Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks has confirmed some early team news ahead of the Crows’ Gather Round clash against Carlton, with a key forward set to miss another week.
The Crows will open Gather Round against Carlton at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night but will be without Darcy Fogarty as he continues to recover from a back injury.
Fogarty was a late out for Adelaide’s Good Friday game against Fremantle, and speaking to the media on Monday, Nicks said the 26-year-old would need another week on the sidelines with the short turnaround.
But in some positive news, Nicks expected winger Isaac Cumming to put his hand up for selection after he was also ruled out of the Dockers clash late due to
“We won’t get Fog back,” Nicks said.
“Fog’s going to be another week. He won’t be right by Thursday.
“Isaac Cumming will be good to go.
“He had a virus, a 24-hour virus. You talk about things that pop-up, he did everything he possibly could, he went out for a pre-game warm up… he felt great, but just couldn’t stay on the ground long enough.”
Sluggish starts have plagued the Crows so far this season, and second-half fightbacks have fallen short against Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle respectively, leaving Adelaide with a 1-3 win/loss record.
The Blues, meanwhile, have started games strongly, but have been unable to hold a lead in the second half.
Nicks said his team’s execution in contests during the first halves this season had been down, with players and coaching work hard to address it.
“It’s a big challenge for us, starting games and to not leave it too late to find our game and then almost try to fall across the line in the end,” Nicks said.
“It’s a work on, it’s not an unknown, it’s pretty clear what we aren't getting right in the first half, and the contest (against Fremantle) was not where it needed to be.
“With Carlton, if you put the games together this year, 500 minutes I think they’ve played or there about’s of footy, I think they’ve led for nearly 400 minutes,
“Their first halves have been outstanding, they’re one of the best starting teams in the competition… We’ve got our work cut out for us because we’re not necessarily starting well, so we’ve got a real focus on the start of the game and how we go about that.”
Adelaide faces Carlton at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, at 7.10pm.
The game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 Adelaide, Kayo and Fox Footy.
The match against Carlton is a fully ticketed game.
Fans without a ticket can watch the game live from the Footy Festival at Elder Park.
For all the details on all the Crows’ Gather Round events and player appearances, click here.
