Dual Adelaide best and fairest winner Rory Laird appears likely to make his return to Matthew Nicks' murder after a one-week layoff due to a broken hand.
The 28-year-old was sidelined during the Crows' heartbreaking opening week loss to the Dockers after sustaining the break in his right hand during the AAMI Community Series.
While the two-time All Australian will be required to train on Wednesday in order to prove his fitness, Adelaide's High Performance Manager, Darren Burgess, was making a serious press to face Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
“Rory has been running really well, obviously one of the advantages of a hand injury is you can still run so he’s pushing for selection this week,” Burgess told afc.com.au.
“He will do most of training on Wednesday and if he gets through that unscathed then he will be available this week, and if not this week, then certainly back for Round Three.”
While the rebounding defender-come-midfielder was able to avoid surgery on his ailing hand, the former rookie draftee saw his unbroken streak of AFL appearances snapped at 70 after donning a Crows' guernsey in every clash since Round 15, 2018.
After shifting into Nicks' engine room in 2021, Laird made a swift return to the form that saw him earn a representative blazer in both 2017 and 2018, finishing the year with averages of 32 disposals and 6.8 clearances across his 22 outings.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
In a further boost for the West Lakes side, Lachlan Murphy and Shane McAdam will both be available for selection this weekend after overcoming from neck surgery and an aductor strain respectively.
“One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing Lachlan Murphy going around in the SANFL,” Burgess said.
“He got through a full game unscathed and it’s great for him and great for everyone at the club.
“And Shane McAdam is in full training, he will do the main session on Wednesday and will be available this week.”
Defender Andrew McPherson will not make the journey to the MCG with the 22-year-old expected to miss 1-2 weeks due to hamstring awareness.
The opening bounce in the Crows opening jaunt across the border this season is scheduled for 1:45 pm AEDT at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.