Veteran defender Sam Gilbert could play his first AFL game of the season against Adelaide on Saturday.

Gilbert, 28, made a promising return from an adductor strain with Sandringham in the VFL last week and could now be in the mix to make his first senior appearance of the season.

The veteran defender hasn’t played a full AFL game since Round 22 last year, which was only his sixth game of an injury-ravaged 2014 season.

Tom Lee and Hugh Goddard were also impressive in defence in Sandringham’s victory over the Casey Scorpions and could be recalled to the senior lineup.

Tom Curren (33 disposals) and Blake Acres (23 disposals and two goals) were others who performed well and may come into Alan Richardson’s plans to confront the Crows on Saturday.

Farren Ray is likely to return via the VFL following a pre-season hamstring surgery, while Shane Savage is fit to play after being concussed in last week’s come-from-behind win over the Bulldogs.