More woes for Crows
ADELAIDE’S injury curse has claimed Tom Lynch, even as it welcomes back Rory Sloane and Rory Laird among six changes for its must-win AFL clash with West Coast.
Lynch was also set to return from a side strain in the Adelaide Oval clash tomorrow. But he has concussion after a head knock at training.
Lynch (pictured) gave Adelaide some badly needed good news on Sunday when he signed for three more years.
Last year’s grand finalists are mired in a four-game losing streak, and a shocking run with injuries has been a key factor in their misfiring season.
“Unfortunately, in the last two minutes of our match sim, (Lynch) just got an innocuous head knock,” coach Don Pyke told the club website.
“From there he reported having some headache symptoms.
“(We) looked at him and decided it looks like he’s got some mild concussion there so he’s been ruled out with that.”
Sloane (foot), who’s been out of action since Round 4, and Laird (hand) are big inclusions for the Crows.
They also regained Luke Brown (ankle), while Curtly Hampton is in the senior side for the first time since Round 1.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Darcy Fogarty round out the recalls.
Eddie Betts (hamstring), Andy Otten (achilles tendon) and Sam Gibson (hamstring) are also on the casualty list.
The Crows dropped Rory Atkins, Myles Poholke and Patrick Wilson.
Dom Sheed misses out again for the Eagles, who named Brandon Ah Chee and Brayden Ainsworth for Mark LeCras (wrist) and Jackson Nelson.
Carlton regained captain Marc Murphy (foot) among five changes for tomorrow’s MCG game against Port Adelaide — his first since Round 9 for the battling Blues.
Former Melbourne captain Jack Trengove will make his Power debut — only the eighth senior game in five years for the injury-plagued midfielder.
The hamstring problems of in-form defender Tom Jonas will be ringing alarm bells in the Port Adelaide medical room.
Jonas sat out Round 13 because of a hamstring injury then played last week and is out of action again, with Jack Hombsch taking his place.
GWS ruckman Rory Lobb will make a shock return from a thoracic spine fracture in tomorrow night’s big home game against Hawthorn.
Lobb was expected to remain out of action for another fortnight but replaces suspended key forward Jeremy Cameron.