Fight for spots as injured Adelaide Crows stake claim
Adelaide will have some tough decisions to make at the selection table with a quintet of injured stars set to be available for Saturday’s clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
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ADELAIDE expects injured quintet Matt Crouch, Bryce Gibbs, Paul Seedsman, Richard Douglas and Josh Jenkins to be available for Saturday’s clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
But it is likely that at least three of the group — Seedsman, Douglas and Jenkins — will resume in the SANFL “Showdown” against Port Adelaide.
Star midfielder Crouch, who hurt his hip in the Showdown 46 win against the Power last Saturday, should be available to play against the Lions while the club will have a decision to make on where the struggling Gibbs plays after he missed the derby with back spasms.
Douglas hasn’t played since badly injuring an ankle in round one and Seedsman has missed five games after hurting his knee in round three.
At the time, it appeared wingman Seedsman had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament before scans revealed only serious bone bruising.
“We should have a lot of players available for selection, so it should make for an interesting (selection) week,” Crows assistant coach Michael Godden said.
“A lot will depend on the main training session (on Thursday) and based on the fact we have no new injuries, other than Matt, and we’ve been playing well (four consecutive wins) you would expect that some players might come back through the SANFL.
“But we have to look at Brisbane and what’s best for us to win the game this weekend and if those guys are in the picture then we’ll make that decision.”
Key forward Jenkins has recovered from an ankle injury but will almost certainly stay in the SANFL after some solid AFL performances from his replacement Elliott Himmelberg.
“The side is playing well, so it’s difficult (for Jenkins) to get in,” Godden said.
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