AFL 2024: Five key things to watch for in Adelaide’s 2024 internal trial in Port Lincoln
Who will win a spot in defence? Will Darcy Fogarty play? What role will Dan Curtin have and who will get more midfield minutes? Here’s what to watch out for in Adelaide’s intraclub.
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Adelaide’s bid to return to finals for the first time since 2017 will kick off in Port Lincoln.
The Eyre Peninsula city will be the host of the Crows internal trial, with Adelaide choosing to hold the hitout over there as part of its Community Camp in the region.
With some positions still to be claimed in Matthew Nicks’ best 22 and some draftees and those on the fringe in 2023 hoping to put their names forward for Round 1 against Gold Coast next month there will be a lot to look out for when the Crows clash among themselves.
Here’s five things to watch for on Friday evening.
KEY BACK BATTLE
With Nick Murray out for what should be at least half of the season with an ACL injury, and Tom Doedee now at Brisbane there is at least one spot up for grabs as a tall defender in the Crows backline.
Josh Worrell’s impressive stint since he came in after Doedee’s season-ending injury means he should be in the role as the hybrid third tall.
But with Jordon Butts, who should be the Crows No. 1 option down back despite an up and down 2023, out with injury there’s a perfect opportunity for other keys to put their feet forward.
Irishman Mark Keane and youngster James Borlase ended the season as the Crows key defensive options and will look to have a strong internal trial to keep their spots.
Elliott Himmelberg has been training as a defender, while after impressing on smaller opponents in his debut season could young gun Max Michalanney play taller in 2024?
WILL FOG PLAY?
A call on whether Darcy Fogarty will play is set to be made after the Crows’ training session on Thursday night.
The key forward has been battling a tight quad and the Crows are weighing up whether they take a risk with Fogarty on Friday night.
If Fogarty doesn’t play it means there will be a whole raft of players that should be in Nicks’ strongest team - or were last season - on the sidelines.
Butts and Wayne Milera are out with hamstring injuries, Jake Soligo will miss with his ankle injury as will Rory Sloane after he had his second detached retina surgery and sixth eye issue of his career.
They add to the long-term injuries of Murray and Harry Schoenberg (Achilles).
And star midfielder Rory Laird will also miss because of a wedding.
It means there will be plenty of chances for some of the younger Crows and those on the fringe to put their name forward ahead of games.
CURTIN’S ROLE
There’s plenty of excitement about Dan Curtin from the Crows coaches, players and fans.
The top draft pick is stepping up his push for Round 1 after some impressive showings at West Lakes after returning from knee soreness.
Long-term Curtin is seen as a player who could become a big-bodied midfielder with his 197cm frame but is set to begin his career as a Crow in defence.
While he might have the height of a key defender, would it be too much for the Crows to throw him into his AFL career having to man the opposition’s second best key forward?
Because of this he might come into the side as a third-tall or even as a half-back, so impressive has his kicking been since he arrived at West Lakes with the No. 8 pick of the draft.
This could be the big watch when it comes to the Crows internal trial.
MIDFIELD MIX
With Laird away the Crows’ best midfield won’t be on show.
But there will be an opportunity to see who Nicks might have his eye on for more midfield minutes in 2024.
He has said he wants to unleash Izak Rankine into the middle, while Josh Rachele looks set for more time around the ball as well.
Just how much time those two spend around the ball will be fascinating on Friday evening, while whether Sam Berry can put a disappointing 2023 behind him will be a big watch, as will if any of the younger players such as Zac Taylor, Brayden Cook and Billy Dowling can make their mark.
In the ruck contest, watch out for how much time Riley Thilthorpe spends there.
He has been splitting his time between forward and ruck as pre-season heats up.
NEW RECRUITS
After making the move from the Gold Coast, will Chris Burgess be a forward for the Crows or could he be used down back?
And what are his chances of breaking into the Crows forward line with Taylor Walker and Fogarty having two of the three tall spots?
While Curtin is pressing his case for a Round 1 debut, Walker said big-bodied midfielder Charlie Edwards was also a chance.
Where the Crows see him in his first year of West Lakes has really yet to be revealed.
Fellow draftee Oscar Ryan has impressed not only with his speed off half-back but with his one-on-one defensive work.
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