AFL 2023: All the Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 12 clash against Gold Coast

Essendon free agent Mason Redman continues to be linked to a move home to South Australia. So what does Matthew Nicks think? The Crows coach was asked on Friday.

Lachie Neale of the Lions tackled by Rory Laird. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks says the Crows are looking at how they can improve their list through trade and free agency, as well as internally, as Mason Redman continues to be linked with a move to West Lakes.

The Advertiser reported earlier this week that the Crows believe Essendon rebounding star Redman is seriously considering their free agency overtures.

Redman, who finished fourth in last year’s Crichton Medal, is at the top of the Crows priority list as they seek to build on off-seasons in which they brought captain Jordan Dawson and star forward Izak Rankine to West Lakes.

Will Mason Redman join the Crows next year? Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos

When asked about Redman on Friday Nicks played a straight bat.

“It is one of those ones that we have spoken about over the years. We don’t speak about players from other clubs, it isn’t respectful and so I won’t on this occasion,” Nicks said.

“As we have said right the way through we continue to look at acquisition and how we can improve our list both from outside and internally and we will continue to look at that.”

Redman, 25, looms as a replacement for Crows leadership group member Brodie Smith at half-back should he decide to move to Adelaide. Nicks said the Crows had some young talent in defence after Josh Worrell signed a new deal on Monday.

“We had a couple of half-backs go out this week, so we are strong at this point in time,” he said.

“There are a lot of areas we still need to improve in.”

Unlucky Crow dumped after strong return, new deal

Adelaide has bolstered its defence as the Crows seek to keep their winning ways going when they travel to Darwin to take on Gold Coast.

Defenders Brodie Smith and Mitch Hinge return to the Crows side after they missed the impressive win over Brisbane with back soreness and concussion.

They replace young defender Josh Worrell and Ned McHenry, who was named as a late replacement for Smith for the Lions win.

Patrick Parnell, who was the sub, also drops out of the Crows team.

Josh Worrell has been dropped for the trip to Darwin. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Crows Head of Football Adam Kelly said Worrell and McHenry were unlucky to be dropped.

“Brodie and Mitch had played in our first ten games before injury kept them out of our line-up against the Lions,” Kelly said.

“Consistency of performances and strong availability of players have led to a number of in form players, who have performed well at AFL level, being squeezed out of our line up across the season.

“That is unfortunately the case with Ned, Josh and Patty this week.

“We are very pleased with the attitude of the squad regarding selection at the moment, and the way in which those who are missing AFL selection keep putting their hand up through strong performances in our SANFL team.”

McHenry, Sam Berry, Kieran Strachan and Brayden Cook have been named as the emergencies with one of them to be named as the Crows’ sub.

GOLD COAST v ADELAIDE

Saturday June 3, 7:30pm at TIO Stadium

SUNS

B: D.Macpherson, S.Collins, J.Farrar

HB: B.Fiorini, C.Ballard, W.Powell

C: N.Holman, D.Swallow, J.Lukosius

HF: M.Rosas, J.Jeffrey, B.Ainsworth

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

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

I/C: R.Atkins, T.Berry, A.Davies, B.Long

EMG: B.Ellis, S.Day, J.Tsitas, B.Uwland

In: None

Out: M.Andrew (Club Suspension)

CROWS

B: M.Michalanney, N.Murray, J.Butts

HB: M.Hinge, T.Doedee, W.Milera

C: L.Sholl, J.Dawson - C, J.Soligo

HF: L.Murphy, D.Fogarty, L.Pedlar

F: J.Rachele, T.Walker, I.Rankine

FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays

I/C: R.Thilthorpe, C.Jones, R.Sloane, B.Smith

EMG: S.Berry, K.Strachan, B.Cook, N.McHenry

In: M.Hinge, B.Smith

Out: J.Worrell (Omitted), N.McHenry (Omitted), P.Parnell (Sub)

Crows’ big boost ahead of Suns showdown

- Matt Turner

Adelaide has received a big boost for its trip to Darwin to face Gold Coast after getting star midfielder Rory Laird’s one-game rough conduct suspension overturned.

On Tuesday night, the Crows convinced the AFL tribunal that Laird’s tackle on Brisbane Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale during the third quarter of Sunday’s match at Adelaide Oval was not dangerous or unreasonable in the circumstances.

Their case centred on five main arguments:

■ Laird slowed Neale’s momentum rather than increased it and did not drive nor dump him;

■ Neale largely created the momentum and Laird was initially a passenger, not a driver of it;

■ Laird showed a duty of care by initially bringing Neale on top of himself;

■ Neale’s arms were not pinned;

■ The Lion’s momentum into the ground was sideways, not downward, and he did not bounce off the turf.

Match review officer Michael Christian had deemed Laird’s tackle to be careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Rory Laird has escaped suspension for this tackle on Lachie Neale. Picture: Getty Images

Crows lawyer Andrew Culshaw said that while on first look “the tackle looked a bit slingy”, Neale was “not in a position of any real vulnerability”.

“When one looks at it closely, there’s nothing unreasonable about it,” Culshaw said.

The AFL’s counsel, Sally Flynn KC, argued Neale’s left arm was pinned, that Laird caused the momentum and there was potential to cause injury.

In dismissing the charge, tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson KC said the panel believed Laird’s “slowing of momentum, that split second moment of care, contributed to Neale not being slung into the ground and being exposed to injury”.

Going into Tuesday night, AFL clubs were 0-16 this season in appeals to dangerous tackle bans and Sydney star Luke Parker’s suspension being upheld made it 17.

Then Carlton successfully appealed midfielder Adam Cerra’s ban and Laird followed in the next case.

Originally published as AFL 2023: All the Adelaide Crows news ahead of Round 12 clash against Gold Coast