Crows captain hints at marquee match-up towards Blues

Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has hinted at a marquee match-up towards his Carlton counterpart Patrick Cripps within the opening conflict of the AFL’s Collect Spherical.

Dawson has moved from defence to the midfield up to now two matches – and each have been wins for his Crows forward of Thursday night time’s encounter towards the unbeaten Blues.

Dawson has been a star performer in each video games – a truth famous by Cripps.

“He has been fairly good, hasn’t he, most likely best-on (floor) within the final two video games,” Cripps instructed reporters on Wednesday.

“The most effective factor about him is he is powerful, he is environment friendly, he damages you.

“However they’ve a whole lot of weapons in there … our job as a midfield is to try to win that battle and get territory.”

Dawson, requested if he would play on Carlton’s prime mover Cripps, tried to remained tight-lipped.

“I can not say. We’ll most likely come throughout one another a bit greater than we have now up to now,” he stated.

“I am wanting ahead to it. Going into the midfield, I’ve loved it … I am loving my time in there.”

Dawson stated his seventh-placed Crows have been relishing the prospect of internet hosting the Blues, who’ve banked three consecutive wins after a season-opening draw.

“We all know how good their footy could be,” he stated.

“They’re the benchmark. They have not misplaced for a cause.”

Cripps’ fellow midfielder Sam Walsh will play his first recreation of the season after recovering from a again harm.

“He has performed an enormous block of labor,” Cripps stated,

“He has been fairly affected person with it, the way in which he has rehabbed has all gone to plan … I count on him to return in and hit the bottom operating.

“He most likely put his hand up (for choice) two weeks in the past … the membership simply held him again to ensure he is proper.

The Blues additionally recalled from harm on-ballers Matthew Kennedy and Blake Acres.

“Adelaide play a extremely contested model of footy in order that they (Kennedy and Acres) are going to be actually vital to the way in which we play,” Cripps stated.

Carlton axed Lochie O’Brien and Josh Honey, whereas Sam Docherty shall be unavailable for a minimum of a month due to a knee harm.

Adelaide named key ahead Darcy Fogarty, who has missed two video games with a knee harm, whereas additionally choosing Luke Pedlar after his one-match suspension.

The Crows dropped Ned McHenry and younger ahead Lachlan Gollant.

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