Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs likely to miss another week with a knee injury
Ruckman Sam Jacobs is almost certainly out of Adelaide’s crunch game against North Melbourne but Crows forward Tom Lynch says the team has “full trust” in Reilly O’Brien to do the job.
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He will be opposed to an All-Australian ruckman but Tom Lynch says Adelaide has “full trust’’ in Reilly O’Brien to do the job if he is called on, as expected, for Saturday’s early season crunch match against North Melbourne.
After playing his first AFL game in three seasons against Geelong last week, O’Brien is almost certain to be asked to back up against the winless Kangaroos after lead ruckman Sam Jacobs was restricted to light duties at the Crows’ main training session on Wednesday.
Veteran Jacobs, who turned 31 on Wednesday and missed his first game in three years in the loss to the Cats after hurting a knee in the round two win against Sydney, has yet to be ruled out of the game with North.
But the fact he wasn’t able to get out of much more than a jog three days before the Marvel Stadium clash does not bode well for his chances of playing.
“He trained a little bit but he’s obviously got a little more to do to get himself up for this week,” forward Lynch said.
“It’s only Wednesday, so we’ll give him every opportunity, as a senior player, to get himself right.
“If that isn’t the case then we’ve got full faith in Reilly to come in and play his role again.”
O’Brien, 23, performed solidly against Geelong, with 11 disposals, 28 hit-outs and 85 SuperCoach points opposed to Rhys Stanley.
But Kangaroos star Todd Goldstein — an All-Australian in 2015 and one of the competition’s premier ruckman — presents an even greater challenge.
Lynch, however, insists O’Brien, if needed, can compete with him.
“He’s been working on his craft for a while now, he’s had a wonderful summer, and every time he’s come in he’s been great, so we have full trust in him,” Lynch said.
Happy Birthday to the big man, @samjacobs24! Sauce turns 31 today ððð #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/aATX73z6kA
â Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 9, 2019
After dropping two of their first three games, the Crows understand the importance of this week’s clash against a winless team that appears to be better than its results suggest.
“It’s a really important game, we’re disappointed and frustrated with the position we’re in,” Lynch said.
“We’re not in the position we want to be but we also know what we’re capable of and that if we get things right we’re pretty dangerous.’’
Adelaide needs to replace long-kicking wingman Paul Seedsman, who will miss four-to-eight weeks with a knee injury.
Lynch named Hugh Greenwood, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Myles Poholke as leading contenders for an AFL call-up.