Adelaide will blood young midfielder Billy Dowling for his first AFL game on Thursday night when the Crows host Richmond at Adelaide Oval.
Dowling joined the Crows as the 43rd overall selection at the 2022 National Draft as a local prospect out of North Adelaide.
The 19-year-old spent his entire rookie season at West Lakes between the SANFL and the club's casualty ward, having dealt with a foot injury that delayed his 2023 campaign.
Dowling ended up playing 20 games at the state league level last year, including all three of the Crows' finals appearances.
The emerging midfielder has started this year strongly for the club's reserves, playing eight games and averaging 24.1 disposals, 4.6 marks, 5.9 tackles and 5.4 clearances to continue to press his case for a senior call-up.
That chance is set to come on Thursday night against the Tigers, with Dowling to make his debut in the absence of veteran midfielder Matt Crouch, who will miss the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery.
Adelaide is also expected to be without forward Taylor Walker for this week's meeting against Richmond due to a back issue that limited him last weekend against Hawthorn.
Dowling becomes the Crows' second debutant of 2024 following top draft selection Dan Curtin's maiden appearance for the Round 8 Showdown against Port Adelaide.
The Crows will host Richmond at Adelaide Oval at 7:00 pm local time on Thursday night.
