Coach Don Pyke is hoping to unearth a “couple of diamonds” when a youthful Adelaide side takes on Geelong in the JLT Community Series game at Richmond Oval on Sunday.

First-round draft pick Jordan Gallucci will pull on the Crows jumper for the first time, while fellow recruits Elliott Himmelberg and Ben Jarman, and untried second-year rookies Hugh Greenwood and Paul Hunter have also been included in an extended squad of 29.

Young players Harrison Wigg, Myles Poholke, Reilly O’Brien, Harry Dear, Jake Kelly and Wayne Milera Junior, as well as exciting prospects Curtly Hampton and Troy Menzel will also get another chance to impress after lining up against Richmond last week.

“We’re preparing for Round One, but we’re also preparing for opportunities for guys … who have worked hard through pre-season and I’m really excited about what they can bring to the table,” Pyke said on Thursday.

“There are some guys we may not have seen before, which is fantastic for them and is fantastic for the Club because out of all those I guarantee you we’ll find a couple of diamonds sitting out there we think can play at the level, and will put their hand up to do it.

“That’s what this (JLT Community) series is about.”

Forwards Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins (both rested), Mitch McGovern (knee) and Jono Beech (calf) have all been left out of the team to tackle the Cats.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who seriously injured his knee against the Tigers, is also an omission.

Pyke said everyone at the Club was disappointed for the emerging midfielder.

"It was a pretty innocuous event as well. It was surprising when the news came through," he said.

"Really disappointing and sad for Cam. He's a guy who last year didn't get opportunities through just the fact that we had a pretty settled line-up, and he was really hell-bent on a really big season.

"So it was pretty devastating to find out he was going to miss the whole year.

"That's footy. He's dealing with that now. He’s in a positive frame of mind. He'll attack his rehab and his recovery and build on a career.

"He's only a young man so it's a setback, but I expect he will bounce back."

Adelaide’s first pick in last year’s AFL National Draft, Gallucci will get a chance in the midfield on Sunday.

Pyke encouraged the 18-year-old to play his natural game against the Cats.

"It's his first game in. We won't put too high expectations on him, just give him an opportunity," Pyke said.

"Let's see how he travels. It's about giving the opportunity ... we'll see how he performs and sees how he fits in with the side.

"We recruited him as a high-end talent. He's a powerful athlete, he has got good speed, and his ball take is at a high level – that is certainly what we drafted him on."

Adelaide’s match committee will determine whether Himmelberg and Jarman will join the influx of young talent at Richmond Oval.

In November, Jarman became the Club’s first-ever father-son selection when he was picked up in the Rookie Draft. The 18-year-old small forward is the son of AFL and Crows legend Darren Jarman.

Pyke said Jarman was a “natural footballer”, who had showed glimpses in his first pre-season.

“Ben’s done some things, which suggest he knows how to play the game but it’s a reasonable step between where he was playing last year and AFL football,” he said.

“He’s developing in that (strength and conditioning) area, as all the young guys are. That’s the reality when you take 18-year-old guys who have been playing in under-age comps and you bring them up (to the AFL).

“Some are slightly more advanced than others, but it’s always a stage of development for them to go through.”

Forward Riley Knight will play his first game of the year on Sunday, while defender Luke Brown will make his return from a groin injury.

McGovern (knee), Beech (calf), Jake Lever (hamstring), Kyle Cheney (groin) and Alex Keath (groin), plus the rested Betts and Jenkins could all be available for selection for the Club’s last pre-season game against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, March 11.

Rory Sloane (fractured eye socket) and Brad Crouch (hamstring) won’t feature in the JLT Community Series, while Pyke described Scott Thompson (shoulder) as “an outside chance”.

Pyke said he was comfortable with how the Club’s injured players were progressing.

“We’re confident those guys will be there or thereabouts for Round One,” he said.

“As much of our focus now is on Round One … it’s a long season and we’ll make sure our players are ready to play and not just play at the level but perform.

“We’re really comfortable with how we’re building and we’ll get ourselves ready for Round One.”

Geelong has named a strong side, including skipper Joel Selwood, to play the Crows.

Pyke said Sunday’s game would be a great hit-out for his team.

“You’d suggest it’s going to be a good test, which is what you want this time of year because you’re trying to find out whether some of the things you’ve worked on … you’ve made the improvement you hoped you had,” he said.

Club members with match entitlements receive free entry to JLT Community Series matches in which their club is competing.  Members can scan their membership card at the gate (subject to capacity) or upgrade their membership to a reserved seat or register for a ticket in order to guarantee their entry (subject to availability, upgrade fees may be applicable).

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Sunday’s game will be part of a Crows ‘double’ this weekend. The Club’s women’s team will take on the Brisbane Lions in a top-of-the-table AFLW clash at Norwood on Saturday night. Entry to the game, which starts at 6:40pm (local), is free.