Scott Camporeale says living on the edge suits an Adelaide entering clash against Melbourne
ASSISTANT coach Scott Camporeale says Adelaide is a different beast to the team that was thrashed by Melbourne in round 10.
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SCOTT Camporeale says living on the edge suits an Adelaide unit that has evolved from the side smashed by Melbourne at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs in May.
Adelaide must win four of its remaining games against Melbourne, Port Adelaide, GWS, North Melbourne and Carlton to make the eight.
Crows’ assistant coach Camporeale says the chemistry missing in Round 10 is returning, with Adelaide in charge of its September dream.
“They are finals for us between now and the end of the year,” he said.
“We are getting players back, guys in better form, had the break, reset ourselves.”
Adelaide has toppled West Coast, Geelong, Brisbane and lost to Richmond since its season looked shot after losing to Hawthorn at the MCG.
“Three out of the last four, pretty solid,” Camporeale said.
“The Richmond game was disappointing but the last two weeks we are back at the level we want to play in terms of our pressure, the way we move the ball and team defence,” added Camporeale, praising Riley Knight’s “terrific” jobs on Cats’ skipper Joel Selwood and Brisbane’s Dayne Beams since returning from injury.
“Our destiny is in our hands.”
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Melbourne has lost Jake Lever and its way in close games against Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Geelong since thrashing Adelaide by 91 points in the Red Centre.
“They would be pretty disappointed with the way they played and we didn’t play that well last time against them,” Camporeale said.
Champion Rory Sloane’s return from a nine-week Lisfranc injury has coincided with Adelaide’s month of revival.
However, Camporeale conceded Sloane’s foot was trampled in its dogged, five-point win against Brisbane on Saturday. Sloane said his foot was as “rough as it has felt’ after the game and expects it to “linger” for the rest of the season.
Asked if Sloane would confront Melbourne on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, Camporeale said: “I think so. He played the game out.
“If you have been trodden on with footy boots, I daresay you would have a pretty sore foot. We will wait and see. As far as I know, he is OK.”
Adelaide will welcome back skipper Taylor Walker from suspension but veteran onballer Richard Douglas is hobbled by an ankle strain.
Camporeale said star defender Brodie Smith could make a long-anticipated comeback from a knee reconstruction after impressing in the SANFL at the weekend.
“Clearly, he got through the game, was up to an AFL level, 25 possessions, and got through what he had to get through,” Camporeale said.
“He is important for us, hasn’t played for 12 months, which is a long time out of the game. We will make the right call for Brodie.”
Adelaide is in 12th place, a game and significant percentage behind Hawthorn in eighth spot, but still in the finals race courtesy of Hugh Greenwood’s four-goal effort against the Lions.
“We knew he was a different size and shape and can get under your guard,” Camporeale said of Greenwood. “He is a great contested mark.
“His forward pressure and tackling is really important to that group as well.”
Camporeale hopes rookie duo Tom Doedee and Lachlan Murphy can pass concussion protocols and face the Demons. “They seem OK,” he said. “We will have to make a decision later in the week.”
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