AFL news 2023: Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide name Round 17 teams

Sunday’s game against Essendon is as close to an eight-point game as you’re going to get – so why did the Crows spend time at the movies this week? Matthew Nicks explains, plus full teams.

Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks says the Crows’ clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium could be seen as an eight-pointer given how tight the race for finals is.

The Crows will take on the Bombers in Melbourne on Sunday searching for just their second win of the season away from Adelaide Oval.

Nicks has tried different levers in the Crows’ most recent away trips in a bid to break the winless streak.

But after a stirring performance against Collingwood at the MCG last time they were on the road, Nicks said the Crows were confident in their preparation for the Bombers clash.

“We won’t do anything different, we have had our chances away from home in games that we could have won, and we look back on and should have won,” he said.

“We didn’t, so that is (what we need to) work on, the ability to remain composed when we have those opportunities.”

The Crows sit seventh on the ladder while the Bombers are eighth.

Both are a win away from fourth but are also a loss away from 12th.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE CROWS, PORT TEAMS FOR ROUND 17

The Crows were in a winning position against Collingwood at the MCG. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Nicks said it was a massive game and the Crows had to get used to it.

“We are really looking forward to this challenge, there isn’t really any bigger. Essendon is one of the best teams at moving the footy and Marvel plays really well to doing that.

“It is that sort of deck, so we are really looking forward to that challenge.

“We know it is a big one, we don’t have many that aren’t from this point.

“We know that if we want to be in the fight we have to get it done.”

The Crows look likely to go smaller in defence for the Bombers clash, with Jordon Butts out through concussion.

At training on Thursday Lachie Sholl was preparing with the AFL side and looks set to be elevated from the tactical sub.

Ned McHenry was with the SANFL side for match sim but later joined the AFL players.

This week the Crows spent a day at the movies watching a documentary on explorer Ernest Shackleton’s expeditions to the Antarctic.

Ernest Shackleton sailed 1300km to help rescue his crew after their ship became stuck in ice in Antarctica in 1915.

Nicks said there was plenty the Crows could take away from that as they look to avoid a thaw in their season.

“Shackleton is one of the greatest leaders of all time, and someone I have admired since I first came out of footy,” he said.

“It was the perfect scenario for us to watch, look at his leadership, look at his composure under pressure. How he worked with his comrades.

“In the end there is quite a strong message.

“It is all about people, it is about emotional intelligence, it is about understanding what gets people to perform at their best.

“We don’t experience those conditions, but we are looking to make our boys perform at their best.”

TEAMS: Power’s new solution for ruck crisis as Crows go small

Port Adelaide has turned to Sam Hayes to solve its ruck crisis against one of the toughest big men to face in the competition.

Hayes hasn’t played at AFL level since Round 11 last year, but Scott Lycett’s injury has opened the door for the forgotten Power man to play an eighth senior game.

The Power gave promising youngster Dante Visentini a late debut against Essendon last week when Lycett failed his fitness test.

But with the Gold Coast and Jarrod Witts, standing at 209cm and weighing 100kg, in store for this Saturday’s clash at Adelaide Oval the Power have gone with the 24-year-old Hayes.

He is one of three changes the Power have made as Ken Hinkley’s side look for a 13-straight win.

After missing the last two games through illness and then personal reasons Junior Rioli returns for the clash against the Suns.

Young defender Lachie Jones also comes into the team after he spent a month on the sidelines with a broken jaw.

Sam Hayes is Port’s hopeful new solution to its ruck crisis. (SANFL Image/David Mariuz)

Along with Visentini, Riley Bonner and Quinton Narkle have been omitted while the sub last week Jase Burgoyne has dropped out of the Power’s 26.

Bonner, Visentini, Narkle and Francis Evans are in line to be the tactical sub for the Power.

Adelaide is set to go in with a smaller defence for the Crows trip to Melbourne to take on Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Jordon Butts is out with concussion and young key defender James Borlase has been named in the Crows extended squad.

But the Crows went smaller in their defence at training on Thursday.

Lachie Sholl, who was the sub last week, looks set to come into the 22 after he trained with the AFL side.

Ned McHenry was with the SANFL side during match sim but then did join the AFL side later on in the session.

Butts was concussed in the Crows’ win over the Kangaroos. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Patrick Parnell, Harry Schoenberg, James Borlase and Elliott Himmelberg have been named on the Crows extended interchange.

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said he was still working through the structure of the back six in Butts‘ absence.

“Obviously Buttsy is a big out, he’s been our rock down there,” Nicks said.

“The most pleasing part is that we’ve got players who are ready to play at SANFL level and have been pushing to play.

“We’ve played some great footy where we’ve shuffled in games, but at the same time we’ve got guys playing good footy below.”

PORT ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST SUNS

Saturday July 8, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.McKenzie, D.Houston

HB: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, D.Williams

C: M.Bergman, J.Horne-Francis, W.Drew

HF: Z.Butters, T.Marshall, T.Boak

F: D.Byrne-Jones, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper

FOLL: S.Hayes, O.Wines - C, C.Rozee

I/C: J.McEntee, J.Finlayson, J.Rioli, L.Jones

EMG: F.Evans, Q.Narkle, R.Bonner, D.Visentini

In: S.Hayes, J.Rioli, L.Jones

Out: R.Bonner (Omitted), D.Visentini (Omitted), Q.Narkle (Omitted), J.Burgoyne (Sub)

SUNS

B: C.Ballard, S.Collins, M.Andrew

HB: L.Weller, D.Macpherson, W.Powell

C: B.Ellis, B.Humphrey, B.Fiorini

HF: T.Miller, N.Holman, J.Lukosius

F: B.Ainsworth, B.King, L.Casboult

FOLL: J.Witts - C, M.Rowell, N.Anderson

I/C: R.Atkins, S.Flanders, H.Oea, D.Swallow

EMG: C.Burgess, J.Farrar, M.Rosas, B.Long

In: T.Miller

Out: B.Long (Omitted), M.Rosas (Omitted)

ESSENDON v ADELAIDE CROWS

Sunday July 9, 3:20pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

B: A.McGrath, B.Zerk-Thatcher, J.Laverde

HB: M.Redman, J.Ridley, K.Langford

C: N.Martin, Z.Merrett - C, D.Heppell

HF: S.Durham, S.Weideman, J.Caldwell

F: M.Guelfi, P.Wright, J.Stringer

FOLL: A.Phillips, D.Parish, A.Perkins

I/C (FROM): B.Hobbs, D.Shiel, W.Snelling, N.Cox, N.Hind, N.Bryan, J.Kelly, J.Menzie

In: N.Cox, N.Hind, N.Bryan

Out: None

CROWS

B: B.Smith, N.Murray, M.Michalanney

HB: M.Hinge, J.Worrell, W.Milera

C: C.Jones, J.Dawson - C, R.Sloane

HF: J.Rachele, D.Fogarty, L.Pedlar

F: L.Murphy, T.Walker, I.Rankine

FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays

I/C (FROM): P.Parnell, J.Soligo, R.Thilthorpe, N.McHenry, L.Sholl, H.Schoenberg, E.Himmelberg, J.Borlase

In: P.Parnell, H.Schoenberg, E.Himmelberg, J.Borlase

Out: J.Butts (Injured)

Originally published as AFL news 2023: Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide name Round 17 teams