Injury-hit Crows sweat on fate of star Phillips
ADELAIDE is in the dark on its best player Erin Phillips as it prepares for the crucial battle against a confident Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Phillips pulled out of the 12point loss to Brisbane in the grand final rematch at Norwood Oval on Saturday after leaving training the previous night with a strained thigh.
Crows premiership coach Bec Goddard said she was unsure when asked for an update on Phillips’ injury and would meet with the doctor today.
“Hopefully it is only a minor strain and she will be available for selection,” Goddard said. “But we won’t know until I speak with the doctor.”
The Crows will have a recovery session today with the main training run set for Wednesday, when it is hoped Phillips can prove her fitness.
“We manage Erin’s body a little different to the other younger girls,” Goddard said. “She gets that right because she has played sport longer and we have got to be careful with her.”
The Crows also hope to regain All Australian defender Courtney Cramey (hamstring), Abbey Holmes (knee) and Jenna McCormick.
Goddard refused to use injuries as an excuse and said the Crows had all the necessary ingredients to get the job done without Phillips in the line-up.
“Should we be playing great footy and be able to fulfil those roles without Erin, yes we should,” she said.
“I’m not too disappointed, you always want to win, but there is plenty to work with for round two. Some debutants performed really well.
“Ruth Wallace looked lively up forward, Eloise Jones kicked a terrific goal and Chelsea Randall took her game to a new level.”
The clash against the Demons would be given finals treatment, according to Goddard, although that was the attitude the players took into every contest.
“Every week is like a final because there are only seven games,” she said. “We treated every game like that last year and will do the same.”