There are a number of Crows knocking down the selection door in the SANFL but will Don Pyke reward their form?

With its season hanging by a thread, the heat is on Adelaide’s match committee. There are a number of Crows knocking down the door in the SANFL but will Don Pyke reward their form?

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With its season hanging by a thread and the critics — from the media and the fan base — getting louder by the day, the heat is on Adelaide’s match committee ahead of its must-win clash with the Suns.

After dropping 256-game veteran Bryce Gibbs last week and rewarding the consistent SANFL form of midfielders Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Myles Poholke, what does Don Pyke do following the disappointing 12-point loss to the Kangaroos?

“We operate in an environment where we must reward people for strong performances,” Pyke said after his decision to include Ellis-Yolmen in his Round 4 side.

If Pyke sticks by his statement, there are a number of others knocking down the door with strong SANFL form.

After a quiet opening two rounds by his high standards, contested-ball beast Hugh Greenwood took on the responsibility of being the No. 1 man, tallying 32 disposals, six tackles, nine clearances and two goals against the Eagles on Saturday.

The 190cm midfielder is averaging 15 contested possessions and 116 Champion Data ranking points per game and is the leading candidate for a recall to a side which has lost the contested possession count by 50 over the past two weeks.

Bryce Gibbs in action against the Eagles in the SANFL. Picture: Tom Huntley

And there’s Gibbs, who surely won’t be made to wait too long in the state league after 28 disposals, six marks, six clearances and six tackles.

If Pyke looks to rejuvenate a struggling attack, which ranks 18th in the competition, former Tiger Tyson Stengle could be the man to provide a spark.

The 20-year-old has booted 7.8 in three matches and is averaging eight score involvements and 85 ranking points per game.

Given the need for pressure, Stengle’s five tackles in three matches could be the only thing working against him.

He he’s only played one senior game but second-year midfielder Patrick Wilson continues to dominate the lower level.

The long-kicking right-footer is averaging 33 disposals — the fourth-most in the competition — eight score involvements, seven clearances and 116 ranking points per game.

Where he fits in is the big question but he couldn’t do much more.

And does Pyke statement ring true with first-year players?

While the Crows’ aren’t short of ball-winning defenders, pick No. 64 from last year’s draft, Lachlan Sholl, is putting up some outstanding numbers in his first year at the club.

The tough, running half-back is averaging 26 disposals, 19 uncontested possessions, eight marks, four score involvements and 94 ranking points in the opening three rounds of the season.

Ned McHenry is tackled by Sturt's Sam Colqhoun. Picture: Tom Huntley

Fellow draftee Ned McHenry, who impressed in the pre-season trial against Port Adelaide, has made an impact in his first three games in the SANFL, averaging 19 disposals, seven marks and four tackles.

Speaking of first-round draft picks, how much longer will Darcy Fogarty and Jordan Gallucci sit in the state league?

After an interrupted pre-season, Gallucci, taken at pick No. 15 in 2016, hasn’t been a standout in the reserves, averaging 17 disposals per game but Adelaide is crying out for speed.

And, Fogarty, Adelaide’s prized No. 12 selection from 2017, has been trialled as a defender in the first three matches, despite being drafted as a forward.

While he struggled in the opening two rounds, Fogarty, who is averaging 13 disposals, seven intercept possessions and five spoils per game, was impressive against the Eagles on Saturday and will, without a doubt, make a contest at either end of the ground.

In 2019, Gibbs is averaging 20 ranking points less than he did in 2018, the biggest differential of any player on the list.

Forward Josh Jenkins (-19) and defender Kyle Hartigan (-15) are next.

Will they be the ones to follow Gibbs to the SANFL?

While Pyke admitted the Crows “didn’t have a great deal of winners on the night”, he hinted post-match he will, again, back some of his out-of-form players in.

“We’re not going to make massive, wholesale changes on the basis of that.”

Adelaide fans are crying out for change. Will they get it?

CROWS IN THE SANFL

Patrick Wilson

Disposals: 32.7, Clearances: 6.7,

Champion Data Ranking points: 116

Hugh Greenwood

Disposals: 23.3, Contested possessions: 15,

Ranking points: 116

Lachlan Sholl

Disposals: 25.7, Marks: 7.7,

Ranking points: 94

Tyson Stengle

Total goals: 7, Score involvements: 8.3,

Ranking points: 85

Jordan Gallucci

Disposals: 17, Score involvements: 4.3,

Ranking points: 71

Ned McHenry

Disposals: 18.7, Marks: 6.7,

Ranking points: 71

Darcy Fogarty

Disposals: 12.7, Intercepts: 7,

Ranking points: 52

OUT OF FORM

Adelaide’s ranking-point differentials

2018 2019 Diff

B. Gibbs 97 77 -20

J. Jenkins 81 62 -19

K. Hartigan 48 33 -15

R. Laird 108 95 -13

E. Betts 67 60 -7

Originally published as There are a number of Crows knocking down the selection door in the SANFL but will Don Pyke reward their form?