Crows coach ponders fresh AFL faces

Adelaide coach Don Pyke’s patience is being tested by some of his underperforming AFL players.

But the Crows coach isn’t convinced it’s time to wield a selection axe despite three losses in four weeks.

“It’s a balancing act,” Pyke told reporters on Wednesday.

“Some of those guys played some really powerful and strong footy in the first part of the year.

“That will be a good discussion point, as to what point do we feel the need to bring in some fresh faces and fresh blood … we’ll see the result of that after match committee.”

Pyke and his committee meet later Wednesday to settle a side for Saturday’s away fixture against Gold Coast.

But he hinted the midfield brigade, soundly beaten in the past two losses against the Western Bulldogs and Geelong, would be afforded another opportunity.

“It’s not like you just go ‘let’s throw all the guys out’,” he said.

“There is some high quality players and individuals in there who, for one reason or another, aren’t performing at their level that they have in the past.

“And we have a challenge as a coaching group to get them back up to that. That is the discussions that are ongoing.

“But one thing I have learnt over the years is you don’t want to be negative against a group of players who have done a lot of really positive things over their careers.”

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