Adelaide Crows look to Eddie Betts to add to midfield rotations

FLEXIBILITY is vital in AFL football - even for a veteran who is the master of his position as a small forward. Crows coach Don Pyke thinks at 31, Eddie Betts could make a difference.

Eddie Betts of the Crows looks on during the JLT Community Series.

AT 31 - and with All-Australian honours in the past three seasons as one of the AFL’s best small forwards - Eddie Betts would seem typecast.

But as Betts starts his 14th AFL season, his calling card could include the role of midfielder as the Crows deal with the lessons from last year’s grand final defeat. And this is even with the increased midfield depth at West Lakes this season offered by recruiting Bryce Gibbs and regaining Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Curtly Hampton from the injury list.

Betts’ work in the midfield during Adelaide’s internal trial at Football Park on Saturday morning was far more than just a summer folly, according to Crows midfield manager Scott Camporeale.

Eddie Betts in action during the Crows’ intra-club practice match at West Lakes.

“Eddie is clearly a very talented player, so we would be stupid not to use him a little bit more through there,” said Camporeale, adding Betts has worked on enhancing his fitness base in the summer.

Betts has previously - in 2015 when the late Phil Walsh coached the Crows - started at the back of the centre square at centre bounces to break the defensive ploys used on his at the goalfront. Critics question why Pyke did not revive this theme in the grand final, particularly after half-time.

Adelaide premiership coach Malcolm Blight recently noted his lesson from his three grand final losses with Geelong - before the triumphs with the Crows in 1997-98 - was to ensure his team had back-up midfield rotations in case the starting engine room stalled.

In Blight’s case, it was with half-back flankers - in particular Andrew McLeod, the best-afield with the Norm Smith Medal in both of Adelaide’s grand final victories.

Betts in the midfield mix adds to Don Pyke’s rotations that still have not included bullish Brad Crouch this summer. He missed the internal trial with an abdominal strain from training last week - and he will miss Saturday’s pre-season closer against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval.

Crouch and captain Taylor Walker (left foot) will have no pre-season form before the Crows’ premiership-season opener against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday, March 23. Adelaide still has this valued duo in its planning for round one.

Port Adelaide trained at Alberton on Saturday morning with Geelong recruit Steven Motlop proving he has overcome the calf complaint taken out of the JLT clash with West Coast in Perth.

The Power is hopeful Brisbane recruit Tom Rockliff (knee) and wingman Jared Polec (hamstring) could play in the summer Showdown with the Crows.

Port Adelaide intends to field Robbie Gray against the Crows. He can play in the JLT closer despite being banned by the AFL tribunal for his bump on West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern. That one-game suspension will be served by sitting out the premiership-season opener against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, March 24.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows look to Eddie Betts to add to midfield rotations