Crows Dilemma As Goodwin Fit

Adelaide have a selection table drama after $336k skipper Simon Goodwin declared himself fit after a couple of weeks out with a knee problem.

The difficulty for selection at West Lakes is that Brett Burton, Taylor Walker and Brent Reilly all performed well in the SANFL last week and are pressing their case for an AFL callup.

Returning to Goodwin, Crows assistant coach Mark Bickley said, “Simon’s had a few weeks on the sidelines now, so we really wanted to see how he touched the ball and he was pretty good today.

“He’s the captain of our club and he was in good form before he went out of the side, so he’s a very strong possibility to play.”

Bickley added about $374k fwd Burton, "You might’ve thought Brett was going to come back pretty rusty and that it would take a couple of weeks for him to get back into it, but on the strength of his performance last week he’s a genuine candidate.”

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Around The Grounds

• Star Fremantle $361k forward Matt Pavlich could make an early return from a calf injury. It is believed the Docker is recovering well from the minor calf strain which he strained against Collingwood in Round 13 and he may be a chance to face Adelaide this weekend.

• Essendon's $378k midfielder Jobe Watson may not be ready to make an early return from an ankle injury this Saturday against Sydney. Bombers coach Matthew Knights said, "Jobe isn't guaranteed for this week. He would have to train on Friday as we haven't got a session on Thursday." Knights did indicate Mark McVeigh, and possibly Michael Hurley, would probably come in.
  

• Carlton coach Brett Ratten says star midfield duo Heath Scotland ($339k) and Nick Stevens ($332k) are no guarantees for an AFL recall this week after good games in the VFL. Ratten said, "They are in the mix. They’re quality players but we just went with a different team structure [last week]. We’ll have to see how we go at the selection table.” Ratten also revealed Paul Bower was close to an early return after a knee injury.
  

• North Melbourne's luckless $309k midfielder Daniel Wells continues to have a bad run with injuries after cutting himself in training. Wells sustained a five-centimetre wound to his leg in gym training and the problem will set back his progress a couple more weeks.
  

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DreamTeam Update: Tribunal

Just two cases for the tribunal to look through this with, and both were unsuccessful.

Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin copped two weeks from the tribunal for his hit on Brisbane's Daniel Rich. Chaplin will miss Port's matches against Melbourne and West Coast.

North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt received a week's suspension for striking Sydney's Nick Malceski and will miss the Kangas' next match against Hawthorn.

There were a number of other charges, but early pleas were taken including Colin Sylvia (3 weeks), Jared Brennan (1 week) and Mark Austin (1 week).

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