AFL Injury News: Adelaide Crows troupe set to return, with key trio leading the comeback trail
The Adelaide Crows are set to welcome back a couple of key players ahead of their Round 16 clash with GWS Giants. In a recent injury update, the club disclosed that key forwards Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe, and Elliott Himmelberg are all in contention for a look in this weekend.
Veteran forward Walker has been out of action since Round 13 after picking up a back injury against Hawthorn. According to Adelaide's High Performance Manager, Darren Burgess, the 34-year-old is good to go after undergoing all necessary comeback procedures.
"Tex has got through everything we’ve asked him to do, he had a few minor issues last week, but late last week and in Monday’s session he did really well with a lot of contact, groundballs and everything we’d want him to do in a game," Burgess said (per afc.com).
“Certainly the longer break helped Tex, I’m not sure he would have played last weekend, but the way he was moving on Monday he did everything we asked,” he added.
Fellow key forward Elliott Himmelberg will be available to face the Giants after fully recovering from surgery on a fractured cheekbone suffered against Collingwood in Round 11, Burgess revealed:
"Fortunately Elliott has been able to run and jump and mark and do everything non-contact for the last few weeks, we just had to get the surgeon’s final approval which has come so he will be available to play this weekend."
The Adelaide Crows could also be bolstered by the return of Riley Thilthorpe, who is gunning for his first appearance of the campaign. The young forward has been out with a knee injury since pre-season but is closing in on a return to action according to Burgess.
"Riley has done really well and got through all the objective markers we’ve asked over the last three or four weeks. He’s been fully training with the team and I’m sure he’ll play at some level this weekend, assuming he gets through training tomorrow. Just a final team training session to get through but I’m sure he will get through and be fine," Burgess said.
Veteran defender, Brodie Smith has also been okayed to play after recovering from a knee injury picked up in the SANFL.
Adelaide Crows will look to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in Round 16
The Adelaide Crows will hope to snap a three-game losing streak when they lock horns with the GWS Giants on Saturday, June 29 at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows have managed only one win in their last five outings and will be desperate to return to winning ways after losing three games on the bounce to Hawthorn, Richmond, and Sydney.
Matthew Nick's side last tasted victory in Round 11 when they thumped the West Coast Eagles by 99 points. The Adelaide Crows are 15th in the standings with 18 points from 14 games.