Adelaide Crows to recall Eddie Betts to take on St Kilda after one week in SANFL side
Adelaide coach Don Pyke has hinted at a number of changes to the side that suffered a disappointing loss to Carlton last weekend, starting with the recall of fan favourite Eddie Betts after impressing in the SANFL.
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Crows coach Don Pyke has confirmed that fan favourite Eddie Betts will return to the senior line-up to play St Kilda on Saturday night.
While he wouldn’t say who would exit the forward line to make room for Betts — preferring to leave that decision to the match committee this afternoon — Pyke hinted at a number of changes from the team that lost to Carlton last weekend.
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“Eddie will come back in this week, which is fantastic, we’re really happy with what he produced last week and he’ll come back in,” Pyke said.
“He went back (to the SANFL) and was able to do exactly what we wanted him to do, he was able to get involved in the game, he was able to get up the ground, his score involvements were really high and it will be great to get him back in the team.”
Pyke also confirmed that emerging ruckman Reilly O’Brien — who left the field late in the fourth quarter against Carlton on Saturday with a head knock — had overcome mild concussion symptoms and would likely play against St Kilda.
“I think he’s got one more test to do, but he was able to train fully today and the expectation is that he’ll be fine,” Pyke said.
But Pyke couldn’t confirm whether or not midfielder Bryce Gibbs would get back into the team, despite a blitzing in the SANFL last week where he picked up 40 disposals, laid 10 tackles and helped himself to 11 clearances.
“He was very strong, which was good and again that will be a good discussion at match committee this afternoon to finalise what we do there,” he said.
“The number’s the number, but again there are other things that we assess in terms of our performance and he’s been outstanding, to be honest. He’s worked really hard, he’s been diligent, he’s been fully engaged in the program, he’s helped some of our younger back there, that’s the quality of the individual we’ve got and his football is improved.
“Really positive signs for Bryce, whether he comes in or not this week, regardless, he’s moving forward in the direction we’re after, which is fantastic.”
While speaking to the media at Adelaide Oval, Pyke also addressed the “difficult week” that has engulfed the club following the Blues loss.
But he said he was an optimist and he’d spent the week working on resetting the players so they could rediscover their love for the game.
“I couldn’t fault them on their training this morning,” Pyke said.