Reilly O’Brien recalled to help Sam Jacobs take on gun Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy
How the Crows are hoping to emulate West Coast’s successful grand final tactic of using two specialist ruckmen to negate the influence of dominant Collingwood big man Brodie Grundy.
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Adelaide’s decision to unleash a two-ruck attack was on Don Pyke’s radar for a couple of weeks, the Crows coach has revealed, but the need to stop the AFL’s premier ruckman in Brodie Grundy was the catalyst for the decision.
After going for all of the season with just the sole ruckman, and then either getting Josh Jenkins or Andy Otten to provide support, the Crows will roll out a ruck tandem of 200th gamer Sam Jacobs and emerging big man Reilly O’Brien for the must-win clash against Collingwood on Saturday.
Ahead of the game against the Pies, in which the Crows need to win to keep their finals chances alive, Pyke said joining teams who have deployed a dual-ruck attack this year had been on the cards for the Crows in recent weeks.
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“It probably has been on the radar for a little while but it certainly hasn’t been high in the conversations,” he said.
“It’s probably quite a unique situation … but it’s Collingwood, it’s Grundy, it’s what we think can get an advantage.”
West Coast was able to negate Grundy’s influence in last year’s grand final by playing two ruckmen, while GWS tried the tactic earlier this year — but the Adelaide born Grundy had a field day out against the Giants.
Pyke said the Jacobs and O’Brien would rotate between the ruck and forward, and even if the conditions are wet at Adelaide Oval on Saturday that would not alter his plans.
“It is something that we haven’t done in the past but we recognise Grundy and his influence on the game,” he said.
“We feel like it is the right mix for us.”
Andy Otten has made way for O’Brien, who was dropped for the trip to Perth last time after establishing himself in the Crows best 22 after Jacobs went down with injury earlier this season.
Pyke said Otten going out of the side was also due to Collingwood’s forward line being quite small, meaning a third tall backman was not required.
He also said Jenkins, who was dropped two weeks ago amid speculation on his future, was in the conversation to play this weekend.
Paul Seedsman comes in for his 100th game against his old side, in place of Rory Atkins.