Adelaide Crows news: All the latest updates ahead of the Crows’ clash with Fremantle

Fremantle in Perth, a shortened week. It loomed as the perfect time to execute the plan to rest Taylor Walker for the Crows, but that plan could be out the door thanks to some new information.

Fremantle in Perth, a shortened week.

On paper, it is one Adelaide could have pinpointed before the season started as to when it decides to manage veteran Taylor Walker.

It still might be the plan – but two factors have somewhat complicated it.

One is Darcy Fogarty being in doubt to take on the Dockers on Friday night after his shoulder injury against GWS on Saturday.

The second is that, given Walker is simply playing that well at the moment, do the Crows risk snapping his run of form?

Or, in doing that, do they risk potentially running their talisman into the ground?

Darcy Fogarty suffered a shoulder injury against the Giants. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

We know that the Crows will manage the 34-year-old this year and will take the opportunity to do it in game, as they did in Round 1 against St Kilda.

But the decision on when to do it is now a delicate balancing act with Walker still showing how important he is to Matthew Nicks’ side.

His two goals in challenging conditions against the Giants takes his tally to 14 for the season and 12 from his past four games.

And they haven’t just all been cheap easy goals.

His Gather Round opener against Geelong was a sensational effort and, against the Giants, he continued to prove his ability in the ruck at a forward stoppage is still a big weapon

Walker is still a key part of the Crows side, so managing him throughout this season is key.

Dan Curtin playing as a forward/wing means the Crows could rest Walker and still go with the three-tall attack they like.

But to do this against the Dockers, surely you need Fogarty fully firing.

Neither him or Walker were on the track at West Lakes on Monday for the Crows’ light flush run.

It looked like Fogarty could have suffered a potentially bad shoulder injury, so hard was the bump from Harry Himmelberg on him, so the fact he has escaped one is a massive boost for the Crows.

But as the Crows wait for the shoulder knock to settle to determine whether he is a chance to take on the Dockers, how heavy will the debate be around whether they take Walker to Perth?

It is going to be an interesting selection debate anyway for the Crows with James Peatling to return from his one-week suspension, while Josh Rachele continues to push for a return from his broken ribs this week.

They were both on the track and given the session was light, Rachele’s ribs weren’t tested at all.

But he is pushing hard to return, which means there could be some changes to the side that defeated the Giants.

Zac Taylor could have kicked two goals against the Giants but now would be nervous about holding onto his spot, while do the Crows also make Sid Draper the sub again or even give him a run in the SANFL after he was subbed out in the third quarter?