AFL 2023: The latest Power and Crows teams news ahead of round 23
With their season on the line on Saturday, the Crows will welcome back one of their stars, meanwhile the Power have recalled a veteran to take on Freo. Check out the full teams here.
Star forward Izak Rankine will return for Adelaide’s do-or-die match against Sydney on Saturday night.
While Port Adelaide are set to welcome back former skipper Travis Boak as the Power hunt a top two spot.
The Crows need to beat the Swans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night to keep their finals chances alive.
Adelaide will have a big boost with Rankine back for the first time since the Crows loss to Melbourne at the MCG in which he suffered a hamstring injury.
Rankine was in the mix to play in the Crows loss to Brisbane last week but Adelaide chose to hold him over to be fully fit for the Swans clash.
He and Josh Rachele return to Adelaide’s 22 in a huge boost for the Crows.
Luke Pedlar and Luke Nankervis come out with Pedlar to be the sub.
Crows head of footy Adam Kelly said Rankine was a big boost for the Crows.
“Izak was very close to selection last week and is ready for Saturday night,” Kelly said.
“He has been terrific for us this season and is a welcomed inclusion given the magnitude of the game ahead of us.
“Last week we used Josh in the sub role and thought that he had an impact on the game, this week it will be Luke in that role.
“With Izak coming back into the line-up there was a squeeze on forwards for the starting 22 but we are in the strong position of being able to utilise the depth of talent we have in the sub role.
“Across the season, the 23rd player has been important for us on numerous occasions and we are fortunate to have a number of players well suited and able to impact positively in the role.”
The Swans will regain captain Dane Rampe but have lost key forward Joel Amartey to injury.
At Alberton the Power will regain Boak for its trip to Perth to take on Fremantle on Sunday.
The Power star missed Port Adelaide’s win over GWS last week, that secured a top-four spot, through illness.
He has been named in the extended squad alongside young midfielders Jackson Mead and Hugh Jackson on an eight-man interchange bench.
If Jackson makes the cut it will be his AFL debut.
Sam Hayes will continue in the ruck despite carrying a shoulder injury with the Power’s big man stocks again thin with injuries to Scott Lycett, while Dante Visentini missed the win over the Giants with a quad issue.
ADELAIDE CROWS v SYDNEY SWANS
Saturday August 19, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
B: B.Smith, J.Borlase, M.Keane
HB: M.Michalanney, J.Worrell, W.Milera
C: J.Soligo, J.Dawson – C, M.Hinge
HF: B.Keays, D.Fogarty, S.McAdam
F: L.Murphy, T.Walker, I.Rankine
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, M.Crouch
I/C: R.Thilthorpe, H.Schoenberg, R.Sloane, J.Rachele
EMG: L.Nankervis, B.Cook, L.Gollant, L.Pedlar
In: I.Rankine
Out: L.Pedlar (Omitted), L.Nankervis (Omitted)
SWANS
B: T.McCartin, D.Rampe – C, R.Fox
HB: N.Blakey, H.Cunningham, J.Lloyd
C: B.Campbell, J.Rowbottom, E.Gulden
HF: S.Wicks, H.McLean, T.Papley
F: W.Hayward, L.McDonald, I.Heeney
FOLL: T.Hickey, C.Mills, L.Parker
I/C: O.Florent, J.Buller, D.Stephens, Ch.Warner
EMG: R.Clarke, A.Francis, L.Melican, M.Roberts
In: D.Rampe, B.Campbell, J.Buller
Out: A.Francis (Omitted), M.Roberts (Omitted), J.Amartey (Injured), R.Clarke (Sub)
FREMANTLE v PORT ADELAIDE
Sunday August 20, 4:40pm at Optus Stadium
DOCKERS
B: B.Cox, A.Pearce – C, C.Wagner
HB: J.Clark, L.Ryan, H.Young
C: L.Henry, M.Johnson, J.Aish
HF: S.Switkowski, J.Treacy, L.Schultz
F: M.Frederick, J.Amiss, S.Sturt
FOLL: L.Jackson, C.Serong, A.Brayshaw
I/C (FROM): N.Erasmus, N.Wilson, T.Emmett, K.Worner, J.Corbett, T.Colyer, J.O’Meara, B.Banfield
In: N.Wilson, T.Emmett, T.Colyer, B.Banfield
Out: M.Walters (Injured)
POWER
B: D.Williams, A.Aliir, D.Houston
HB: K.Farrell, T.Jonas – C, R.Burton
C: Z.Butters, W.Drew, X.Duursma
HF: W.Rioli, T.Marshall, J.McEntee
F: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Finlayson, S.Powell-Pepper
FOLL: S.Hayes, O.Wines, C.Rozee
I/C (FROM): T.Boak, J.Mead, J.Horne-Francis, L.Jones, H.Jackson, M.Bergman, F.Evans, O.Lord
In: T.Boak, J.Mead, H.Jackson
Out: None
Watch: Crow’s emotional address after sad retirement
- Josh Barnes
Long-kicking defender Paul Seedsman will not play football again after a concussion panel recommended he retire despite the Adelaide veteran still being desperate to pull on the boots.
The former Collingwood dasher announced his retirement on Wednesday, after not playing since round 23, 2021 due to concussion.
He sat before an independent AFL concussion panel, which advised he no longer take part in contact sport, the same recommendation that saw Sydney’s Paddy McCartin retire this week.
Seedsman still struggles to concentrate on regular tasks even after not playing for 18 months as he continues to fight concussion symptoms.
He battled nausea and migraines throughout 2022 that saw him ruled out of this current season back in January.
Seedsman, 31, said he had just gotten back into enjoying football, so stepping away from the game was not easy.
“It’s always hard letting go of something you still want to do and every part of me still wants to play,” he said.
“But I’ve had time to digest that I can’t and I’m comfortable with that, I don’t stew over ‘what ifs’, I try and look at getting myself healthy.
“I’ve been able to get back to enjoying watching footy again, and that’s what has also made this difficult because I see the club going in a strong direction, I’d love to help them get to the next stage, but now I will enjoy watching them for years to come.”
Seedsman played 132 games for the Magpies and Crows from 2012 to 2021 and his stellar 2021 season across half-back and the wing saw him named in the All-Australian squad of 40.
He played for Adelaide in the 2017 grand final loss to Richmond and labelled the 2017 home preliminary final win over Geelong and a round 1, 2021 win over the Cats as his highlights.
“There are things I could go back and change but as a journey I’ve just loved it and my time in Adelaide, I look at very fondly,” he said.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said Seedsman was full of class as a person.
“While we are disappointed for him that he did not get to add to his games tally after (his 2021 season) we are all immensely proud of what he was able to achieve and grateful for the role he has played in helping guide our young group forward,” Nicks said.
‘Excited by the growth’: Sloane speaks on career extension
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane will play on in 2024 after signing a one-year contract extension.
The 33-year-old stood down as Crows captain for the 2023 season, but on Tuesday, Adelaide announced it would not be his last.
Sloane said his love for the club was stronger than ever.
“I love where this club is heading, both on and off the field, and I’m excited by the growth we have seen this year,” Sloane said.
“While we obviously train and play in an elite environment, I have often spoken about there being a local footy club feel about the place and it’s what I love.
“There are lots of genuine people looking out for each other and it translates to on-field performance where we have shown that our best is definitely good enough to match it with any team.
“I want to contribute and do all I can to make this club the best it can be, and I appreciate the support I have and continue to receive.”
Crows to wait on Hinge after knee scans
Adelaide will assess defender Mitch Hinge ahead of its do-or-die clash against Sydney after scans cleared him of any structural damage to his knee.
Hinge, who has been a revelation in defence this year, looked to be in serious trouble in the dying seconds of the first quarter during Adelaide’s loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday.
The 25-year-old hyperextended his knee but was able to return to the game with it heavily strapped.
Despite playing out the game, Hinge underwent scans on his knee.
Any structural damage has been ruled out, but Hinge will be assessed this week for the Crows’ vital game against the Swans.
A loss for either will likely mean the end of their finals chances with the Swans in the eight by just two points and the Crows outside by a win.
But Matthew Nicks’ side has a superior percentage than many of their rivals and West Coast in their final home and away game of the season.
The former Lion is the seventh-ranked general defender, and No. 1 interceptor, in the competition since Round 16.
Adelaide should regain Izak Rankine after a decision was made to hold him back from the Lions game to ensure he is fully fit to take on the Swans.
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