Small forward Tyson Stengle set for Crows debut against Gold Coast on Saturday
Adelaide has made two changes after its big Showdown loss, with a surprise call up for a first-year Crow, while Port Adelaide has recalled former captain Travis Boak from a back injury.
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Adelaide will roll the dice on a former Tiger as it tries to get its season back on track against struggling Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Small forward goalsneak Stengle — mentored by Crows champion Eddie Betts — will play his first AFL game in the Adelaide tricolours after strong form in the SANFL following his trade from Richmond at the end of last season.
As coach Don Pyke alluded to during the week, the Crows did not wield the selection axe following consecutive losses to Geelong and archrival Port Adelaide in Showdown 47 but they will try a new youngster.
Woodville-West Torrens product Stengle, who played two games and kicked two goals in two years at Tigerland before being shipped to the Crows for draft pick 62 in last year’s trade period, has kicked 26 goals and averaged 15 disposals in 12 games in the local league this season to earn his chance to shine on the big stage.
The 20-year-old has not played an AFL game since round 16, 2017.
“He’s been waiting for an opportunity and now we’re just excited to see what he brings,” Adelaide head of football Brett Burton said.
“He’s been consistently taking five-to-six scoring shots every week, so he’ll bring that scoreboard pressure as well as defensive pressure.”
The Crows also promoted forward/midfielder Riley Knight after a 22-disposal, two-goal performance in the SANFL against Norwood last Sunday.
Veteran midfielder Richard Douglas and small forward Jordan Gallucci have been dropped from the side embarrassingly thumped by the Power by 57 points.
Ace key defenders Daniel Talia (ankle) and Alex Keath (knee) have been named in Adelaide’s 22 after passing fitness tests during the side’s main training session on the Gold Coast on Thursday — a session small forward Lachlan Murphy described as the most intense the players had endured this season.
Veteran backman Andy Otten is on standby for Talia and Keath should they pull up sore.
The Suns, who have not won since edging Carlton at home in round four, lost Jack Martin and Will Powell to injury and brought in Sean Lemmens and Michael Rischitelli.
They won three of their first four games before hitting a brick wall, losing 11 consecutive matches and being thrashed by 92 points at home by Richmond last week.
Port Adelaide has named former captain Travis Boak, a late withdrawal from Showdown 47 with back spasms, in its 26-man squad to play the upstart Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on Sunday (4.10pm).
The Power also named lead ruckman Scott Lycett. who hurt a knee in a ruck contest 20 minutes into the opening term of the Showdown but played out the game, in its expanded squad, which will be streamlined on Friday afternoon.
All-Austrralian ruckman Paddy Ryder, defender Trent McKenzie and former Docker
Cam Sutcliffe were others added to the team that thrashed the Crows.
Sutcliffe — thrown an AFL lifeline in the mid-season rookie draft — would be making his Power debut if he survives the cut.
Coach Ken Hinkley said Sutcliffe’s form in the SANFL had been strong and that he “gives us a lot of flexibility’’, including tagging, which could prove beneficial given the threat of Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale.
“He’s played in all three parts of the ground — he’s played on ball, he’s played down back and he’s played in the forward line,” Hinkley said
“And he’s worked damn hard. He was mid-season draft so to do what he’s done and get himself into a position where he is now considered seriously for AFL selection is a great credit to him.’’
Hinkley said Boak had trained well on Thursday morning and should be fine to play while Lycett was kept on light duties and will be asked to prove his fitness at training on Saturday.
“I’m very confident they’ll both be okay but because it’s only Thursday and we are going to train again on Saturday we didn’t run Scotty much today deliberately,” Hinkley said.
“It wasn't because he couldn’t, it was because we have deliberately waited.’’
Ryder is on standby for Lycett should he fail his fitness test.
He missed training on Thursday through illness, along with defender Dan Houston, but Hinkley said both just had winter colds and would be available.
The Lions lost key forward Eric Hipwood, who kicked six goals against Port in their 17-point win at the Gabba in round three, with a knee injury while star veteran Luke Hodge has been “managed’’.
GOLD COAST V ADELAIDE
Saturday 13 July, 6.55pm at Metricon Stadium
SUNS
B: Lukosius, Hombsch, Harbrow
HB: Joyce, Hanley, Heron
C: Weller, Brodie, Fiorini
HF: Sexton, Corbett, Miller
F: Lemmens, Day, King
FOLL: Witts, Swallow, MacPherson
I/C: Ballard, Miles, Rischitelli, Scheer
EMG: Dawson, Horlin-Smith, Murdoch, Wright
IN: Lemmens, Rischitelli
OUT: Martin (injured), Powell (injured)
CROWS
B: Smith, Talia, Keath
HB: Kelly, Luke Brown, Laird
C: Atkins, B.Crouch, Mackay
HF: Greenwood, Walker, Knight
F: Jenkins, Betts, Murphy
FOLL: O’Brien, M.Crouch, Sloane
Interchange: Seedsman, Hartigan, Stengle, Milera
Emergencies: Otten, Jacobs, Douglas, Davis
IN: Riley Knight, Tyson Stengle
OUT: Jordan Gallucci, Douglas
PORT ADELAIDE V BRISBANE
Sunday 14 July, 4.10pm at Adelaide Oval
POWER
B: Burton, Clurey, Houston
HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones
C: Ebert, Rockliff, Amon
HF: Gray, Howard, Motlop
F: Westhoff, Dixon, Rozee
FOLL: Lycett, Wines, Boak
I/C from: Bonner, Duursma, Gray, Butters, McKenzie, Ryder, Sutcliffe, Powell-Pepper
IN: Boak, McKenzie, Ryder, Sutcliffe
OUT: None
LIONS
B: Lester, Andrews, Answerth
HB: Witherden, Gardiner, Rich
C: Zorko, Neale, Robinson
HF: Rayner, Adams, McCluggage
F: Cameron, McStay, McCarthy
FOLL: Martin, Berry, Lyons
I/C from: Keays, Christensen, Walker, Bailey, Mathieson, Payne, Smith, McInerney
IN: Keays, Walker, Mathieson, Payne, Smith, McInerney
OUT: Hodge (managed), Hipwood (injured)