Port Adelaide and Adelaide must make some serious selection decisions for Cats and Swans clashes in round five

Chris McDermott believes Adelaide and Port Adelaide face some serious selections decisions heading into Round 5 with many of their stars under fitness clouds.

There is a “ Locker full of Hurt “ after Round 4 in the AFL and several teams have suffered significant losses that may prove too big to cover.

The Crows are one of those suffering as Rory Sloane continues to be a problem for the team and coach Don Pyke.

Not only is the Crows star dealing with speculation about his playing future, most recently from former Carlton skipper Chris Judd, who suggests the Crows should let him go as a free agent. but he is also dealing with attempting to play when not 100 per cent.

Football can be hard work some times and when you are dealing with an opposition tag its even harder.

Playing as a permanent forward doesn’t appear to be an option his coach Don Pyke is prepared to consider but Sloane has limped through the last two losses and must not be allowed to limp through a third.

The Crows have lost Eddie Betts for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury.

David Mackay is also in some doubt after another knock to his head.

Its the second knock in recent times and he must be considered a risk, for his own sake.

The good news out of Friday night’s loss to Collingwood is that Mitch McGovern is ok after his knock to the jaw and he will suit up against the Swans.

In defence or attack is the only question on him now!

The Crows are suffering from the lack of gametime they have given their list.

A healthy playing group can sometimes be a curse , especially if you don’t cash in and the Crows have not cashed in on their past two years of good fortune. .

The injury curse has finally struck and they are suffering thru lack of faith in their 2nd and 3rd tier players.

With the Crouch brothers still a few weeks away along with Sam Gibson , Lachlan Murphy and Kyle Cheney replacements are limited.

Curtly Hampton and Riley Knight got through their returns in the SANFL with flying colours and are both in line for a recall.

The Crows will take on a Sydney team without their key forward Sam Reid but with Buddy Franklin, after the superstar showed no ill effects from his stinger to his shoulder in their win over the Bulldogs.

The injury story is a similar one over at Alberton with new recruit Tom Rockliff likely to miss a few weeks with a dodgy calf that has hampered his performances in recent times.

Charlie Dixon has a broken nose and has spent time off the track this week but he doesn’t appear to be in any doubt of playing against Geelong.

The Cats are using Marc Blicavs and Rhys Stanley as their ruckman with Zac Smith injured but Stanley is 200cm and can run like the wind. Blicavs is 198cm and is no slow coach himself. Neither are overly physical and it may just be the game that suits Power youngster Billy Frampton the most.

Chad Wingard’s nose is in a similar condition to Dixon but he is also expected to play.

The same cannot be said for emerging forward Todd Marshall. The lightly-framed youngster might miss a game after sitting out most of the second half last week with concussion.

Sam Powell Pepper will be back after his one-week suspension.

Geelong’s problems are many. No Gary Ablett. No Lachie Henderson. No Cam Guthrie and no Nakia Cockatoo.

Around the country.the injury curse didnt spare many.

St Kilda will be without Dylan Roberton after his collapse and subsequent heart scare in their loss to Geelong. The good news is the Saints defender may only miss the one game as will Rowan Marshall after copping some friendly fire from team mate Josh Billings and ending up with a nasty dose of concussion.

The Hawks will be without Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo for up to six weeks.

Rioli did a medial ligament in his knee. Puopolo a hamstring. Yes another man down with a hammy.

Melbourne will be without Jordan Lewis after the veteran broke a bone in his hand that has required surgery. Neville Jetta is also in doubt after rolling his ankle.

Unfortunately for the Dees, Jay Viney is still a few weeks away from his return as is big man Tom McDonald.

The Gold Coast’s depth will challenged with Pearce Hanley to undergo shoulder surgery ruling him out for 12 weeks and ruckman Tom Nicholls out for 16 weeks after similar surgery.

Carlton will be without skipper Mark Murphy and possibly Matthew Kreuzer.

Murphy has plantar fasciitis and was forced out of the Blues clash with North Melbourne before the ball had been bounced while Kreuzer continues to struggle for full fitness and has had further scans on an undisclosed leg issue.

GWS will sweat on the fitness of Jeremy Cameron after the gun forward was seen hobbling late in the game against Fremantle with a leg problem.

Daniel Venables might be missing for the Eagles after injuring an ankle while Essendon could pay a price for their win over the Power with forward James Stewart finishing the game in some discomfort with a sore ankle but he does have until Anzac Day to recover.

Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter will also be absent this week but his was a self inflicted injury copping a one-match ban for rough conduct.

Richmond had another clean bill of health following its 93-point thrashing of Brisbane in a bruise free encounter at the MCG.

The Tigers remain the most healthy team in the AFL.

Crows Rory Sloane under pressure from Collingwood’s Tom Phillips. Picture Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE

Eddie Betts hamstring 2 weeks

Kyle Cheney hamstring 1 week

Brad Crouch groin 4-5 weeks

Matt Crouch hamstring 1 week

Sam Gibson hamstring 1 week

Alex Keath ankle Test

David Mackay concussion Test

Andrew McPherson groin 4-5 weeks

Lachlan Murphy hamstring TBC

Brodie Smith knee Indefinite

BRISBANE

Dayne Beams illness Test

Mitch Hinge hamstring Test

Marco Paparone sciatic nerve Test

Jack Payne shin 3-4 weeks

Daniel Rich ankle Test

Sam Skinner ACL TBC

Toby Wooller finger 10 weeks

CARLTON

Ciaran Byrne quad 3-4 weeks

Sam Docherty* knee Season

Darcy Lang ankle Test

Matthew Lobbe quad 4 weeks

Caleb Marchbank ankle 4 weeks

Cillian McDaid foot 4-5 weeks

Jarrod Pickett wrist 10 weeks

Alex Silvagni hamstring 2-3 weeks

Tom Williamson back 3-4 weeks

COLLINGWOOD

Taylor Adams hamstring 1-2 weeks

Tim Broomhead broken leg Season

Jamie Elliott hamstring 1-2 weeks

Tyson Goldsack knee Season

Levi Greenwood knee and quad 1-2 weeks

Kayle Kirby heart issue TBC

Darcy Moore hamstring 1-2 weeks

Josh Smith hamstring 1-2 weeks

ESSENDON

Patrick Ambrose wrist Test

Travis Colyer foot 3-4 weeks

Matt Dea leg 2-3 weeks

Aaron Francis mental health TBC

Martin Gleeson ankle 8-10 weeks

Ben McNiece hamstring 1 week

FREMANTLE

Michael Apeness ankle Test

Harley Bennell calf test

Sean Darcy knee test

Hugh Dixon ankle test

Stefan Giro knee test

Brady Grey hamstring 3-4 weeks

Bradley Hill knee 1 week

Griffin Logue foot test

Lee Spurr knee test

Cam Sutcliffe concussion test

GEELONG

Gary Ablett hamstring 2-5 weeks

Aaron Black shoulder test

Nakia Cockatoo knee (PCL) indefinte

Cory Gregson foot TBC

Cam Guthrie ankle 6-8 weeks

Lachie Henderson knee Indefinite

Lincoln McCarthy quad 1-2 weeks

Quinton Narkle* knee 4-6 weeks

Sam Simpson knee Test

Harry Taylor foot indefinite

GOLD COAST

Callum Ah Chee hamstring 1-2 weeks

Pearce Hanley shoulder 12 weeks

Sean Lemmens broken hand 4-5 weeks

Tom Nicholls shoulder indefinte

Peter Wright calf test

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Matt Buntine knee 1-2 weeks

Brent Daniels knee 1-2 weeks

Josh Kelly groin test

Adam Kennedy knee 1-2 weeks

Zac Langdon hand Test

Rory Lobb knee Test

Tom Scully ankle 10 weeks

Will Setterfield knee season

Lachie Tiziani knee season

Zac Williams Achilles indefinite

HAWTHORN

Grant Birchall PCL eight weeks

Shaun Burgoyne hamstring 1 week

Jonathan Ceglar back test

James Frawley migraine Available

Dylan Moore shoulder 4 weeks

Paul Puopolo hamstring 4-6 weeks

Cyril Rioli medial ligament 5-6 weeks

MELBOURNE

Neville Jetta ankle test

Jordan Lewis hand 1-2 weeks

Tom McDonald toe 2-3 weeks

Pat McKenna hamstring indefinite

Aaron vandenBerg ankle 8-10 weeks

Jack Viney foot 3-4 weeks

NORTH MELBOURNE

Taylor Garner groin test

Kyron Hayden shoulder test

Nathan Hrovat thumb 2-3 weeks

Oscar Junker concussion test

Robbie Tarrant hamstring test

Declan Watson knee indefinite

PORT ADELAIDE

Matthew Broadbent ankle test

Willem Drew foot test

Joel Garner shoulder test

Cameron Hewett shin test

Todd Marshall concussion test

Tom Rockliff calf test

Paddy Ryder Achilles tendon 2-3 weeks

RICHMOND

Daniel Rioli foot indefinte

ST KILDA

Josh Bruce back 6-8 weeks

Nathan Freeman hamstring 3-4 weeks

Doulton Langlands glandular fever indefinite

Rowan Marshall concussion test

Daniel McKenzie concussion test

Tim Membrey knee test

Darren Minchington knee 5-7 weeks

Dylan Roberton heart indefinite

Koby Stevens ill test

Jimmy Webster hip test

SYDNEY

Jordan Dawson quad test

Jordan Foote toe test

Alex Johnson groin test

Lewis Melican hamstring 1-2 weeks

Sam Naismith knee season

Toby Pink ankle 3-4 weeks

Sam Reid quad 8-10 weeks

WEST COAST

Brendon Ah Chee ankle 1 week

Oscar Allen shin 1 week

Hamish Brayshaw knee 5 weeks

Liam Duggan hamstring Test

Josh Kennedy ankle/knee Test

Eric Mackenzie toe Indefinite

Tony Olongo knee 2 weeks

Liam Ryan ankle 10-12 weeks

Nathan Vardy adductor 2 weeks

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Marcus Adams ankle 5-6 weeks

Kieran Collins ankle 4-5 weeks

Hayden Crozier knee 2-3 weeks

Tom Liberatore knee Season

Brad Lynch hamstring 7-9 weeks

Dale Morris knee 6-8 weeks

Liam Picken concussion Indefinite

Clay Smith knee 6-7 weeks

Jackson Trengove shoulder blade Test

Josh Schache ankle Test