Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke concedes veteran Scott Thompson did not do enough to hold his spot

SCOTT Thompson would be the first to admit he didn’t have the game he would have liked against the Western Bulldogs last week, coach Don Pyke says.

Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke says veteran Scott Thompson will still have a role to play for the rest of the year, despite losing his spot this week. Picture: AAP Image/MORGAN SETTE

ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke says veteran midfielder Scott Thompson did not do enough in last week’s big win over the Western Bulldogs to keep his spot to play Melbourne on Saturday.

The 34-year-old came into the side for his first game of the year and finished with 10 disposals and five tackles in the 10-goal win over the reigning premier but has been dumped for young star in the making Hugh Greenwood who was rested last week.

Scott Thompson has lost his spot after failing to impress in his first game of the year against the Bulldogs. Picture: Sarah Reed

“He (Thompson) would be the first to admit as we thought, he didn’t have the game he would have liked last week,” Pyke said before the Crows were due to fly to Darwin on Friday morning.

“There is a role for Thommo to play so it’s about him continuing to have good form in the SANFL and if opportunities present we know the quality of the guy and the experience, and I expect he will still have a role to play for the rest of the year.

“Leadership is one of the things he brings to the table but we assess the team on what we think is the best team to play and win the game, and Hugh Greenwood comes back in who has been in good form and unfortunately for Scott he didn’t perform to the level that has kept his spot, it’s about performance really.

“He’s been fine, he’s a professional footballer, he understands the nature of the game is performance-based, as I said, he was as disappointed as anyone with how he played last week but he’ll go back and I expect he’ll perform really well at SANFL and put his name up for selection again soon.”

The other change to Adelaide’s team to play the Demons is the return of Tom Lynch who has recovered from viral meningitis and he replaces Wayne Milera who pulled up with a sore calf after training on Wednesday night.

Tom Lynch gives the thumbs up to the crowd at half-time last week and will play against Melbourne tomorrow. Picture: Sarah Reed

“He’s (Lynch) been popping into my office pretty much every day making sure he’s right to go, he trained really well the other night and is ready to go,” Pyke said.

“It’s been a combination of things, once he got through the recovery phase he was able to start doing some walking and running and he’s trained the last week, so it’s just been a question of monitoring his energy levels and he’s been really positive in that space.”

Adelaide is hopeful Milera’s calf is only a one-week injury.

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