With under a week to go until the GIANTS take on Adelaide in a Qualifying Final, it’s time to check in at West Lakes to find out all the news from the Crows’ nest.
The big news earlier in the week centred around vice-captain Rory Sloane who had to be rushed to hospital on Tuesday for surgery on his appendix.
The midfield star was discharged from Calvary Wakefield Hospital on Wednesday afternoon and spoke to the media on his way out.
“I had the operation last night which all went really well. The surgeon was really happy with it,” Sloane said.
“(My) guts is a little sore and a little bit swollen, but I’ll just rest up for a couple of days.
“Once I’m done resting and starting to feel good again I’ll start moving around and hopefully start running pretty soon.
With eight days to recover before the first final, Sloane said it was wait-and-see on whether he will line up for the home side.
“I’m honestly not sure yet. It’s all going to be how it pulls up. We’ll play that one by ear,” Sloane said.
“If I play, if I don’t play - it doesn’t make any difference. The team will be fine without me, they’ve been fine all year and never relied on any one (person) to get it done.
“I’m sure the boys will be fine either way.”
Captain Taylor Walker (toe) and defender Daniel Talia (ankle) are expected to be fit for Thursday’s match after both missing the Crows’ round 23 loss to the Eagles.
"The toe was just a little bit sore, but I'm all good now and ready to go," Walker told AFL Media.
"I just needed to take a couple of steps back to go forward.
"Our high-performance staff have done a great job with the list and have got us in a good position to enjoy the opportunity we've created going into the finals."
Crows General Manager of High Performance Matt Hass told the club’s website that early signs were positive for the pair.
“(They) continue to improve,” Hass said.
“We’ll build up their loads over the next week and expect them both to play (next) Thursday against the GIANTS.”
Defender Alex Keath was Adelaide’s only injury concern out of the trip west.
The second-year player suffered a heavy knock late in the loss to the Eagles and did not return to the field.
“Unfortunately, he failed his concussion test at the end of the game,” Hass said.
“He’s pulled up reasonably well. He’ll go into the concussion protocol this week but we expect him to be fine (next) Thursday.”
In other news from the City of Churches, the Crows had three representatives in the 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team, named on Wednesday night.
Rory Laird, Eddie Betts and Matt Crouch all made the final 22 after eight Crows were named in the 40-man squad.
The Crows also secured the signature of prized forward Mitch McGovern with plenty of talk in the lead-up over where the West Australian could be playing his football in the coming years.
The GIANTS head to South Australia to take on the Crows at Adelaide Oval in the first Qualifying Final on Thursday, September 7.
