Crows face down defensive Dockers

ADELAIDE'S midfield-driven game plan - and Graham Johncock as a forward - is to be tested for the second time in a week by an ultra-defensive rival.

Fremantle v Adelaide Round 1

ADELAIDE'S belief in a midfield-driven game plan - and Graham Johncock as a forward - is to be tested for the second time in seven days by an ultra-defensive rival.

A week after being suffocated by Collingwood, the Crows can expect a stronger strangle in midfield as Fremantle coach Ross Lyon stands firm on his "Ugly Docklings" theme at Subiaco tomorrow.

And the Adelaide midfield is to be denied one of its classiest movers - to break away from the Fremantle "flood" - as David Mackay will not be risked because of a slight hamstring strain.

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson last night predictably cast aside defender Ricky Henderson to open up a place in the on-field 18 for key forward Taylor Walker as he returns from a two-game ban.

But the shuffle of Johncock to defence to replace Henderson was complicated by the recall of one-game tall defender Sam Shaw.

Adelaide's formula of spending 25 per cent of its match committee meeting on considering the opposition would have been shortened yesterday while Lyon savaged the critics of his defensive playbook.

The first-year Dockers coach is compelled to stand firm on his strategy of big numbers at the contest and behind the ball - a theme that again tests Adelaide's readiness to return to AFL finals after a two-season absence.

Lyon described the long queue of critics - who include the Dockers' fans and Richmond great Kevin Bartlett - as "minnows (who) like to get heard above the pack".

"There's clearly some unbalanced and sensationalist views," said Lyon. "At the end of the day we're 5-4, we've played some great footy and we're really determined."

And firm on Lyon's much-criticised playbook.

"We're crystal clear on what's to be fixed and how to do it. There's really no panic," said Lyon.

Sanderson has also shown no panic after having his team, in particular his midfield, exposed with a last-quarter blackout against the Magpies.

While Henderson was dropped, Sanderson described him as "unlucky".

"He hasn't really done much wrong, but we wanted to get Shaw back in," said Sanderson last night. "As we saw, Sam was fantastic against Greater Western Sydney but then had a little injury setback with his hamstring, and we didn't want to risk him.

"With Fremantle's forward set-up, Shaw gives us the flexibility of another really good defender. We really like him as a player and he makes us look really settled back there."

FREMANTLE reacted to its derby loss to West Coast by cutting former Crows ruckman Jon Griffin, Jay van Berlo and Alex Silvagni. They are replaced by Garrick Ibbotson, Jack Anthony and novice midfielder Hayden Crozier.

Adelaide's status as a club where players want to stay - an image not seen at West Lakes late last year - was reinforced yesterday with 2010 club champion Richard Douglas and defender Matthew Jaensch signing contract extensions.

Douglas has signed for three years, and Jaensch for two.

PORT ADELAIDE finally recalled young ruckman Jarrad Redden last night as it rebalances its talls for the home clash with Carlton tomorrow.

Redden will replace Daniel Stewart.

CARLTON arrived in Adelaide last night making two unforced changes to a winning side. The Blues recalled Chris Yarran and Matthew Watson while cutting Andrew Collins and Kane Lucas.