season then he was our best player on the track, he has done some amazing work around being a pro.
“The work he has done off the field, he was really unlucky with that injury and he has worked really hard to get where he is.
“So he is a good chance to come back in, we will see how the group pulls up tomorrow.”
Smith has only missed one game in each of the Crows’ previous two seasons.
The Crows are set to welcome back Walker, Tom Doedee (concussion) and Riley Thilthorpe (knee) to take on the Lions.
“Tex moved really well and will play everything going well from here,” Nicks said.
“Tommy Doedee similarly coming back from concussion.
“Riley was great today so we will see how he pulls up, we won’t lock that in but I’m confident.”
Nicks said the Crows were determined to make amends for a poor performance against the Bulldogs.
“Our main issue is around getting back to that footy that we have played throughout the year,” he said.
“We dropped off on the weekend so the boys were hungry this week.
“We got a double session with a slightly longer week … we were able to get back to the contest.”
Crows defend Tex rest call after disappointing loss
Adelaide forwards coach James Rahilly says the Crows made the right decision to rest spearhead Taylor Walker for what ended up being a disappointing loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Rahilly also said he doesn’t feel the Crows are too reliant on the former captain in attack, saying the “system broke down” against the Bulldogs.
The Crows decided to rest the 33-year-old Walker for the trip to Ballarat to take on the Bulldogs.
Walker ended up sitting out on what was the Crows worst performance of the season as they were convincingly beaten by the Bulldogs by 45-points.
Rahilly said he believed the Crows made the right decision to rest Walker.
“Yeah I think so, we looked at Tex and he was a bit sore that week,” he said.
“He didn’t train so we had some good discussions about it and it seemed like the right thing to do.”
The Crows only managed the five goals for the game in Ballarat but Rahilly said that wasn’t down to Walker being absent.
“No affect on the way we moved the ball, a little bit of leadership stuff. We weren’t happy with a lot of our contest and how we defended,” he said.
“Tex does help that with the leadership stuff but the way we moved the ball I don’t think Tex would have added amazing value.”
Over the past three seasons the Crows have a 20 per cent win-loss record (2-8) when Walker has not played.
They have a 40.9 per cent ratio when Walker has taken to the field across the same period.
Rahilly said the Crows were not too reliant on Walker.
“I don’t think so, when you watch it the system broke down,” he said.
“When you aren’t good at a contest, your defence and your offence just break down.”
Walker along with young gun Riley Thilthorpe (knee) are set to return to take on Brisbane at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Tom Doedee is expected to be available after he sat out the loss due to concussion.
Rahilly said the Crows would need to improve their contest work against the Lions.
“We were really disappointing in the contest work and with our pressure, which I think we have become known for our pressure and our tackling,” he said.
“Obviously they are really strong with their handball and their shape around the footy but we have been really good in that.
“On the weekend we just got completely outworked.
“The first five minutes we started OK and looked like us but then they kept showing up at the contest.”
The Crows actually won clearances 50-39 and centre clearances 14-6, but Rahilly said their execution wasn’t good enough.
“Just probably the quality of the clearances, their ability to get the ball from the inside to the outside was very strong,” he said.
“They got some deeper entries and ours were more a quick kick and the forwards didn’t react to those contests very well either.
“I thought they got beaten, they’ve had easier days but that is on the whole team to play our system.
“It usually starts at the contest and our ability to extract the ball from inside to outside and get a few better looks going inside 50.”
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