Crows regain captain and key forward Taylor Walker earlier than expected
CROWS coach Don Pyke has regained captain Taylor Walker - 24 hours after ruling out a return of the key forward - for the big test with Fremantle in Perth, while Port Adelaide has brought in a running defender to counter Richmond’s small forwards.
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TAYLOR Walker is back - leading the Crows earlier than even Adelaide coach Don Pyke expected.
Walker is named at centre half-forward in the Adelaide starting 18 for the Crows’ first visit to the new Perth Stadium for Sunday’s afternoon clash with Fremantle.
Despite Pyke virtually ruling out Walker on Wednesday, the Crows captain resumes after missing the past three games - and four of the past five - with hamstring issues.
Walker, who has been working to a so-called “mini pre-season” in the past fortnight, headlines the preliminary Adelaide squad of 26 that is without fellow forward Tom Lynch (ribs) and All-Australian defender Rory Laird (fractured hand).
But the Crows have kept 2010 club champion Richard Douglas despite the midfielder taking a poke to the eye in Sunday’s 16-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide’s match 22 will be named Friday after Pyke considers who else joins Walker in the line-up.
His options are novices Jordan Gallucci and Myles Poholke, veteran swingman Andy Otten, ruckman Reilly O’Brien and mature-aged rookie Patrick Wilson.
Crows defence coach Ben Hart confirmed Laird could not find a way to manage his hand injury to stay in contention for selection.
“He tried hard, but he just couldn’t quite handle the ball as well as we would’ve liked so he’ll miss one week; hopefully only one,” Hart said.
FREMANTLE (4-7) has lead ruckman Aaron Sandilands to return after a week on the sidelines with concussion.
In the wake of losing 2015 Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe at the AFL tribunal, the Dockers have recalled to their 25-man squad Sandilands, small forward Brandon Matera, goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne, solid midfielder Mitchell Crowden and rookie-listed defender Ryan Nyhuis.
PORT ADELAIDE (6-4) has adjusted its defence to remove a tall - Jack Hombsch - to favour running defender Jasper Pittard as it prepares to deal with AFL premier Richmond’s small attack at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
This is the only change to the Power 22 and marks Pittard’s first AFL game since the heavy loss to West Coast in Perth five weeks ago.
RICHMOND is without Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin (calf).
Forward Jason Castagna returns after missing the past two matches with a minor knee injury along with midfielder Anthony Miles for his first senior game since round 20 last year. They replace Martin and Jack Graham.
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