Adelaide will be looking to bounce back in a big way following an ultimately disappointing yet at times promising 2021 campaign.
One of the reasons for the club’s excitement is local boy Jordan Dawson, who the club acquired from Sydney in the off-season.
Assistant coach and coach of the Crows’ SANFL side, Michael Godden, raved about Dawson’s pre-season and would not be shocked if the defender finds himself in the 22 for Round 1 once he returns from calf soreness.
“It’s disappointing he couldn’t play in these trials because he’s been exceptional throughout the pre-season,” he told SEN SA Breakfast.
“He’ll be very close, if not a lock I would’ve thought.”
Dawson arrived at West Lakes as a player who will bolster the side’s defence while adding depth through the midfield such is his versatility.
The Crows have struggled to gel their midfield group together in recent years, but Godden believes the combination of experienced and younger players will make for great depth, even after reigning best and fairest Rory Laird suffered a broken hand.
“We’ve tried to get the mix right in the last two years, and I think we’ve got it pretty right now,” he said.
“Sloaney (Rory Sloane) is doing a great job in there, Benny Keays, (Harry) Schoenberg is spending more time in there which is great, Lairdy (Rory Laird) obviously disappointing to lose him for a few weeks.
“We’ve got Sam Berry, Jackson Hately played in the SANFL Saturday morning and played really well.
“We’ve got some options, but the main thing for them now is continuity.”
Although he has only two AFL games under his belt, the Crows are thrilled to have former Collingwood and St Kilda midfielder Nathan Freeman at the club.
The 26-year-old impressed in the trial match against North Adelaide on Saturday and the Crows believe he will be a great mentor for the young players in the SANFL system.
“He was really good especially in that second half once he worked out the speed of the game and what he was trying to achieve,” Godden added.
“He knows the game, he’s been around AFL for long enough now.
“He’s here to help us, he’ll be a huge help for our younger brigade.”
Adelaide kick off their 2022 campaign against Fremantle at the Adelaide Oval on March 20.