Adelaide stalwart Ben Rutten says a selection axe will fall on some struggling teammates as the Crows grapple with a worrying form slump.
Adelaide have one win from three games after Port Adelaide came from 31 points down in the third quarter to win by nine points on Sunday.
“It’s concerning,” Rutten said of Adelaide’s sluggish start.
“We need to strip it back and get more guys playing well … we have just got too many guys that aren’t playing to the standard that they’re accustomed to and what they need to.”
Rutten said those out of form faced being axed.
“I would assume so,” he said of the prospect of selection changes for Sunday’s home fixture against the Western Bulldogs.
“We have got some guys pushing for selection and playing well in the SANFL. And it’s part of AFL footy: you need to be in form to hold your position otherwise you’re under threat of selection changes.”
Adelaide have never lost two games in a row under second-year coach Brenton Sanderson and Rutten backed his teammates to maintain that record.
“The guys are a pretty proud group and are pretty disappointed in our performance that we put up yesterday,” he said.
“But we don’t have time to wallow in our performance. We need to get on with it.
“You never want to get behind the (win-loss) ledger. It’s very tough to play catch-up later in the year … we need to start winning.”
Adelaide captain Nathan van Berlo, substituted with a knee injury during the loss to Port, will have a fitness test later in the week.