Adelaide’s Smith passes AFL fitness test

Influential Adelaide defender Brodie Smith has passed a fitness test on a sore hamstring and will play against Fremantle in Saturday night’s AFL match.

Smith suffered hamstring tightness in last week’s win against Brisbane but has been cleared to take on the Dockers at Adelaide Oval.

“He trained this morning, he’s ready to go, so no issues there,” Adelaide assistant coach Scott Camporeale told reporters on Friday.

The Crows have made two changes to their side with key forward Josh Jenkins and utility David Mackay replacing injured midfielder Curtly Hamtpon (ankle) and rookie Jordan Gallucci, who has been dropped after making his AFL debut last weekend.

Camporeale said the ladder-leading Crows were wary of fifth-placed Fremantle, who have won six of their past seven games.

“In terms of their form-line, they are the best in the competition along with GWS,” he said.

“They have certainly been in better form, they are moving the ball a bit better and they have also got a talented midfield that gives their forwards an opportunity to score.

“And on the back of (Freo coach) Ross Lyon’s philosophy they defend really well and keep you to low scores.”

Fremantle’s top ruckman Aaron Sandilands will miss the clash because of a hamstring injury while Ed Langdon has been sidelined by a knee injury.

The Dockers summoned Jon Griffin and Darcy Tucker as replacements.

“I wouldn’t underestimate Jon Griffin to be honest, he has been a real handy ruckman for them over a period of time,” Camporeale said.

“Not having Aaron slightly changes their thinking in terms of what they will do, obviously Aaron gives them first-use … but we don’t worry too much about the opposition, we worry about what we want to do.”

One worry the Crows have is their tardy starts to matches – they have won just two of nine opening quarters this season.

“We have had a conversation about that, we are not ignorant to think it has been at the level,” Camporeale said.

“It can be a combination of things. It can be players’ mentality, training, preparation, it can be a whole host of things.

“We are trying to dig through that and make sure that we can zero-in on a good start because we can’t obviously give teams opportunities in games, especially when we get to the pointy end of the season.”

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