Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke’s faith in exiled pair Bryce Gibbs and Josh Jenkins rewarded, but concern for Rory Sloane hamstring injury

Crows coach Don Pyke says co-captain Rory Sloane is in doubt for next week’s big home clash against GWS as he praised the returns of Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs after their demotions.

Josh Jenkins celebrates a goal with Crows teammates. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

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Adelaide coach Don Pyke says he never doubted the impact exiled pair Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs could have when he recalled them for Saturday night’s stirring comeback win over Melbourne.

The only sour note to the two-point win in Darwin was a hamstring injury to co-captain Rory Sloane in the second quarter.

“It looks like a fairly low grade one but he (Sloane) wasn’t able to come back on which puts him in some doubt for next week,” Pyke said.

Rory Sloane of the Crows sits on the bench with his hamstring iced next to Eddie Betts in Darwin. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

On Sunday, Adelaide science and medical Services Coordinator Steve Saunders says the injury looked to be a “stretch mechanism-based” hamstring strain and would require scans on Monday to determine its severity.

Jenkins was Adelaide’s best with 16 disposals that he won everywhere from deep in defence to marking on the wing and providing an option in front of goal. He kicked 2.3 including the one that sparked the final quarter fightback and set at least two others up.

Gibbs meanwhile was dropped because of his defensive pressure — or lack of — but returned to the side when Matt Crouch didn’t come up from an abdominal injury.

Rory Sloane did not return after injuring his hamstring in the second quarter. #AFLDeesCrows pic.twitter.com/OigSwrAyUZ

— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2019

So when Clayton Oliver had 23 disposals in the first half for Melbourne at TIO Stadium, who did Pyke turn to with the tagging job in the second? Gibbs, and he shadowed Oliver for the rest of the game and kept the Demon to just 11 touches after that.

“I was happy with how they both played, I didn’t have any real fear that they weren’t capable of performing that way, we know with both those guys that at their best they’re in our best 22 and I was really happy for them tonight,” Pyke said.

“I thought they had an impact on the game at some crucial times and did some really good things.”

Josh Jenkins celebrates an important goal for the Crows against Melbourne. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

If Jenkins wasn’t kicking the goals he was fighting hard to keep the ball alive and he pinch hit in the ruck to help Reilly O’Brien against Max Gawn.

“He worked really hard, it was somewhat a difficult night for our forwards, we didn’t create a lot of opportunities and we certainly didn’t keep it in our front half as regularly as we have been, but when he had his chances he took them and he competed hard ahead of the ball.”

Gibbs proved to the coaching staff he could be given a run-with role and had the discipline to go head-to-head with one of the game’s elite midfielders in Oliver.

“We lost Sloaney and thought Oliver was doing a lot of the damage in the first half, so Gibba went onto him and was able to really nullify his influence which is great,” Pyke said.

“Some of the things we’ve been talking to Bryce about, for him to do that is a real feather in his cap.”

Pyke also praised Reilly O’Brien who had four more hit-outs than Max Gawn and helped turn the tide in the second half. Gawn did however have 25 disposals around the ground as one of Melbourne’s best on the night.

Reilly O’Brien battles Melbourne gun Max Gawn in the ruck. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“Some of our contest work around the clearance improved after half-time, I thought O’Brien had a really good battle with Gawn.

“Gawn generated a fair bit of ball for them and took some strong marks but from a hit-out point of view we were able to nullify his influence there and win some clearance which is important because it gives us some field position.”

The win was critical for Adelaide who moves to 6-5 ahead of a big month against GWS, Richmond, Geelong and Port Adelaide.

“They’re all important wins, there are no easy games, we dropped two close games in the last two weeks … so it’s nice to be on the right side of the ledger.

“But the challenges keep coming because we face a red-hot GWS at home next Saturday.”

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