Adelaide Crows defender Jordon Butts remains in hospital with punctured lung as skipper Jordan Dawson re-signs

Adelaide defender Jordon Butts remains in a Melbourne hospital, five days after suffering a punctured lung against the Bulldogs. Get the latest on his condition, plus Jordan Dawson’s new deal.

Adelaide defender Jordon Butts remains in hospital in Melbourne, five days after puncturing his lung.

Butts went off during the first term against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday and did not return, before being taken to hospital because he had difficulty breathing.

The Crows expected him to be discharged either late on Thursday or Friday before being driven back to Adelaide.

Jordon Butts and Sam Darcy go at it last weekend. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“He’s going well,” senior coach Matthew Nicks said.

“He’s still in hospital in Melbourne so he’s with the people he needs to be with.

“We are anticipating he comes out either late today or tomorrow but there’s no chances being taken there.

“We strongly believe he’s in the spot he needs to be in and then – there’s no locked in date – hopefully he can get in a vehicle, and come back soon.”

Butts sustained an off-the-ball whack to his chest from Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy and went off the field soon after.

Asked if the club knew what caused Butts’s injury, Nicks said it had not been a focus.

“Jordon’s health and wellbeing has been number one,” he said.

Butts’ playing availability timeline is yet to be determined.

Nick Murray or James Borlase will replace him for Sunday’s home game against Gold Coast.

Matt Crouch (hip) could provide a late-season midfield boost for the Crows after being cleared to play in the SANFL on Saturday, in his first match since round 8.

Forward Josh Rachele does not have a return date from knee surgery but may soon join the coaches box.

“He’s been able to look at the positive out of it (the injury),” Nicks said.

“I know he’s going to do everything he possibly can to get back but there won’t be risks taken.

“It’ll be pushing it … whether he’s back before the end of the home-and-away season.”

‘It means the world’: Skipper adds two more years

Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson says he is excited for the club’s future after adding another two years to his contract.

Dawson was already tied to the Crows until the end of 2027 before extending his deal until after the 2029 campaign on Thursday.

The 28-year-old said he was glad to recommit with so long remaining on his contract.

“For them to have faith in me and sign me for a few more years, it means the world,” Dawson said.

“I’m really honoured to represent the club as captain, a club I barracked for growing up.”

Jordan Dawson has added another two years to his contract at the Crows. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

“I’m excited by the future of the club and where we’re heading.

“It was pretty open dialogue between my management and the club.

“They were keen to lock away a few more (years) and I was obviously more than keen to hang around.”

Dawson has played 84 games for the Crows, including all 17 this year, since joining them via a trade from Sydney at the end of 2021.

The defender turned midfielder has been instrumental to third-placed Adelaide’s charge towards a first finals series in eight years this season.

He sits second in Brownlow Medal betting and third in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year voting.

Dawson would not buy into whether this was his best individual campaign, saying “I’ve still got so much I want to improve on and get better at”.

“As a group, it’s definitely the most consistent we’ve been able to play and that’s due to other guys performing around me as well,” he said.

“I feel like all our leaders are playing good footy and the young guys coming through have shown great development.”

Dawson credited his development to maturing off the field, the Crows coaches and club’s high-performance’s staff helping “get his body right and performing week in, week out”.

Coach Matthew Nicks said Adelaide saw standout attributes in Dawson before recruiting him, but probably did not expect the ex-Swan to shine to the level he did so quickly.

“When you watch a person lead, you see others follow and we saw our group follow in a big way,” Nicks said of the third-year skipper.

The coach was grateful Dawson had re-signed.

“He’s such an important part of what we’re doing,” Nicks said.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows defender Jordon Butts remains in hospital with punctured lung as skipper Jordan Dawson re-signs