Adelaide star Rory Laird has provided an update on a number of teammates in line to return to the field on Saturday.
The Crows suffered an embarrassing defeat to Brisbane last Friday to the tune of 87-points, and while they’re disappointed, it wasn’t necessarily unexpected.
Adelaide had been low on numbers in their intraclub scratch match due to COVID sweeping through the club and put a team up against the Lions well short of their best 22.
Gun midfielder Matt Crouch also returned for his first game since 2020, and while Laird says the loss was disappointing, he’s trying to take the positives from the clash.
“It’s obviously disappointing, any time you play a game of football and losing by that much isn’t very enjoyable,” he told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“But we had a lot of fresh faces on the park, and some guys that had come back from a bit of time off. They (Brisbane) pretty much had their ones going, it was tough going but it was good exposure for some of our young guys and some match fitness for guys coming back in like Matt Crouch.
“I always enjoy playing this time of year, it’s better than training. It’s always tough, you’ve got to find a mixture, but it’s good to have some guys coming back this week and they’ll play again against Port on Saturday.”
The club’s next game comes against cross-town rivals Port Adelaide, in the two sides’ final warm-up game before Round 1.
While the game is technically a ‘Showdown’, that’s far from the club’s focus as they look to tune-up for the first AFL home and away fixture against Fremantle on March 20.
The Power are also coming off a disappointing performance against Gold Coast last week, meaning both clubs will be looking to put their best foot forward.
“To be honest it’s fun just playing games, it’s better than playing against yourselves,” Laird continued.
“Even though it’s against Port it doesn’t really feel like it, without the Adelaide Oval, and the crowd and the hype of it, even though it is technically a Showdown it doesn’t really feel like a proper one, it’s a little bit different.
“I think two is the sweet spot, and we also had the internal (practice game) as well.”
Of the players who missed last week, captain Rory Sloane headlines a group including veteran Brodie Smith, Tom Doedee and recruit Jordan Dawson.
Laird said Sloane and Smith will play, however it’s understood Dawson (calf) will need to wait until the AFL season to debut.
Doedee is recovering from a concussion, with Laird unsure of his availability, while a plan for Wayne Milera – who hasn’t played since 2020 – is still being formulated.
However, the two-time best and fairest winner was more definitive on Paul Seedsman, who suffered a concussion while training pre-Christmas in 2021.
“Paul won’t play, he's had a tough going,” Laird confirmed.
“Obviously he had a concussion before Christmas and he’s had some lingering symptoms which is always really touchy and very acute, (that) was what he's had.
“I’m not too sure about the timeline for Paul, but I dare say not any time soon, which is a bit concerning, especially when it comes to those sorts of head knocks.”
“It’s deflating for him and deflating for the team with how important he was for us last year.”
Laird also added it would be worth selecting Taylor Walker for this Saturday’s game against the Power, despite him missing the first six rounds of the AFL season due to suspension.
Listen to the full interview with Rory Laird below