Adelaide Crows recall veteran midfielder Scott Thompson after a 293-day absence to add strength for battle with AFL premiers

ADELAIDE will reinstate veteran midfielder Scott Thompson to its 22 for its home clash with AFL premiers Western Bulldogs in Friday Night Football.

Veteran Crows midfielder Scott Thompson returns to the Adelaide line-up after a 293-day absence.

HE’S back. Crows veteran midfielder Scott Thompson returns to the AFL for his first major league game since the semi-final against Sydney on September 17.

Thompson’s return to the big time - after a 293-day absence - is coupled with the surprise “resting” of first-year midfielder Hugh Greenwood and the prospect of a slog in the wet against AFL champions Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in Friday Night Football.

Thompson, 34, is one of three changes to Don Pyke’s line-up that will play the Bulldogs for the first time at Adelaide Oval.

Pyke also has recalled veteran utility Andy Otten to cover the loss of key defender Kyle Hartigan who is to miss at least a month with a hamstring strain.

Speed machine Charlie Cameron (wrist) resumes after a week on the sidelines to force upgraded rookie Jonathon Beech out of the 22.

Greenwood, 25, has been surprisingly cut from the Adelaide line-up after just six games - in which he has impressed with his contested work - but remains on the three-man emergency list.

Premiership coach Luke Beveridge has made four changes, but has not recalled key forward Travis Cloke after losing Tom Boyd with mental health issues.

The Bulldogs have recalled midfielder Tom Liberatore - most probably to annoy Adelaide vice-captain Rory Sloane - defenders Matthew Boyd and Fletcher Roberts and forward Clay Smith.

They replace Robert Murphy (hamstring), Tom Campbell (abdominal strain), Shane Biggs (calf) and Tory Dickson.

“We’ve had a good week identifying doing some of the things we haven’t been consistent enough with and if we get some of them right then we’re going to be hard to beat on Friday night,” Beveridge said on Thursday.

PORT ADELAIDE will not face West Coast goalkicking threat Josh Kennedy at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Sunday. He needs at least another week to recover from a calf injury.

The Power on Friday will trim its 25-man squad to the match 22. Coach Ken Hinkley has put key defender Jack Hombsch (knee) back on his team sheet and kept half-back Hamish Hartlett (corked thigh) in contention for the 22.

Hinkley has added the untried midfielders Joe Atley and Willem Drew to the 25.

WEST COAST also has to trim its 25. So far, the Eagles have lost Sam Butler (hamstring) and dropped Chris Masten.

Coach Adam Simpson has Shannon Hurn, midfielder Matt Priddis, forward Mark LeCras, ruckman Scott Lycett and Will Schofield up for recalls.

The game will mark Richmond recruit Matthew White’s 150th AFL game - his 45th in four seasons with Port Adelaide.

The Power will travel to Perth on Saturday morning.

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