Crows wait until Friday morning to test fitness of midfielder Matt Crouch for top-eight battle with Lions

Matt Crouch has failed fitness test on Friday morning won’t join the Crows for their trip to Brisbane. Port Adelaide is destined for a refit after naming a 26-man squad for the Suns.

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Adelaide midfield star Matt Crouch has failed a fitness test and been ruled out of the clash with recharged Brisbane at The Gabba on Saturday afternoon.

The club revealed on Friday morning the 24-year-old was unable to fully recover from a corked hip suffered in Showdown 46.

Veteran Bryce Gibbs, who missed the Showdown with back spasms, will replace Crouch in the side.

The third-ranked Crows (5-3) on Thursday kept Crouch in the match 22 — despite his absence from the second half of last Saturday’s Showdown and limited training this week — while making one unforced change.

Teenager Chayce Jones returns to the Adelaide line-up after missing the past three AFL matches. Kept out of the Round 5 clash with Gold Coast by concussion, Jones replaces half-forward Riley Knight.

The Crows on Friday added Myles Poholke to the emergency list alongside Knight.

Matt Crouch runs laps at Football Park yesterday. Picture: Sarah Reed

Fifth-ranked Brisbane will give half-back Mitch Hinge his AFL debut. The 20-year-old South Australian joins the Lions’ 22 with defender Josh Walker and midfielder Rhys Mathieson.

This trio replaces axed duo Tom Cutler and Ryan Lester and the injured Zac Bailey (hamstring).

PORT ADELAIDE (4-4, 11th) is primed to give 2017 fourth-round draftee Joel Garner his AFL debut as the Power deals with the loss of Hawthorn recruit Ryan Burton (hamstring) from its defence.

The Power will on Friday name its 22-man squad to play Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Sunday with Garner, inexperienced midfielder Joe Atley, forward-ruckman Billy Frampton, recent draftee Zac Butters, half-back Riley Bonner, untried Peter Ladhams and Brisbane recruit Sam Mayes up for selection.

Port Adelaide’s Sam Mayes at training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Port Adelaide’s Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams. Picture: Sarah Reed

So far, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has cast aside young forward Todd Marshall and Aidyn Johnson and lost Burton.

And there will be a new-look to the Power attack that delivered just nine goals in the 20-point loss in Showdown 46 as Frampton appears destined to replace Marshall as a go-to option.

Power forwards coach Nathan Bassett signalled Marshall, who has kicked 3.3 in his six AFL games this season, needed to “learn out of the spotlight” by playing with the Magpies in the SANFL.

“That is the best decision for his long-term (career),” said Bassett on SEN1629 of the 16-game Marshall. “We’d love to see him get his hands on the footy a little more.”

Marshall has averaged nine disposals and just less than three marks this season.

Bassett, who coached the Power defenders last season, is anticipating a keen reaction from Port Adelaide fans to Garner’s rise to AFL ranks after being called at No. 60 in the 2017 national draft.

“Port Adelaide fans will like Joel, he is tough,” Bassett said. “And a good team player. Dan Houston is a good example of what Joel can work towards being as an AFL player.”

GOLD COAST also will trim its 26-man squad on Friday. The Suns so far have ruled out Sean Lemmens, Pearce Hanley and Touk Miller with injury.

Among the seven added to the Gold Coast squad are South Australian Sam Day.

Port Adelaide’s home clash and the Crows’ away game will not be shown live on free-to-air television this weekend. They are among the six Crows and Power matches that remain exclusive for live coverage with Fox Footy.

BRISBANE LIONS v ADELAIDE

Saturday 18 May, 1.40pm at the Gabba

LIONS

B: Hodge, Andrews, Rich

HB: Witherden, Gardiner. Robinson

C: Berry, Neale, McCluggage

HF: Rayner, Hipwood, McCarthy

F: Cameron, McStay, McInerney

FOLL: Martin, Zorko, Lyons

I/C: Walker, Hinge, Mathieson, Answerth

EMG: Christensen, Lester, Ballenden, Smith

IN: Walker, Hinge, Mathieson

OUT: Lester (Omitted), Bailey (Injured), Cutler (Omitted)

CROWS

B: Keath, Talia, Brown

HB: Laird, Hartigan, Kelly

C: Mackay, Ellis-Yolmen, Smith

HF: Lynch, Walker, Jones

F: Greenwood, Himmelberg, Betts

FOLL: O’Brien, Crouch, Sloane

I/C: Gibbs, Gallucci, Atkins, Murphy

EMG: Knight, McHenry, Hunter, Poholke

IN: Jones

OUT: Knight (Omitted), M.Crouch (hip)

PORT ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST SUNS

Sunday 19 May, 12.40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Broadbent, Clurey, Houston

HB: Lienert, Howard, Byrne-Jones

C: Duursma, Rockliff, Amon

HF: Butters, Westhoff, Motlop

F: S. Gray, Ryder, Rozee

FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak

I/C (from): Drew, Atley, Ladhams, Farrell, Bonner, Frampton, Mayes, Garner

IN: Butters, Atley, Ladhams, Bonner, Frampton, Mayes, Garner

OUT: Burton (injured), Johnson (omitted), Marshall (omitted)

SUNS

B: Harbrow, Collins, Ballard

HB: Miles, Hombsch, Weller

C: Holman, Martin, Powell

HF: Lukosius, Wright, Corbett

F: MacPherson, Sexton, Ainsworth

FOLL: Witts, Swallow, Bowes

I/C (from): Brodie, Day, Fiorini, Horlin-Smith, Joyce, King, Murdoch, McLennan

IN: Brodie, Day, Fiorini, Horlin-Smith, Joyce, King, McLennan

OUT: Hanley (injured), Lemmens (injured), Miller (injured)