Young Adelaide Crows star Max Michalanney to be sidelined with hamstring injury after Showdown whitewash

A different type of test awaits the record-breaking Crows on Friday night – and they will be without a key cog as the in-form Hawks await.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is confident his side can absorb the loss of brilliant defender Max Michalanney as the Crows prepare to take on a Hawthorn side stacked with star power.

The Crows believe Michalanney’s hamstring injury is likely to sideline him for around three weeks after he limped off in the third quarter on Saturday night’s Showdown and was replaced by sub Chayce Jones.

Adelaide has options, including stalwart Brodie Smith and Luke Nankervis in defence, and a relatively short injury list.

Max Michalanney will be sidelined by a hamstring injury. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Jordan Butts (chest) and Josh Rachele (knee) still do not have return dates but former Crows captain Rory Sloane said on Sunday Rachele should be back for finals.

Hawthorn not only has small forwards Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan in sparkling form, it has brought back key forwards Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis and run them into impressive touch.

Dear was a finals-turning forward last year in his first season and then, against Carlton, he took a massive hanger in the goalsquare and showcased his impressive range of movement.

Mitch Lewis has returned after three games in the VFL off a 2024 ACL tear and was excellent against the Blues in a forward line that also includes Jack Gunston.

Nicks said he feared Michalanney would miss some games against West Coast and Collingwood to follow the Adelaide Oval clash against Sam Mitchell’s Hawks.

“Unfortunately, it looks like Max might have done a hammy,” Nicks said.

“But having a list that is healthy, and pressure from below for spots, helps you drive right through to the end. Nobody wants to let the team down.

“We’ve got some great momentum at this point, and we know how hard it is to keep that momentum.

“The guys are doing everything possible to just continue to reset themselves and go onto the next week. We’ve been so good in that space.”

Crows are thriving off the hype — but you won’t see them buy into it

– Matt Turner

Adelaide midfielder Jake Soligo says it can be difficult to avoid the hype around the team but the biggest lesson from last year remains not looking further than a week ahead.

Soligo said the players were excited at finals being on the horizon for the Crows for the first time since 2017.

But the 22-year-old said the club was determined to try to “keep a lid on it”, knowing how well it had served so far this season during its climb to a 14-5 record.

“It is hard at times (to avoid the hype) and it’s good in a way because you can get confidence and thrive off it,” Soligo told this masthead.

You won’t catch the Crows looking past anyone. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“But you can’t look into it too much.

“It’s pretty cliche but it’s week by week.

“We’ve got to keep going with that and not going away from it.

“It’s probably the biggest thing we learnt from last year.

“If we continue that, I think we’ll be in good stead.

“Hopefully there’s good things to come.”

Soligo said the team, which had won five consecutive games, was building confidence every week.

He said experienced finals campaigners Taylor Walker and Alex Neal-Bullen were emphasising internally the need to “stick to the process”.

Walker captained Adelaide into the 2017 flag decider, while off-season recruit Neal-Bullen won a premiership with Melbourne in 2021.

“Nibbler (Neal-Bullen) is a massive one for us, the way he speaks up in meetings and drive us through the week-to-week process,” he said.

Soligo finished as the leading disposal winner (35) on the ground on Saturday night, also ranked No. 1 for inside 50s (11) and was equal-second for score involvements (nine).

He was unaware in the change rooms that the final margin of 98 points was the biggest in Showdown history and Port was held to the equal-lowest score (35) in a South Australian derby.

The final result shocked him a little.

“You don’t really understand the score when you’re out there,” he said.

“It’s contest to contest, it’s wet, trying to win the ball.

“We know they’re a good side and have got a few injuries.”

Soligo said hosting Hawthorn next Friday night would be a big test in the lead-up to finals.

“If we can bring our contest and roles, hopefully we’ll get it done,” he said.

Originally published as Young Adelaide Crows star Max Michalanney to be sidelined with hamstring injury after Showdown whitewash