Adelaide’s defensive stocks have slipped further with the news Jordon Butts won’t play again in 2023.
The Crows confirmed the devastating news on Monday afternoon, almost 48 hours after he hobbled off the Adelaide Oval with a foot injury.
Scans have revealed a broken foot from the second-quarter incident.
“It’s obviously really disappointing for Jordon and also the team to lose another key defender,” Crows High Performance Manager Darren Burgess said in a club statement.
Not the news we wanted for Jordon... 😔#weflyasone
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 31, 2023
“The injury requires surgery which will see him miss the remainder of the season, but we expect him to make a full recovery and complete a full pre-season over summer.”
Butts had played every game bar two this season.
His injury follows that of twin ACL injuries to fellow key defenders Nick Murray and Tom Doedee.
Mark Keane and Josh Worrell were trialled as Adelaide’s key defenders in Showdown 54, while first-year defender Max Michalanney has also impressed against bigger bodies.