Adelaide names Alex Keath in squad as it prepares for must-win Bulldogs clash
The Crows have named key defender Alex Keath in their squad to take on the Bulldogs as Port Adelaide turn to premiership ruckman Scott Lycett and drop a young gun.
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Adelaide appears poised to roll the dice on key defender Alex Keath for its last-ditch, must-win clash against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Sunday.
The out-of-contract Keath, who ironically has been linked with a move to the Dogs next year, has been named in an extended 26-man squad for his first AFL game since round 18 when he succumbed to an ankle injury.
He returned from injury via the SANFL last Sunday, where he was named the Crows’ fifth-best player in the eight-point loss at Woodville in slogging conditions.
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“It was good for him to get a run last week in the SANFL, as much as conditions weren’t really conducive,” Pyke said.
“He pulled up well.’’
Keath, if he survives the cut, will bolster a backline which needs to hold firm against the rampaging Bulldogs, who will sew up the eighth and last finals spot if they win in Ballarat.
If Adelaide wins by about five goals, it will leapfrog Luke Beveridge’s team and then hope hometown rival Port Adelaide doesn’t chase down the extra percentage it needs in the late game on Sunday to jump into the eight.
The Crows also added midfielders Hugh Greenwood and Riley Knight, who has recovered from a hip injury, to the team that was thumped by Collingwood by 11 goals last week.
Retiring defender Andy Otten also was named.
Veteran midfielder Richard Douglas will potentially play his final game for the club — and 246th overall — after on Thursday announcing he would be moving on at the end of the season, although he hasn't ruled out playing elsewhere.
Adelaide will likely play just one ruckman — veteran Sam Jacobs or his understudy Reilly O’Brien — after trialling the tag-team match-up against Collingwood star Brodie Grundy last week.
Jacobs has been named as first ruck and is favoured to get the gig.
The Bulldogs have lost premiership forward Tory Dickson to injury while regaining ruckman Tim English, who has recovered from a virus.
Rylee West, Callum Porter, Bailey Williams and Rorke Smith have been added to their squad.
PORT has recalled West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett from the SANFL for his first AFL game in a month as it tries to finish the home-and-away series on a high — and possibly make a last-ditch play for a finals berth — against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
He is one of seven incoming players in the enlarged squad, along with star rookie Xavier Duursma, who has recovered from a bruised heel, strong-bodied midfielder Willem Drew, Sam Mayes, Billy Frampton, Cam Sutcliffe and Trent McKenzie.
Coach Ken Hinkley said he expects former Sun McKenzie to play his first AFL game of the season as a replacement for regular full back Tom Clurey, who is out with a foot injury.
Young ruckman Peter Ladhams, who was taught a ruck lesson by North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein in the 86-point flogging at Marvel Stadium last week, and first-year player Zak Butters have been dropped.
“He (Lycett) played really well (in the SANFL) and we’ve been selecting on merit all year and we’ll continue to do that,” Hinkley said.
The Power must rely on the Crows beating the Bulldogs to stay in the finals hunt and Hinkley said he would be keeping an eye on the result.
“I’d imagine it (the result of the Adelaide match) will be splattered around everywhere, so it’ll be hard tto ignore when the time comes,’’ Hinkley said.
“But the reality for us is whichever way that is, there’s an obligation for us to play a proper game of football and give ourselves a chance to either continue on, or finish on a strong note.”
Fremantle lost Hayden Ballantyne and Aaron Sandilands to retirement and added Bailey Banfield, Brett Bewley, Scott Jones, Travis Colyer, Ryan Nyhuis and Jason Carter to its squad.