Forward Lewis Johnston will play his first game for the season and only second game for Adelaide in Balfours Showdown XXXV at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Johnston is one of five changes to the team to play Port Adelaide, with All-Australian pair Patrick Dangerfield and Ben Rutten, livewire Jared Petrenko and young midfielder Mitch Grigg also recalled.
Johnston has kicked 10 goals in his past two SANFL matches, including seven last weekend. The 22-year-old made his Crows debut in Round 20 last season and has played a total of three AFL games (two for former club Sydney).
Watch Crows in SANFL highlights, including Lewy’s day out
Coach Brenton Sanderson said Johnston would help fill the void left by injured goalkicker Josh Jenkins.
“It was unfortunate for Lewis that he got injured when Tex did. He had a break in his leg and missed almost two months,” Sanderson said.
“His last 2-3 weeks since coming back from injury have been really good. He’s one of the best kicks in our squad.”
Dangerfield returns after a two-week absence with a sprained AC joint, while Rutten has recovered from the shoulder injury that saw him miss the clash with Fremantle. Jenkins (ankle), Rory Sloane (eye), and Jason Porplyzia, Kyle Hartigan and Richard Tambling, who have all been omitted, are the players left out of the team.
Sanderson said Porplyzia had paid the price for a quiet fortnight by his standards.
“Porps had a good couple of weeks, against West Coast and then kicking three in the first half against Collingwood, but he hasn’t hit the scoreboard since then,” he said.
“His form has been a bit up and down and he just hasn’t been finding enough of the footy. Porps is still a really valuable player for us. I’m disappointed to see him out because he can give us so much, but he just needs to go back and get some confidence at West Adelaide.”
Hartigan, who impressed on debut against Freo last weekend, makes way for the return of Rutten.
“Kyle’s stiff to miss out. Kyle played well, but Rutten is back and he gives us a bit more experience,” Sanderson said.
“We saw last week that Kyle is going to be a good player for us long-term. It’s a bit like Mitch Grigg a couple of weeks ago. Griggy played well but was left out after one game because of team balance.
“Griggy gets another chance this week. We know it’s going to be hot and contested, and Griggy suits that type of game.”
Sanderson said in-form small forward Jared Petrenko was also well suited to the Showdown contest.
“Pup’s form in the SANFL has been good and last week he was back to his best. He just gives us a bit of extra spark in the forward line. He chases, tackles and scores,” he said.
Tambling has been omitted after two weeks in the team, including last week as the substitute.
“We’d love to pick 25-28 players every week, but unfortunately someone has to miss out and it’s Richard this week,” Sanderson said.
“He’s probably been in our best 28 players in the last three years at the Club, but he just can’t lock away a spot in the 22. He’s best suited across the wing and half-back, but Rory Laird, Luke Brown and Brodie Smith have been playing well in those roles.”
Balfours Showdown XXXV will be the last-ever Showdown at AAMI Stadium. It will also mark the 50-game milestones of promising defenders Brodie Smith and Daniel Talia. Tickets to the game are sold out. Non-attending members are encouraged to pass on their season ticket or email it to another Crows fan. Read more about online ticket transferring and the match day information.
Can’t make it to the big game? Follow the action on Twitter via the Club’s official account @Adelaide_FC. You can also stay up to date with the Club’s official phone App, which you can download here.
The team is:
B: Rory Laird, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Brodie Smith
C: Ricky Henderson, Patrick Dangerfield, Nathan van Berlo
HF: Bernie Vince, Shaun McKernan, Brad Crouch
F: Jared Petrenko, Lewis Johnston, Tom Lynch
RUCKS: Sam Jacobs, Richard Douglas, Scott Thompson
INTERCHANGE: Matthew Wright, David Mackay, Jarryd Lyons, Mitch Grigg
EMERG: Kyle Hartigan, Sam Kerridge, Jason Porplyzia
IN: Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Grigg, Lewis Johnston, Jared Petrenko, Ben Rutten
OUT: Josh Jenkins (ankle), Rory Sloane (eye), Richard Tambling (omit), Kyle Hartigan (omit), Jason Porplyzia (omit)
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