The mounting injury toll at West Lakes is beginning to hurt the Adelaide Crows

ADELAIDE is sweating on even more injuries as it prepares to face Sydney, while skipper Taylor Walker has been cited on a striking charge, topping off a forgettable night for the Crows.

Eddie Betts with medical staff at three-quarter time against Collingwood. Picture: Sarah Reed

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ADELAIDE’S rising injury toll will not be used by coaches or officials as an excuse for a couple of questionable performances.

But the truth is that the Crows are wounded and the stocks of A-grade running players have taken another blow with Eddie Betts being assessed for a hamstring tear in the next couple of days and vice-captain Rory Sloane carrying a foot injury.

Neither was influential as the Crows were punished by a hard-running Collingwood on Friday night.

Their troubles come as both of the Crouch brothers, Brad and club champion Matt, are on the sidelines for groin and hamstring injuries and is testing the depth of the midfield, which was outmanoeuvred and outrun by Magpies such as Steele Sidebottom, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar.

Taylor Walker has been cited on a striking charge, but can escape with a $2000 sanction with an early plea. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

To add to the Crows’ woes David Mackay, who suffered a concussion in round two, is also being assessed after copping another head knock.

And captain Taylor Walker has been charged with striking Adam Treloar in the second quarter.

The skipper can accept a $2000 sanction with an early plea after the AFL assessed the incident as intentional contact with low impact to the body.

The form of Rory Atkins and Wayne Milera, who both can be breathtaking because of their turn of foot and skills, have suffered as a consequence of the aforementioned’s absence or lack of fitness because significant class has been drained from the side.

There is also the foot injury from which Taylor Walker is yet to fully recover.

Coach Don Pyke pointed out that there was only one change in the side from the team that was impressive in beating Richmond a fortnight ago, but that game was charged with emotion and the other thing about playing with a team cut down by injuries is this: eventually it will take its toll.

Eddie Betts, who finished the match in his tracksuit after injuring his hamstring, chats to Josh Jenkins who also saw little of the ball. Picture: Sarah Reed

Pyke conceded that Sloane wasn’t himself — he had only one kick by half time after being shut down by Sidebottom — but noted that he wasn’t alone.

“Rory’s had a little bit of a foot (injury) coming out of the Richmond game that he’s had for a couple weeks,” Pyke said. “That’s progressed and getting better, but he was part of a midfield that got badly beaten tonight. That’s the reality. He’s one piece of that midfield group.

“Did he have the influence he would’ve liked? No, but he had a few mates.”

The club will know more about Eddie Betts as he is likely to have scans on Monday.

But it is never a good sign when a player is icing down his hamstring as soon as he gets to the bench and it will be a big ask for Betts to reach full fitness by the time the team flies out to Sydney on Thursday.

“From what I’ve been told from the doctors, it’s just precautionary,” Pyke said. “He just felt a bit of tightness.

“At that point, there was no real point of risking him, so we just iced that up and we’ll get that assessed next week.”