Bryce Gibbs has called on Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks to throw the magnets around against Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.
The Crows have lost four of their last five games, with their season stalling slightly after a start to 2022 that exceeded some expectations.
Adelaide has committed to a rebuild and numerous youngsters have shown positive signs to suggest they’ll improve next year.
Gibbs named three Crows – including Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe, who are still proving themselves at the top level – as players Nicks should consider role changes for ahead of their meeting with the Swans.
“I want to see some players play in some different roles, experiment with some players,” Gibbs said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“Why don’t you, for a half, throw Tom Doedee down forward? He can take a catch, he reads the play really well.
“Throw Riley Thilthorpe on the wing. We know he’s got an amazing motor and gets up and down the ground. His marking ability, he can get back to defence, fill some holes (then) push forward on his opponent and out mark him and have a shot on goal.
“Start Darcy Fogarty in the centre bounce. He’s a big boy we’ve seen him do it in the SANFL, he doesn’t have to spend 10 minutes in the midfield, just start him in the centre bounce, (let him) throw his weight around then push forward.
“Just try something else. We speak about their rebuild, they’re trying to do different things, well let’s see it. Throw some magnets around, let’s see what guys can do in other positions.”
The Crows are clearly the youngest team in the competition at an average of 24 and have the scope to improve in the future, despite heading for their third consecutive bottom four appearance.
However, SA Breakfast co-host Andrew Hayes disagreed with Gibbs.
He called for Fogarty, who’s kicked multiple goals in six of his last seven games, to be given the chance to impress in his natural forward position.
“I want to see Darcy Fogarty up forward. It’s a big opportunity … against the likes of Dane Rampe and one of the stingiest backlines in the competition, this is the chance for Darcy Fogarty to have one of those good games,” Hayes said.
“He’s had a sensational last couple of months, absolutely turned his career around … if he can have a good, solid game this weekend as a forward against the Swans, it doesn’t get much harder than that, then absolutely he is one of the pieces for the future, for the rebuild.”
Hayes added that Thilthorpe should also be given a chance to back up last week’s encouraging outing by staying in his current role.
The 20-year-old had 17 disposals, seven marks, five inside 50s and four shots on goal in a hybrid forward/ruck role against Collingwood.
“I feel like he can prove himself to be that Luke Jackson-type,” Hayes said further.
“I feel like if he can show the same as what he did last week a couple of weeks in a row … that’s what his future looks like to me.”
Matthew Nicks has a contract through until 2024 when the Crows would be expected to be challenging for the top eight, however David King recently said he didn’t expect the Crows coach to see out his side’s rebuild.