Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks has revealed Hugh Bond will play his first game for the season against Hawthorn on Friday night. 

Bond will replace Max Michalanney in the Crows’ defence, who was ruled out for the next four-to-six weeks after he sustained a hamstring injury in last week’s win against Port Adelaide. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Nicks was excited to see what Bond would bring to the group. 

“Next man up, unfortunately for Max, so (Hugh) Bond will play,” Nicks said. 

“We have great respect for Hawthorn’s small forward line, and how dangerous they are, so it would be nice to have a few Bond’s to be honest - but we do rate our guys down back to get the job done as a team. 

“Bondy is a great in for our group, it will be his first game for the year and we know what he is going to bring.” 

Utility Isaac Cumming is also in line to make his return to the side, after being managed with lower-leg soreness for last week’s Showdown. 

Nicks said the 26-year-old benefited from the extended break. 

“Last week was one of those ones where we just didn’t want to take any risks, if it’s a Grand Final he would have played without a doubt,” Nicks said. 

“We made a decision that was a little more bigger picture, he’s been so important for us all year, and we didn’t want to take any risk there. 

“So he’s coming off a 12-day break, and we have been able to make sure he’s as close to 100 per-cent as he can be.” 

Adelaide takes on Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval this Friday night, with the first bounce at 7.10pm (ACST). 

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