Crows name five debutants as they start their 2020 mission: back-to-back premierships

The Crows have named their squad to take on Brisbane at Hickey Park in their round one clash on Saturday. And there will be five new players lining up in the club’s tricolours.

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Adelaide begins its premiership defence against Brisbane on Saturday with five players making their debut in the Crows tricolours.

Veteran mid-forward Courtney Gum – who was lured out of retirement by coach Matthew Clarke – will pull on an Adelaide guernsey alongside new teammates midfielder Najwa Allen, defender Nicole Campbell and teenagers Chelsea Biddell and Madison Newman who have been named on the bench.

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It won’t bother the club at all that they will field five new players (making up for the loss of 2019 premiership players co-captains Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall, Chloe Scheer, Hannah Button and Jenna McCormick), particularly considering they blooded seven new players in their first game last year and they stormed to a stunning premiership.

Clarke said he was pleased for the five debuting footballers.

Five players will debut for the Crows on Saturday. Some of the new players drafted in October last year were Nicole Campbell, Jaimi Tabb, Najwa Allen, Caitlin Gould, Madison Newman and Chelsea Biddell. Picture: SARAH REED

“What’s been super impressive has been that clearly they’ve had to start from scratch whereas some of the other players have had 12 months or three years headstart on them,” he said.

“But their uptake’s been really quick and they’ve engaged and interacted with the group really quickly, so what they’ll bring hopefully is that they’ll understand system and what we want from them and that they’ll play their role.

“Obviously it’s going to be the first game and there will be some nerves and they’ll make some blues, but we’re hopeful they’ll feel comfortable out there and just play some footy.

“We’re not expecting anything radical, but we’re just hopeful they’ll integrate well and have a nice day.”

But if the weather forecast plays out as expected, a “nice day” for the debutants will turn into a muddy one, with up to 30mm of rain forecast for Brisbane on Saturday.

Clarke said his side was ready and raring to go.

“Overall, whole pre-season has been really positive and it’s going to be good to get going,” he said.

“Even though it’s a short window that we have, it sort of feels like it’s time.”

The Crows leave Adelaide at lunchtime on Friday and take on Brisbane at Hickey Park on Saturday from 4.40pm.

Originally published as Crows name five debutants as they start their 2020 mission: back-to-back premierships