Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks to unleash top draftee Sid Draper in full game

After starting his first three games as sub, Matt Crouch having a rest will hand Sid Draper the first start of his career against Gold Coast. See the full Crows team news.

Adelaide will rest sore midfielder Matt Crouch for its clash on the Gold Coast, paving the way for top draftee Sid Draper to get his first start in the 22.

Crouch had a hip flexor issue after the Crows’ win over North Melbourne and the short turnaround to an interstate game led the club to leave him out for Saturday’s match.

Draper gets his opportunity after being the substitute for the opening three rounds.

The 18-year-old on-baller impressed when he came on during the second quarter against the Kangaroos on Sunday, booting two goals from seven disposals.

Sid Draper will start in the 22 this week for the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Goalsneak Josh Rachele, who is out for at least four weeks with a rib injury, joins Crouch among the outs, while defender Luke Nankervis and pressure forward Lachie Murphy come into the team.

Crows football boss Adam Kelly said Draper was looking forward to being part of the starting 22 for the first time as the team aimed to start 4-0.

“Sid has now been able to get three games under his belt as our sub and we have been pleased with his ability to impact in that role,” Kelly said on the club’s website.

Crouch recorded at least 30 disposals in Adelaide’s first two matches before being quieter with 19 against North Melbourne.

He will have a week off ahead of the Crows’ kicking off Gather Round at home to Geelong next Thursday night.

“Given the short turnaround between games along with interstate travel, the decision was made to manage Matt and get him ready for Geelong,” Kelly said.

Murphy was among the best in its 95-point SANFL drubbing of West Adelaide, registering 26 disposals, six tackles and five clearances.

Nankervis had a game-high 29 disposals and booted two goals.

“Murph completed a strong pre-season and has been playing at a really high level,” Kelly said.

“He is one of a number of players with AFL experience that has been performing as well as they ever have in their careers, while the opportunity hasn’t been there for them at AFL level in the opening three rounds.”

Midfielder Sam Berry will travel to the Gold Coast as an emergency.

Both clubs enter the game in hot form.

Adelaide has won its opening three games for the first time since its 2017 grand final campaign, while the Suns are 2-0 after big wins over West Coast and Melbourne.

CROWS CONSIDER RESTING TEX IN COMING WEEKS

Adelaide will weigh up resting veteran Taylor Walker in coming weeks as the team prepares for short turnarounds between matches.

Walker was set to have a light day at West Lakes on Wednesday amid a six-day break before the Crows’ away clash with Gold Coast this Saturday.

Adelaide then has only five days until they host Geelong in Gather Round on a Thursday night.

Walker, the league’s eighth-oldest player at 34, kicked four goals in the home victory over North Melbourne, helping the Crows get off a 3-0 start.

The key forward has been rested at various stages of recent seasons, including against Essendon at Marvel Stadium in round 19 last year.

Taylor Walker could be due a rest soon, says Matthew Nicks. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Adelaide will be forced into at least one change to replace injured goalsneak Josh Rachele, who is out for at least four weeks with a rib issue.

Coach Matthew Nicks said the Crows were balancing the timing of a call on Walker with the team’s form and keeping him fresh.

“We go a six-day break into a five-day break and that’s an ongoing conversation that Tex and I are having daily,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

“He won’t do a lot today.

“There’s a reality to it but there’s also a momentum piece where it’s ‘don’t flirt with that, we know how tough it is to play the footy we have been right throughout the year’.

“We’re focused on Gold Coast at the moment and I’d love to have him up there, then take him into the next one and next one, but we’ll see how we go.

“Tex makes us a more balanced footy team.

“We feel like we perform better with the way he helps a Darcy Fogarty or a Sid Draper if he’s forward of the ball.

“There’s an experience and aura he brings, taking the best defender more often than not.

“We’d love him there every week but he’s got to be able to perform at a level that makes us better so we’re just trying to balance that.”

The 36-point triumph over the Kangaroos gave the Crows their first 3-0 start since their 2017 grand final campaign.

Many AFL experts were predicting Adelaide was on its way to ending its eight-year major-round drought.

Nicks said he did not have to address the squad about keeping a lid on expectations.

“You get yourself in this routine where you don’t need to, you don’t have time to really think about the bigger picture,” he said.

“That’s where we sit at the moment, but maybe as you get challenged a bit more you find it tougher.

“At the moment, we’re week to week, ‘what’s next?’”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks to unleash top draftee Sid Draper in full game