Huge boost for Adelaide with Dockers giant ruckman out of crucial clash against Crows

Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs should breathe a sigh of relief with Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands ruled out of Sunday’s big clash in Perth.

Eddie Betts has declared Adelaide must beat Fremantle in Perth. Picture: David Mariuz (AAP).

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ADELAIDE’S task off beating Fremantle in Perth on Sunday has been made easier with star ruckman Aaron Sandilands withdrawing from the Dockers squad.

Sandilands was originally named after missing last Sunday’s loss to Collingwood with concussion. He has been replaced in Fremantle’s 26-man squad by key defender Griffin Logue.The final 22 will be named later today.

Sandilands’ absence comes on top of that of star midfielder Nat Fyfe, who will miss one match through suspension.

And it gives Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs the chance to control the ruck and give his midfield first use of the ball at Perth Stadium.

Star forward Eddie Betts has labelled Sunday’s clash against Fremantle in Perth as one of Adelaide’s most important of the season.

Sitting outside the top eight with a 6-5 record and with seven first-choice players missing because of injury, Betts said the Crows are facing their moment of truth and must get a positive result against the struggling Dockers at a venue they have never played at.

Dockers Aaron Sandilands is assisted off the field after colliding with North Melbourne’s Sam Durdin in Perth. Picture: Will Russell/Getty

“Considering where we sit on the ladder (ninth) this is one of our most important games of the year,’’ Betts said.

“It’s a new stadium and we haven’t played there before, so it presents different challenges.

“We have trust in our game plan and we’re excited. We need to go over there and get the win.’’

Betts said Adelaide, which has rushed captain Taylor Walker back into the side from injury, will not use a succession of injuries as an excuse for its poor form, which includes losing three of its past four matches.

“We’re excited for the young kids coming through,’’ he told FIVEaa.

“We keep saying once we get injuries we need someone to come in and play their role, guys like Myles (Poholke), Jordan Gallucci and Hughy Greenwood.’’

Adelaide will fly to Perth on Saturday morning and train at the new Perth Stadium for the first time in the afternoon.

Heavy rain is forecast for Perth on Sunday, with up to 30mm of rain predicted.

Betts said the wet weather would not worry the Crows, who smashed the Dockers by 100 points in atrocious conditions at Adelaide Oval in round 10 last year.

“Last time we played Fremantle in the rain we played all right, so we’ll see how we go,’’ he said.

Former Woodville-West Torrens junior Andrew McPherson will be a Crow until 2021. Picture: Dylan Coker

The Crows received a boost on Friday when they announced the re-signing of highly rated rookie Andrew McPherson.

McPherson, 18, who is named to make his SANFL debut for the Crows against his junior club Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday after a groin injury interrupted his start to the season, has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the Crows until the end of 2021.

The Crows picked up the dashing half-back flanker at pick No 40 in the 2017 AFL draft, and lauded the selection the “biggest steal of the draft”.

Crows list manager Justin Reid said McPherson was a promising young talent with a bright future.

“Heading into the 2017 National Draft we rated Andrew really highly and we were thrilled to get him with pick No. 40,” Reid said.

“He’s just returned to full fitness after an injury-interrupted start to the year and we look forward to him showing his ability in the second half of the season.”

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