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Crows add heat as Darwin nears

By Katrina Gill 10:31 AM Mon 02 February, 2009

Adelaide is finalising its preparations for a clash with an Indigenous All-Stars side that includes teammate Graham Johncock

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DARWIN isn't normally a destination people go to escape the heat, but that’s exactly what the Crows will be hoping to do this week.

Adelaide has sweltered through six days of 40-plus temperatures and Monday morning’s conditioning session was made even more uncomfortable by the rising humidity.

Midfielder David Mackay said the heatwave would serve as good preparation for his team’s clash with the Indigenous All-Stars in Darwin on Saturday night.

"We’ve probably got a little bit used to the hot weather. It’s pretty tough, but we’ve been training early in the morning so we can get out of the heat in the afternoon," Mackay said after the session.

"We’re going up to Darwin and it might even be a bit cooler up there, which will be a nice change. The humidity is probably the toughest thing to play and train in rather than the dry heat, so today was good preparation for it.

"We’ll go up there and try and get our hydration and everything ready to go, so there are no dramatic effects from the game afterwards."

Most of the players will make the trip on Thursday morning, aiming to secure a place in the 30-man team that tackles the All-Stars.

Forward Trent Hentschel has started running on his sore quad but is unlikely to play in front of his home crowd. Brett Burton (knee), Brad Symes (hands), Jason Porplyzia (shoulder) and Phil Davis (shoulder) will also sit the game out.

Richard Douglas led a small group of teammates in Monday's 3km time trial, but spent the rest of the session boxing on the sidelines and is in doubt.

Andrew McLeod, Graham Johncock, Jon Griffin, Jarrhan Jacky and Jared Petrenko have all been picked in the 33-man All-Stars squad, leaving plenty of vacancies in the Crows' side.

"There are quite a few young guys that could play," Mackay said.

"You could list guys like Rory Sloane and Shauny McKernan, who have come in and done a pretty good job. And then there are also guys in their second years like Aaron Kite, Greg Gallman, Patrick Dangerfield and these sorts of blokes.

"They are all putting their hands up and we’ll have a squad of about 30, which will give a few blokes a chance to get in there, have a bit of game time and get a feel for what it’s like. It should be a good experience for those younger blokes in particular."

The Crows will also train on Wednesday and in Darwin in the lead-up to the game.

The players will remain in the Northern Territory for a few days after the match for a McLeod-led fishing trip.

afc.com.au

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