AFL 2023: How Crows and Energy are shaping up for pre-season

Hypothesis has swirled that Sloane, who has been the Crows’ sole skipper since 2020, could not have the function this coming season as he returns from a severe knee damage.

Requested if he thought the 32-year-old would take the mantle once more, O’Brien mentioned: “At this stage, completely”.

“He’s nonetheless the captain and doing an important job.

“I believe he’s clearly the chief of the group.

“He’s coaching nicely, hopefully he will get again absolutely into coaching quickly and he’s prepared for spherical 1.”

Sporting a bandage on his proper knee, Sloane moved nicely at coaching on Monday – the Crows’ first session again from their Christmas breaks.

O’Brien mentioned the membership was but to debate when it might resolve the captaincy.

He anticipated a management group vote would occur within the subsequent month.

In the meantime, O’Brien was disillusioned along with his 2022 season, saying he was too wound up and he didn’t discover fluency.

The 2020 best-and-fairest winner performed 20 AFL matches, getting dropped in Could.

He didn’t place within the prime 10 within the Malcolm Blight Medal depend final season.

“I used to be overthinking my footy so much, particularly earlier within the yr,” the 77-gamer mentioned.

“I discovered some higher kind later within the yr but it surely wasn’t the place I wished it to be.

“I need to be the most effective ruckmen within the recreation and I positively wasn’t at that stage final yr so I’m trying to get again to that this yr.”

In different observations from the sidelines:

■ On-baller Ben Keays was with the primary group for the primary time this pre-season after having AC joint surgical procedure.

■ Josh Rachele and Josh Worrell walked and jogged laps on account of minor hamstring points.

■ Former Collingwood defender Jack Madgen – the Crows’ SANFL marquee participant – was jogging with a gaggle on modified coaching that included Shane McAdam (health). May Madgen, who featured 49 instances for the Magpies and was delisted in October, be recruited to Adelaide’s AFL checklist as a alternative for departed swingman Fischer McAsey? Madgen, 192cm and 94kg, would supply an skilled back-up to the likes of Jordon Butts and Nick Murray.

■ Key ahead Riley Thilthorpe and midfielder Zac Taylor each missed the session on account of sickness.

INJURY CONCERNS FOR POWER, CROWS AHEAD OF BIG PRE-SEASON

Each South Australian AFL golf equipment will step up their preparations for season 2023 from Monday after they return to coaching, just below 9 weeks from spherical 1.

The Crows and Port Adelaide resume from the competition-wide Christmas break with a number of key gamers from their respective squads nonetheless constructing again to full health.

Adelaide will assess small ahead Josh Rachele, defender Josh Worrell and excessive flyer Shane McAdam earlier than hitting the monitor to find out if the trio must have their coaching masses modified.

Rachele and Worrell have each had minor hamstring complaints, whereas McAdam has been enhancing his health.

Backman Andrew McPherson is not going to be in the primary group after having a knee arthroscopy in November.

Fellow defender Tom Doedee (AC joint restore in low season) shall be coaching however with no contact.

Swingman Fischer McAsey has been on private go away since November with out an actual date for a return.

At Alberton, growth recruit Jason Horne-Francis will proceed his restoration from surgical procedure on each his legs, having resumed operating final month.

After its remaining coaching session for 2022, on a camp on the Sunshine Coast, the Energy anticipated Horne-Francis to be out there to play pre-season matches subsequent month.

The 18-year-old, who North Melbourne took at choose 1 in 2021 then traded to Port Adelaide in October, was amongst a number of teammates on modified packages earlier than the break.

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines and backman Tom Clurey, who each had post-season knee surgical procedures, had been in that group to finish 2022, together with ahead Mitch Georgiades (ankle) and defender Jase Burgoyne (knee).

Wines and Clurey had been tipped to be again into full coaching this week.

Vice-captain Wines had been on crutches and unable to stroll for six weeks after his left knee operation.

Burgoyne landed awkwardly through the Energy’s camp final month.

Initially revealed as AFL pre-season 2023: All the newest information from Crows and Energy