Star midfielder Matt Crouch looks ready to go, Sloane getting through a fitness test as Brown braces for clash with Greene
As Adelaide prepares to get a midfield boost, defender Luke Brown has tapped the expertise of star forward Eddie Betts as he prepares for the talented Toby Greene on Saturday night.
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Adelaide defender Luke Brown is tapping into the expertise of Eddie Betts, whom he considers one of the best small forwards of all time, to prepare for enigmatic GWS forward Toby Greene at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Brown has been honing his defensive skill against Betts to find ways to make it as uncomfortable as possible for Greene, who alongside Betts is one of the best medium to small forwards in the competition, a club best and fairest and 2016 All Australian.
“He’s a tricky player; he’s very crafty,” Brown said of Greene.
“He’s good both in the air and on the ground.
“He’s one of those match-ups that’s tough to judge.
“You have to be right on him at all times and not give him an inch.
“But I’m looking forward to that battle.
“Eddie has been a good one (to help Brown prepare).
“Eddie can pull of those tricks as well and obviously Eddie knows how to take a good mark.
“It probably is a good match-up to have during training, Eddie Betts.
“But there will be multiple players down there and you can’t just play on one player — you have to mix it up.
“Obviously I won’t be on Toby the whole time; I’ve got to focus on the whole defence.
“When he goes off I’ll have to play on someone else; we have to see what they throw up as well.
“But at this stage I’ll focus on him.
“He’s a pretty physical player, especially off the mark. He pushes off pretty aggressively and it’s always a physical contest.”
Brown could not speak more highly of Betts, who had been giving him constant feedback.
He had been the ideal sparring partner not only to prepare for Greene but the other key forwards in the competition.
“I think playing on the best small forward in the comp, one of the greatest small forwards ever, is always tough at training,” Brown said.
“It makes my job a lot harder but he gives us tips all the time in how to make it hard for him to play and how it makes it harder for other forwards to play.
Brown’s call comes as leading midfielder Matt Crouch looks certain to play after getting through training well at Adelaide Oval on Thursday morning.
Crouch is recovering from a hip injury but showed every sign he’s ready to go at the club’s main training session, while there’s still some doubt over co-captain Rory Sloane, who is seeking to overcome a minor hamstring strain sustained in Saturday’s win against Melbourne.
Sloane is set to have another fitness test on Friday.
Adelaide faces the Giants at The Oval on Saturday night as it sets out to build on last weekend’s late-term heist against Melbourne in Darwin after trailing for most of the match.
Crouch and Sloane would both be crucial inclusions as the team is clinging to an top-eight spot.
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