Footy’s back & so is our ‘Weekly Wash-Up’ – a wrap of the top content on afc.com.au in the past seven days.

It’s no surprise our first selection story of the year was our most-read article this week.

Six new faces were included in a strong squad to play West Coast at Unley Oval on Sunday. Draftee Wayne Milera Junior, recruits Paul Seedsman, Troy Menzel and Dean Gore and second-year forwards Mitch McGovern and Harry Dear could all make their AFL Crows debuts in Adelaide’s NAB Challenge opener. 

The squad will be trimmed to 26 before 90 minutes before the opening bounce.

Harry Dear has been selected in the 29-man squad for Sunday's game

 

Coach Don Pyke’s NAB Challenge Plan was also popular with fans. ‘Pykey’ outlined his goals for the pre-season competition and gave an insight to a couple of young forwards in Menzel and McGovern.

Mitch McGovern

 

Ahead of the first match for 2016, the Club finalised its seven-man senior leadership group. Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas return to the group after a year without official leadership roles. The influential midfielders spoke about why they’re better prepared second-time around.

Another member of the leadership group, Scott Thompson talked about his near-flawless pre-season and why he’s not thinking about his significant, impending milestone – just yet.

Adelaide's 2016 senior leadership group

 

The squad spent the start of the week in Clare and South Australia’s Mid North for the Club’s 2016 Australia Post AFL Community Camp. We caught up with country lad, Matt Crouch, to talk about the importance of visiting regional areas and his goals for Season 2016.

Clare local Riley Knight took us to his childhood home to meet his parents, and show us where he grew up. Watch the video by clicking the play button in the viewer at the top of this page.

Reilly O'Brien, Rory Atkins and Tom Lynch during the coaching clinic in Clare