Crows hope to sing in AFL rain v Dockers

Adelaide are aiming to snap a two-match losing run when they take on Fremantle in what's expected to be a wet clash at Optus Stadium.

Dockers head coach Ross Lyon.

Fremantle AFL coach Ross Lyon says the early return of Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker is a surprise. (AAP)

What better way to break a mini-drought than by singing in the rain?

That's the attitude Adelaide will adopt when they take on Fremantle on Sunday in an expected wet and windy AFL clash at Optus Stadium.

Between 10-30mm of rain is forecast on match day for Perth, along with a possible storm.

The Crows (6-5) are in danger of slipping away from the top-four race after two-straight losses.

A crippling injury problem has been a key reason behind Adelaide's form drop, with the Crows losing three of their past four games.

Their 91-point loss to Melbourne two weeks ago highlighted just how far Adelaide had slipped off the pace.

On Sunday, last year's grand finalists will be without key players Rory Sloane, Rory Laird, Tom Lynch, Riley Knight, Brad Crouch, Mitch McGovern and Brodie Smith.

But the surprise early return of skipper Taylor Walker has given Adelaide a timely boost.

Walker had been expected to miss at least another week while completing what is effectively a mini pre-season to address hamstring issues.

But with his team on the slide, Walker has decided to bite the bullet and make an early return.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said the move even caught him on the hop.

"He's a great player," Lyon said.

"Great players play when they're a little bit thin.

"He's a captain and, if we don't limit and pressure the supply, he'll kick goals.

"But if we limit and pressure the supply, I'm sure Joel Hamling and Alex Pearce and Shane Kersten can handle him."

Fremantle ran out of patience with Cam McCarthy, dropping the key forward after kicking just 12 goals in the first 11 rounds.

Skipper Nat Fyfe (suspended) also went out of the side, while ruckman Aaron Sandilands failed his concussion test and will miss a second-successive game.

Goalsneaks Hayden Ballantyne and Brandon Matera come back in.

Lyon said it was important his inexperienced ruck duo Michael Apeness and Scott Jones competed strongly against in-form Adelaide big man Sam Jacobs.


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Source: AAP


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Crows hope to sing in AFL rain v Dockers | SBS News