Crows play it safe for season launch

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson with injured forward Ian Callinan, who missed out on selection to play in round one. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser

BRAD Crouch's long wait to be a Crow is not over yet.

Adelaide last night opted to hold back the much-anticipated AFL start of its teenage midfielder ensuring there is no Crows debutant in tonight's premiership season-opener against Essendon at AAMI Stadium.

The need to make a strong impression on the field - after a tumultuous summer off the field - also compelled Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson and his match committee to take only calculated gambles at selection.

Adelaide football chief Phil Harper last night revealed the "one risk" the Crows were prepared to take was punting on small forward Jared Petrenko. Injured in last year's final series - requiring corrective shoulder surgery in the summer - Petrenko has played only one AFL pre-season game.

He was impressive in that hit-out against Carlton in the NAB Cup a fortnight ago.

Held back to find more fitness was young defender Sam Shaw, who has been recuperating from knee tendonitis in the pre-season.

But specialist forward Jason Porplyzia was cleared to play despite being forced to hospital with a stomach ulcer after the Cup game against the Blues.

Adelaide's off-season changes and pre-season damage has prompted Sanderson to call on Josh Jenkins to replace Kurt Tippett (Sydney) as a key forward and one-game defender Luke Brown to fill the retired Michael Doughty's cherished shoes in the back six.

Sanderson was denied first-choice midfielder-defender Brodie Smith who broke a collarbone in the NAB Cup 20/20 openers last month.

Small forward Ian Callinan could not be picked as he recuperates from the knee injury suffered early in the clash with Carlton.

Adelaide opens the AFL premiership season for the first time 1991 when the club started its national journey - also as a Friday night game on March 22 at West Lakes - against Hawthorn.

The game allows the Crows players to make news for the club after a summer dominated by the off-field pain left by Tippett's messy defection to Sydney.

Essendon has its own off-field saga that will not go away until the investigations on its tainted fitness program from last season end. This may not be until July.

"Sometimes players, coaches and the AFL media do really build up for round one - it's almost like the grand final at the start of the year," said Sanderson.

"But the season is a marathon, it's not a sprint.

"It's important that we play well this Friday night. Our boys are ready  ... but it's a long season and we'll make sure we keep improving as the season goes on."

PORT ADELAIDE yesterday gained permission for 10 players to continue their preparation in the SANFL trial games this weekend. They are Brett Ebert, former captain Domenic Cassisi, Cameron Hitchcock, Tom Logan, Robbie Gray, Ben Newton, Jack Hombsch, ruckman Brent Renouf, key forward John Butcher and Mason Shaw.

Butcher is the major contender for the Power's opener against Melbourne at the MCG on Easter Sunday.

ADELAIDE v ESSENDON, FRIDAY 8.40pm AAMI STADIUM

ADELAIDE

B: L Brown, B Rutten, R Henderson

HB: N van Berlo, D Talia, B Reilly

C: B Vince, P Dangerfield, D Mackay

HF: R Douglas, J Jenkins, J Petrenko

F: J Porplyzia, T Walker, M Wright

RUCK: S Jacobs, S Thompson, R Sloane,

INTERCHANGE: M Jaensch, G Johncock, B Martin, A Otten

EMERGENCIES: B Couch, S McKernan, A Riley

ESSENDON

B: M Baguley, C Hooker, M Hibberd

HB: B Goddard, D Fletcher, J Carlisle

C: C Dempsey, J Watson, D Heppell

HF: D Zaharakis, P Ryder, S Crameri

FF: A Davey, M Hurley, N Kommer

R: T Bellchambers, B Stanton, B Howlett

INTERCHANGE: H Hocking, D Myers, J Melksham, J Merrett 

EMERGENCIES: L Jetta, K Hardingham, E Kavanagh

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