Tackling machine: Sam Berry to burst back into Crows midfield to counter Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson

The Crows have a plan to tackle the now-strong Gold Coast midfield – literally. Tackle machine Sam Berry will be unleashed for the first time since Round 10, 2023 as Adelaide looks to start its 2024 strong.

Sam Berry breaks through an Esava Ratugolea tackle during a practice match between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval last month. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Adelaide midfield coach Nathan van Berlo says the Crows will “back in our system” against the Gold Coast’s highly powered engine room – including clearance king Matt Rowell.

The Crows will open their season against a Suns side on the Gold Coast that is full of confidence after their big win over Richmond in Opening Round.

Fuelling this season opening win was Rowell’s 20 clearances, becoming the first player to achieve this feat since Paul Salmon in 1998.

Van Berlo said the Crows would have plans to curtail Rowell’s influence but it would be a more holistic approach.

“Yeah an amazing effort last week and we definitely looked at how he went about his work and how the Tigers played him,” he said.

“We have Plans A, B and C, which we do every week… so we are well aware of what he is capable of.

“Not to mention (Noah) Anderson and (Touk) Miller who can also do damage around the contest as well.

“But we will back in our system.”

The Crows have named tackling machine Sam Berry for his first AFL game since Round 10 last year.

Van Berlo said Berry would add to their contested mix.

Sam Berry breaks through an Esava Ratugolea tackle during a practice match between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval last month. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“We love the way Sam goes about his work, he just loves going hard at the footy,” he said.

“What it gives to our contest work, it is something we don’t necessarily have.

“We have some contested ball bulls with (Rory) Laird, (Jordan) Dawson and Crouchie (Matt Crouch).

“But Bez has a different element around the footy.

“He loves playing with those guys and when he is playing the way he did last time and the way he has trained throughout pre-season I think our fans can be pretty excited about what he can do hopefully in years to come.”

James Borlase held off Mark Keane for the second key defender position in the Crows backline, despite a strong pre-season from the Irishman before he suffered a concussion against Port Adelaide in match simulation.

Van Berlo said Borlase’s performances in the match sim and then in pre-season against West Coast ultimately won him the spot.

“In the opportunities he was given with two pre-season games he didn’t put a foot wrong,” he said.

“We like to reward form when it is there and continuity in training and with James he has been really hard to play against in training, he has defended well, been rock solid with the ball in hand.

“So to perform like that in training and then play well in games… he is rewarded.”

Originally published as Tackling machine: Sam Berry to burst back into Crows midfield to counter Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson