Rory Atkins won’t captain Adelaide in pre-season opener against Fremantle, despite being named on AFL team lists

RORY Atkins will not captain Adelaide in Sunday’s opening JLT Community Series pre-season match against Fremantle, despite being named by the AFL as skipper.

NO CAPTAIN’S CALL: Rory Atkins will not captain Adelaide against Fremantle despite being listed as skipper by the AFL. Picture: Sarah Reed.

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TOM Lynch, and not Rory Atkins, will captain Adelaide in Sunday’s opening JLT Community Series pre-season match against Fremantle.

The classy wingman, nicknamed “The Rat’’, was listed as skipper in the Crows squad released by the AFL on Thursday but Adelaide says this is a computer glitch and that it has yet to name a captain for the Strathalbyn Oval clash.

“The AFL computer system, in which the teams are lodged, just selected the first name on the team sheet, which happened to start with ‘A’, as captain,’’ a club spokesman said.

Regular skipper Taylor Walker (foot) and his 2017 vice-captain Rory Sloane (rested) have not been named in the Crows’ 30-man squad.

Tom Lynch, one of two players along with Daniel Talia from last year’s six-player leadership brigade to play the Dockers, will be acting captain.

Eddie Betts has been rested while Scott Thompson has retired and joined Port Adelaide as an assistant coach.

Adelaide is expected to name its 2018 leadership group next week with Walker almost certain to be appointed captain for a fourth consecutive season.

Ace recruit Bryce Gibbs, from Carlton, is tipped to jump straight into a leadership position.

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