Adelaide is optimistic Josh Jenkins and Cam Ellis-Yolmen will be available for Saturday’s clash with Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium.
Jenkins (hip) and Ellis-Yolmen (hamstring) have both missed the past fortnight with minor injuries and will need to prove their fitness at training during the week.
The Crows will need to make at least two changes to the team that beat St Kilda on the weekend.
Scans on Monday confirmed Matthew Jaensch has ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee.
Jaensch sustained the injury when he attempted to change direction and chase an opponent in the third quarter against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. It’s expected Jaensch will have a traditional knee reconstruction, which carries a recovery time of 12 months.
Wingman Brodie Smith has also been ruled out of the trip to Western Sydney.
Smith sustained his second concussion in a month when he clashed heads with Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt in a sickening collision in the first quarter on Saturday. The All-Australian defender was helped from the ground by trainers and took no further part in the game.
Head of Football David Noble said the Club has decided to take a conservative approach to the 23-year-old’s second head knock of the season.
“We’re going to give Brodie a rest this week," Noble said.
"There is some issue around the concussion still this morning, so the best course of action with Brodie having had a concussion a few weeks ago is that well give him a rest. We’ll take our time now in assessing the protocols with his concussion.
"We’d like to think there’s some chance he’ll play the following week, but we won’t assess that until we get through this week as a starting point.”
Star midfielder Brad Crouch is back running as he ramps up his recovery from a foot complaint.
The eldest Crouch sibling is yet to play a game this season after fracturing his foot in Adelaide’s last NAB Challenge game in late-March. Crouch and 2010 Club Champion Richard Douglas, who also has a foot injury, are both a few weeks away from a return.
Rory Sloane hopes to overcome a fractured cheekbone within a month. The Crows have three games, against GWS, Fremantle and Carlton, before their Round 11 bye.
Defender Sam Shaw and midfielder Rory Atkins are both aiming to return from long-term injuries after the SANFL bye this weekend. Shaw (hamstring) and Atkins (knee) haven’t played at any level this year.
Draftee Mitch McGovern sat out Adelaide’s SANFL match against the Port Magpies with a sore Achilles. The Crows reported no new injuries in the local league on the weekend.
Injury list as of Monday, May 18
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (hamstring) – Test
Josh Jenkins (hip) – Test
Brodie Smith (concussion) – Rested
Rory Atkins (knee) – 1-2 weeks
Sam Shaw (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks
Mitch McGovern (Achilles) – 2 weeks
Brad Crouch (foot) – 2-3 weeks
Richard Douglas (foot) – 2-4 weeks
Rory Sloane (cheekbone) – 3-5 weeks
Matthew Jaensch (knee) – Season
Andy Otten (knee) – TBA
Harry Dear (shoulder) – TBA
Brent Reilly (fractured skull) – retired
