Crows’ Laird has suspected broken hand

Roger Vaughan | March 5, 2022

Reigning Adelaide best-and-fairest midfielder Rory Laird has a suspected broken hand after their AFL pre-season loss to Port Adelaide.

Laird had fingers on his right hand strapped after Saturday’s 37-point loss at suburban Richmond Oval and the Crows are sweating on X-ray results.

Power forward Robbie Gray also went off in the first term of the 17.9 (111) to 11.8 (74) “Summer Showdown” with what Port called slight hamstring awareness.

But unlike Laird, he is not considered in doubt for round one.

Laird, the two-time Crows best-and-fairest onballer and two-time All Australian, suffered his injury early in the third term.

He is in serious doubt for their round-one match on March 20 at home against Fremantle.

“It’s a suspected broken hand … we have our fingers crossed that it may be a week or two, but it may be worse than that,” coach Matthew Nicks said.

Young Adelaide forward Luke Pedlar finished the game with a hamstring problem, but Nicks was more upbeat about his availability.

Power coach Ken Hinkley also is confident that Gray will be ready for their March 19 opener against Brisbane at the Gabba.

“He had some slight hamstring stuff going on in the first quarter,” Hinkley said of the the four-time All Australian and three-time club best and fairest.

“He said ‘look I’m not sure, I feel OK’, but it’s a simple decision – you’re out.

“I imagine he’d be very, very much in the mix for round one.”

After an impressive challenge from Adelaide in the first half, the Power dominated with eight goals to three in the third term.

“We didn’t have the perfect day we would have liked, but we certainly made some good steps forward,” Hinkley said.

Mitch Georgiades starred with four goals and GWS recruit Jeremy Finlayson kicked three, while Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines racked up a game-high 37 disposals.

After losing to Brisbane last week by 89 points, the Crows looked much better on Saturday and Nicks had plenty to be optimistic about.

“There was some really positive stuff to come out of it … it’s pre-season, we’re here to improve,” he said.

“From last week to this week, it was a big step up, back to what we want to be.

“Our inability to execute and their ability to do so was the difference.”

Adelaide captain Rory Sloane had 10 clearances and 28 possessions, while last year’s No.6 draft pick Josh Rachele is set for his AFL debut in round one after kicking three goals and laying nine tackles.