AFL 2022: All the Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 5 clash with Richmond
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is considering make a huge shake-up following last week’s disappointing loss to Essendon.
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Adelaide is considering dropping down-on-form youngster Harry Schoenberg for its home clash against Richmond on Saturday.
Schoenberg has not missed a game since debuting in Round 10, 2020 but is coming off a quiet, 14-disposal performance in Sunday’s loss to Essendon and coach Matthew Nicks has hinted he may be omitted this week.
The 21-year-old midfielder lined up in the weaker side during match simulation at training on Wednesday.
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Adelaide, which enters the game with a 1-3 record, will announce its team on Thursday.
Nicks said Schoenberg’s confidence was down and the coaches were challenging him on several aspects of his game.
On-ballers Sam Berry and Jackson Hately were in the mix as potential replacements after strong SANFL showings.
“Harry’s form at the moment isn’t where he has been,” Nicks said.
“He’s dropped away a little ... so that’s one of the (match committee) discussions we’re having.
“Does he need to go back (to the SANFL) and find his confidence to find his game again and does that give an opportunity to Hately or Berry?
“He’s a really important part of the future of this footy club.”
Nicks would not reveal Adelaide’s line-up changes because his press conference was earlier in the week than usual and he had not yet informed all players.
Wayne Milera, who missed all of last season with a serious knee injury and lined up in Round 1, only to be dropped after that game, was another in contention to feature against the Tigers.
“Wayne’s really done exactly what we’re after, get some game time under his belt and match fitness, build his confidence and execution,” Nicks said.
“Hately and Berry are pumping out really strong games in the SANFL and basically saying ‘I’m ready to play at the higher level’.”
Adelaide showed again on Sunday it was becoming difficult to beat, going down by four points at Marvel Stadium.
Nicks said locking the ball inside its attacking 50 and the “connection” between its forwards and players up the ground were two areas the side needed to improve.
“We probably won the game most people will say we shouldn’t have on the night and we lost the two maybe we could’ve (won),” he said.
Defender Mitch Hinge was on light duties on Wednesday but had recovered well from a hip issue.
ADELAIDE’S NEW HERO FINALLY GETS THE NOD
By Chris Cavanagh
Adelaide young gun Josh Rachele had two ambitious goals entering his first AFL season.
Last year’s No. 6 draft pick wanted to play every game for the Crows and was determined not to be a fringe player but instead have an impact in each and every match.
So far, he’s ticking both boxes.
Rachele got a nice 19th birthday present on Monday when he received the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for Round 4 on the back of a bumper first month.
The small forward kicked three goals from 19 disposals against Essendon on Sunday to finish as one of Adelaide’s best players once again, having produced a five-goal debut against Fremantle in Round 1.
“My first game was more than what I was hoping for and then I think I’ve been fairly consistent over the last three weeks since,” Rachele said.
“Playing all the games so far has been the big tick. But I didn’t want to be the type of player on the fringe. I wanted to go in and make an instant impact and kick a couple of goals each game.”
At a time when AFL goalkicking standards are slipping, Rachele has been making the most of his opportunities and has booted 10.2 across the first four rounds.
A Victorian product hailing from the Goulburn Valley, Rachele credits his father – Shepparton Swans legend Jason – with having instilled a good goalkicking routine in him from a young age.
“Dad was a centre-half forward so he’s always been pretty big on having a nice routine and keeping everything straight with your head over the ball, just those little things,” Rachele said.
“I’ve been pretty obsessive with trying to nail that and I think I’ve hit it on the head now. It’s just about consistency and trying to handle the pressure on game day.”
Rachele taught the Harlem Globetrotters a thing or two about football during a visit to the Crows on Monday, but basketball was not one of his ball sports growing up.
Along with football, he was a talented young soccer star who turned down a scholarship offer from A-League club Melbourne City.
“I did enjoy my time there in their soccer programs but it comes to a stage where you probably have to go overseas if you’re at that level or you just continue playing in the A-League,” Rachele said.
“I always knew I’d probably come back to football and the team-orientated environment and different culture. I also just love football, the game, better than soccer.”
Rachele’s signature mullet has helped him already gain a cult following among Adelaide fans and is not going anywhere anytime soon.
“I’ve been growing it from probably 15 years old,” he said.
“I’ll never let it get to the Bailey Smith length. I’ll probably keep it the length it is. It gets to a stage where I need to trim it every now and then when it gets a bit fuzzy. But I’ll definitely be keeping it around.”
Originally published as AFL 2022: All the Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 5 clash with Richmond
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