Adelaide Crows coaches want to get a look at Alex Keath’s ankle under match conditions
Crows assistant Ben Hart says Alex Keath is in Adelaide’s best 22, despite the club forcing him to return from an ankle injury in the SANFL on Sunday. And he also revealed why Rory Atkins won’t be facing Collingwood.
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Adelaide assistant coach Ben Hart says key defender Alex Keath needs time on the park before he’ll be recalled to AFL football.
Keath, who was widely considered in All-Australian form early in the season, will return to football in the SANFL against Woodville West-Torrens on Sunday after missing the past three weeks with a niggling ankle injury.
Many expected Keath would walk straight back into Adelaide’s side but Hart said it was a case of needing to see the ankle stand-up under the pressures of a game.
“I think when he first went out we had the same thought, a couple of weeks to get his ankle under control and come back in,’’ Hart said on SEN SA Breakfast.
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“But as a consequence he hasn’t really been able to train a lot
“He trained yesterday and he trained reasonably well, we just thought we haven’t seen enough of him over the last month. We want to see him have a run around to make sure that ankle is OK.”
Keath, 27, is being chased by a number of Victorian clubs with the Western Bulldogs believed to be leading the race the secure his services next season.
“We’d love to have him in our side, we think he’s in our best team, but we certainly need to see him get through a game,’’ Hart added.
“It was more, not necessarily his fitness with regard to run out a game, but more that the ankle can get through the rigours of having to change direction a lot, if he gets through he’d be very close (to a senior return).”
Coach Don Pyke also ran out of patience with Rory Atkins at selection who was dropped for first time while Andy Otten was axed for Sam Jacobs’ 200th game.
“We love what Rory can bring and what he can do,’’ Hart said.
“When his form is strong he certainly helps us wins games of footy, but his last month hasn’t been at a level he’d expect and what we’d want from him.
“There is still time for him to force his way back in,’’ he said.