AFL 2022: All the latest Adelaide Crows pre-season news

Paul Seedsman is making slow progress in his recovery from concussion, while a Crows recruit sent a scare through their camp after a knee knock. Get the latest Crows training insights.

AFL Round 17. Essendon vs Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne. 09/07/2021. Paul Seedsman of the Crows . Pic: Michael Klein

Adelaide wingman Paul Seedsman has started running again as he recovers from concussion.

Seedsman sustained a head knock in training before Christmas and symptoms lingered, prompting the Crows to take a cautious approach to reintegrating him.

The 29-year-old resumed running this week. Teammate Brayden Cook said it was pleasing to see Seedsman on the track.

“The club’s taking a real cautious approach to it because concussion’s nothing to mess around with,” Cook said.

“He’s a really important player for us.

“He’s been massive for me and a massive role model.

“He’s a great wingman and a great bloke.”

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While Seedsman was running at Friday’s session, Wayne Milera was involved in full contact drills as he continued his comeback from ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee last summer.

Recruit Jordan Dawson was sore after a knee knock and forward Shane McAdam was set to be assessed after copping a hit to his jaw during match simulation.

Cook spent much of last pre-season - his first at the Crows and in the AFL - separate to the main group, being eased into training from shoulder surgery.

The skilful wingman/half-forward ended the campaign playing the last three games, surprising himself and coach Matthew Nicks.

Nicks conceded before Cook’s debut that he had not expected him to line up at AFL level in 2021.

Playing his first game in the Round 21 Showdown continued a rapid rise for the 19-year-old, who mainly played in the Southern Football League’s juniors in 2019.

“I was massively underdeveloped coming into the (Crows) team and I kept knocking on Nicksy’s door, asking different questions about what I need to do to get better, and also Goddsy’s (SANFL coach Michael Godden) ... to work on different aspects of the game,” the lifelong Adelaide supporter said.

“It was a very quick rise from Happy Valley to South Adelaide ... and then to the Crows.

“Debuting in a Showdown was very special.”

Paul Seesdman celebrates a goal with Rory Sloane.

STAR CROWS RECRUIT NAILS MIDFIELD AUDITION

Adelaide star Tom Doedee says the AFL should avoid postponing games as he backs the list sizes at clubs to be able to cope with the challenges of the pandemic in 2022.

But the defender has all but given up hope of lining up alongside Jordan Dawson this season, with the recruit set on a midfield role.

The AFLW had to cancel two games on the weekend after the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane were unable to field teams after being hit by players in Covid-19 protocols.

Nearly all Crows players were on the training track on Monday, after they and Port Adelaide had about a quarter of their lists sidelined by protocols last week.

The Power also had nearly a full group available at Alberton on Monday.

In sports overseas, especially English soccer and the NBA, matches have had to be postponed after teams were hit hard.

However, in England now, there is criticism that some of the Premier League teams that have recently applied for their games to be postponed are exploiting the rules to push back potentially tricky games.

AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield has suggested that state league players should be used if club’s are struggling for numbers because of Covid-19 cases and close contacts.

Doedee said the lists of clubs should be able to handle it.

“I’m not sure if anyone has it 100 per cent correct across the world,” he said.

“I just want to make sure that we get the best opportunity to play our best 22 each week.

“I think I would prefer, with the size of the lists, that we have that we keep playing.

“Ideally it would be that it’s not a full 10 or 14 days quarantine where it is a case of missing two games if you do get it.

“I don’t know if postponements would work in our game... I know the premier league has done it and now they will have to play catch up a lot down the road.”

Doedee said it could actually be a good thing for more players to get an opportunity.

“I think with list sizes, and especially our group it would be good to see different guys play but in saying that I don’t want too many games being affected,” he said.

“As long as the players playing are capable and ready to go and not infected then I don’t think postponements would be needed.”

Tariek Newchurch tackles Paul Seedsman. Picture: Michael Marschall.

With nearly a full group in action the Crows were able to do some match sim on Monday.

No. 6 draft pick Josh Rachele looks on track for a Round 1 spot with the exciting forward in the stronger blue team during the simulation.

Wayne Milera was also on the blue team and moved well, while gun recruit from Sydney Jordan Dawson was deployed in and around the ball.

Doedee said he expected Dawson to be either on ball or on the wing, saying there was little chance he would join him in defence.

“We are trying to get him back there but he refuses, every time we have a backs meeting we are like “come down Daws” and he says “nah I’ve graduated from the backline”,” Doedee said.

“So I can’t see him playing down back, his weapon, his kick, is unbelievable and his vision is so good and the way he reads games with ball in hand is second to none at the club.

“I think having him up the ground playing midfield and wing and being that connection between Smithers (Brodie Smith), Chayce Jones and Andy McPherson and get it in his hands and lacing it out to Tex (Taylor Walker) and Fog (Darcy Fogarty) I think that’s the best spot for him and we are extremely excited about what he brings.

“Because we saw at Sydney that he is an elite talent... I’m super pumped to see him in the midfield although I wish I was giving him handball receives off half back.”

Captain Rory Sloane and Shane McAdam did running to the side while the other players did match sim, while Riley Thilthorpe left the training track early after training away from the main group.

Matt Crouch, Fischer McAsey, Patrick Parnell and Lachie Murphy also trained away from the main group.

Originally published as AFL 2022: All the latest Adelaide Crows pre-season news