2018 has a been an annus horribilis for Adelaide from pre-season to the bye, but the Crows have taken a breath and are ready to right the sinking ship.
I said a fortnight back they would use the week off to get the house in order and they’re ticking off boxes one by one: the camp fiasco was put to bed, Tom Lynch put pen to paper, and now some big names are getting back on the field.
Lynch and Rory Laird will return after missing the past two matches from a side strain and broken hand respectively, and vice-captain Rory Sloane will be back for his first game since round four.
MORE: AFL injury list ahead of round 15 | The Rover's top 10 games of 2018 so far
Those three ins, combined with the still missing Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling will spell trouble for West Coast as they look at losing a third-consecutive game. Dom Sheed will return for the Eagles but it won’t be enough to fill the holes.
Geelong is another club looking to welcome back some big names with veteran Harry Taylor joining first-gamer Quinton Narkle as inclusions, and I’m also expecting Cam Guthrie and Scott Selwood to come in if the Cats don’t think four changes too many.
They’re facing the Bulldogs who will have Matt Suckling back.
It’s a big game of sorts at Carlton as champion Kade Simpson runs out for game 300, which is why captain Marc Murphy will make the extra effort to be out there and Matthew Kreuzer will also be named despite still being under a bit of a cloud from last week’s loss to Collingwood.
The Blues are up against an in-form Port Adelaide that will feature former Melbourne captain Jack Trengrove making his Power debut..
The big news story of the week – Jeremy Cameron’s five match suspension – opens the door at GWS for Harry Perryman’s inclusion but it’s a net loss for the Giants who will really struggle against Hawthorn in a game between two clubs desperate to stay in touch with the top eight.
Lions defender Harris Andrews has been taken off on a stretcher after this collision with Jeremy Cameron. #AFLLionsGiants pic.twitter.com/ubWZgH8qzR
— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2018
Big Hawk Jon Ceglar will be named.
In other selection news, Fremantle get back their best forward Michael Walters to take on a Brisbane side that’s getting some forward momentum and will be stronger for Mitch Robinson’s return. Steven May and Rory Thompson’s inclusions won’t be enough to get the Suns up over an Adam Treloar-less Collingwood. St Kilda's coming off a win and welcoming back skipper Jarryn Geary and forward Josh Bruce, but it's doubtful they will cause too much trouble for a strong Melbourne lineup with the Demons to name sore key forward Tom McDonald and defender Neville Jetta, who both came out the worse for wear from last week's loss to Port Adelaide.
Michael Walters followed this goal with a quick dab. #AFLFreoCats pic.twitter.com/T8KKhTQoeX
— AFL (@AFL) March 26, 2017
