Sore Crow given the all clear

ADELAIDE insists midfielder Hugh Greenwood will play in tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final against Richmond despite speculation he is carrying a calf injury.

The former US college basketballer played little more than half of Adelaide’s preliminary final but has been cleared for the premiership decider.

“He got through training so we expect him to play. He’s fine,” Crows assistant coach Scott Camporeale said yesterday at Adelaide Airport.

The Crows flew to Melbourne as favourites to claim their first premiership since 1998, and Camporeale described their preparation as faultless.

“It has been really good. We have had two really tough finals but we have had the ability to get away and refresh as well,” he said.

“Even to play on the Friday night [preliminary final], that gives us an extra day of rest and recuperation.

“And the training has been to a pretty good standard this week. To be quite honest, it has been a normal week for us up until now when we get over to Melbourne.”

The Tiger army has the AFL nervous about crowd numbers for the events around the Grand Final.

Richmond’s 9.45am training session at Punt Rd today is certain to be a lockout, while officials are unsure what to expect for the post-match free concert inside the MCG.

The Tigers’ training session will be followed by the noon Grand Final parade from the Melbourne CBD to outside the MCG.

Punt Rd Oval has a capacity of 5000 and Richmond’s supporter base, plus their long wait for a premiership, means it will fill up quickly.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has urged Richmond and Adelaide fans to arrive early for today’s events.

“The capacity and the crowding issues are a priority for us — we’re working with Victorian Police, working with the clubs,” McLachlan said.

“It’s going to be a great spectacle, the parade, the final training at Punt Rd, all that sort of stuff.”