Stevens` absence to stretch Crows

Adelaide have lost the versatile Scott Stevens for Sunday's AFL round two match
against Sydney, forcing the Crows to press still more underdone players into
service.
Stevens was concussed against Fremantle, and though he later returned to the field
during the Crows' opening round loss, he was unable to be considered for Sunday due
to the after-effects - youngster Rory Sloane having already been ruled out due to an
ankle problem.
Their absence is a blow to an Adelaide side riddled with underdone players after
injury-interrupted pre-seasons, and will force more pressure onto coach Neil Craig
to call on the experienced campaigners he has waiting gingerly in the wings at the
end of their recuperations.
Forwards Chris Knights, Jason Porplyzia and Brett Burton, plus ruckmen James Sellar
and Ivan Maric, are all available to play after showing they have reached a suitable
level of fitness at training, and Craig will have to throw some in.
He has natural misgivings about this, given how much the speed of the game seems to
have lifted in the opening round.
"In terms of familiarity some names are coming up, but obviously we're still faced
with lack of playing time," Craig said on Thursday.
"When you combine that with what you saw on the weekend with where the game is
going, if you talk to the players, it's gone up a notch, it is super-quick now.
"The best example I can use is Bernie Vince, who played SANFL the week before and
played some good touch footy, was in good form, and I thought he was just off the
pace against Freo, so it looks like all clubs will be faced with the same situation
if you have long-term injuries.
"We're going to have to play them at some stage."
Knights and Burton in particular are likely to make their returns via the SANFL, but
the loss of the tall Stevens and the poor first round effort of incumbent Jon
Griffin should mean that Sellar and Maric press hard for recalls.
Porplyzia played in the local league with West Adelaide at the weekend and seems
assured of a recall.
"In a perfect world for us they would all play in the SANFL, because of the nature
of the game," Craig said.
"But because of the structure of our team at the moment, I'm going to have to make a
decision to play certain people in the genuine positions they play.
"Some of those guys will come into our side and hopefully they'll be able to play
some top level footy.
"We're only compromised because of the situation we've got, it's just the way the
cards have fallen - there's no way out of it, we have to bite the bullet at some
stage and play these players, and I know they'll give their absolute best for us."