Defender Rory Laird continues Adelaide Crows’ injury nightmare
JUST when you thought Adelaide’s injury woes couldn’t get any worse, the Crows have revealed star Rory Laird is no certainty to make the trip to Perth, along with Richard Douglas and Tom Lynch, and have called an early end to Brad Crouch’s season.
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ADELAIDE could be without seven of its top 10 in last year’s best-and-fairest this weekend after it was revealed star defender Rory Laird broke his hand in Sunday’s loss to GWS.
The All-Australian had X-rays this week which showed a fracture in his hand and fitness boss Matt Hass said he would need to get through training on Thursday to take on Fremantle in Perth on Sunday.
With Tom Lynch rated “unlikely” to recover from a side strain and Richard Douglas “hopeful” of recovering from a scratched eyeball from the weekend, the Crows’ injury crisis is now almost beyond belief.
Matt Crouch is in line to be the fourth player to captain the team as he is the last man standing from the official leadership group with Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane both still sidelined.
Crouch is one of just three players from last year’s top 10 in the best-and-fairest who are certain to make the trip to Perth as Adelaide’s season threatens to get away from them.
Laird is third overall in the competition for disposals this season, averaging 32.9 per game running off half-back.
“It’s not displaced and that’s a positive for us,” Hass said of Laird’s hand fracture.
“He’ll need to get through training to be available for the weekend.”
It comes as midfielder Brad Crouch had what the club considered “successful” surgery for ongoing groin soreness on Monday but he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
“The surgeon is happy with how the procedure went and Brad will now undergo a rehabilitation program,” Adelaide’s head of football Brett Burton said.
“While it is too early to put forward an exact recovery timeframe, it is unlikely Brad will play again this year.”
The club on Tuesday denied suggestions it had not been transparent with the media and fans with regards to injuries after dismissing surgery for Crouch three weeks ago.
Chief executive Andrew Fagan said surgery was always an option but not the best option at that time.
“If we thought Brad was going to have surgery three weeks ago, then Brad would have had surgery three weeks ago, that is the simplest way to answer it,” he said.
Chapman said there was no advantage to be gained in hiding or lying about injuries.
“I’ve listened to the questions being asked and the responses that have been given. We have no agenda to conceal an injury, I can’t see where there is an advantage for us to conceal and injury,” Chapman said.
“I talk to Don regularly, and things change. He can sit here at a press conference close to training, by the time he gets back to the changerooms and the boys have warmed down there could have been a couple of instances that he didn’t know about and discovers 20 minutes later.
“Things change and things change rapidly, please don’t for a moment think we are lying or hiding, there is nothing to be gained from it.”
Adelaide has been dealing with an injury crisis all season and Chapman said his board was asking questions of its football department, and was satisfied with the answers it is getting.
“The governance structure we have is one in which the coach and head of football and by invitation people like Matt Hass attend the board meeting on a monthly basis,” Chapman said.
“We are asking questions all the time, I don’t think a day or two would go by where each of those people aren’t challenged or questioned - are we doing the right things or too much of certain activities.
“Last year was a good year in terms of games lost to injury, this year not so good, I’m sure they’re reaching some conclusions.
“Is the board happy with that? We’re happy with the process that’s being undertaken to make sure we don’t get more of the same.”
2017 BEST-AND-FAIREST TOP 10
1. Matt Crouch - available
2. Rory Sloane - injured
3. Rory Laird - in doubt
4. Sam Jacobs - available
5. Richard Douglas - in doubt
6. Taylor Walker - injured
7. Tom Lynch - in doubt
8. Brad Crouch - injured
9. Brodie Smith - injured
10. Eddie Betts - available
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