Adelaide’s SANFL development program is doing its job, says coach Heath Younie.
The Crows’ long injury list has forced the SANFL side to call on nine to 11 development players each game so far this season, compared to an average of five in 2014.
Of the 17 development players who have been used, nine have made their SANFL league debut.
“It’s been a tough start for our SANFL side but we’ve been competitive in all of our games,” said Younie.
“You’d prefer not to have so many injuries at the Club but it is what it is. The bonus is that this has allowed us to get some games into more of the development players and that’s going to helps us later in the season.”
Adelaide has collected just one premiership point from the first five games – from the draw with Glenelg when the lights went out at Glenelg Oval last month.
But Younie said the improved strength of the development group had been important in the early rounds.
Development squad members Charlie Molyneux, Matt Spencely, Nick Mott, Luke Carey, Jake Sutcliffe, Sam Pfeiffer and Josh Wittwer have been regulars in the first few rounds and all have appeared in the Club’s best players lists.
“They’ve been playing alongside AFL-listed teenagers such as Keenan Ramsey, Reilly O’Brien, Jake Lever and Harrison Wigg, so we have had some very inexperienced and young teams,” Younie said.
“We’ve played some very good football in patches against some really good SANFL opposition, now we’ve got to build on that for the rest of the season.”
Adelaide’s SANFL team has a bye this weekend for the State game between the SANFL and WA in Perth.
The numbers of AFL-listed players who are available for selection should then increase for the next two games against Central District and Sturt before the SANFL side has another bye.
Defender Kyle Hartigan will return from suspension next round and Rory Atkins, Sam Shaw and Mitch McGovern are close to returning from injuries, while Rory Sloane, Brad Crouch and Brodie Smith will also be available soon adding to the numbers available for AFL and SANFL selection.
