ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Betts back in bid to keep Crows in race
ADELAIDE OVAL, 7.50PM
STAR Adelaide forward Eddie Betts will return for tonight’s clash with Geelong but key defender Daniel Talia remains in doubt with a foot injury.
Talia would likely be given the job of stopping Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins at Adelaide Oval but is battling to recover from a foot strain suffered in last week’s loss to Richmond.
He was last night named and will be given until as late as possible to prove his fitness.
“We’ll wait a little bit on Daniel,” Adelaide coach Don Pyke said yesterday.
“Daniel’s still a little bit sore, so we’ve probably got to test him tomorrow and just see how he comes up on a six-day break.
“It’s just going to be important to use as much time as we can.”
Pyke said Betts would play, having missed the Crows’ past two games with an injured hamstring.
Geelong last night confirmed the long-awaited return of Daniel Menzel, who has been sidelined since Round 5 with a groin injury.
Veteran Harry Taylor will miss, along with injured pair Jordan Murdoch and Lachie Fogarty.
Wylie Buzza and Sam Simpson return to the Cats side, but Ryan Abbott will need a late withdrawal after flying over as a travelling emergency.
The 11th-placed Crows sit two games outside the eight and have only managed one win from their past six games.
A loss to Geelong would almost certainly extinguish their chances of making the eight after playing in last year’s Grand Final.
Geelong has conceded the lowest average score of any team this season, and Pyke wants his players to be bold with their ball movement to break through the Cats’ miserly defence.
“Clearly tomorrow we need to come prepared to take on the opposition,” he said.
“I think we’ve seen when we do that, we move the ball a little bit quicker and it gives us the chance to get through and score.
“We’re looking forward to creating some more opportunities tomorrow night.”
The Crows received a major boost yesterday with star midfielder and free agent Rory Sloane resisting overtures from Victorian clubs and signing a five-year deal.
Geelong onballer Scott Selwood may have the job of tagging Sloane, having returned from injury to provide a harder edge to the Cats’ midfield.