Forgotten Crows star Brodie Smith could be back from long-term injury in three weeks
FORGOTTEN Crow Brodie Smith is on track to return from a knee reconstruction this month, boosting Adelaide’s AFL final hopes.
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FORGOTTEN Crow Brodie Smith could be back playing in three weeks.
And if the Crows, who found some form with their stirring comeback win against West Coast last Saturday, force their way into the finals the dashing half-back could prove to be their September wildcard.
Smith, 26, hasn’t played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while attempting a tackle in the first quarter of Adelaide's qualifying final win against GWS on September 7 last year.
But he has resumed full training and, barring an injury setback, has been pencilled in to make his comeback in the SANFL when the Crows play North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on July 28.
The State League match corresponds with Adelaide’s AFL match against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
“Brodie is progressing well and has completed all the training requirements asked of him at this stage,’’ a Crows spokesman said.
“He needs to get through a month of unrestricted or full contact training and, all things going well, he can then be considered for selection.’’
An All-Australian in 2014, rebounding half-back Smith’s return, it is understood, will not be dictated by Adelaide’s AFL ladder position and its chances of playing in the finals.
If he is declared fit to play, he will, even if it means getting just a handful of games under his belt this season.
The AFL finals start on September 6.
The Crows’ SANFL side sits bottom without a win and will not feature in September.
Adelaide's plan all along has been to have Smith play two-to-three minor round matches before the finals.
Assistant and defensive coach Ben Hart said recently that Smith “looks good’’ and that ideally he would be back a month before the finals.
“That’s what he’s aiming for and it’s what the club’s aiming for,’’ Hart said.
“But with knees, things can happen, so we’ll keep assessing it. But it looks like he’s on track.’’
Smith, whose long kicking and run and carry from the back half has been badly missed by the Crows, has had a seamless recovery from his knee reconstruction.
And he indicated just how close he is to resuming when he tweeted after Saturday’s win against West Coast, “Nothing beats that winning feeling! Brilliant last quarter by the boys to get the win we needed! Boy oh boy I can’t wait’’.
Adelaide has been ravaged by injury this season, with a remarkable 15 players this week listed on its injury list.
The latest addition is dashing wingman/half-back David Mackay, who suffered rib cartilage damage in the third quarter of the win against the Eagles and will be sidelined for about a month.
The Crows could be boosted this week by the returns of important forward Tom Lynch (concussion) and utilities Sam Gibson (hamstring) and Riley Knight (hamstring).
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