Adelaide struggling with loss of experienced players

The five-point loss to the Giants strands Adelaide at fifth position in Conference A at the end of Round 6, a game and a half outside of the top three.

The 2019 premiership side has been reduced to a ghost of its afeared self as a tottering injury list has taken its toll.

Chelsea Randall and Chloe Scheer will miss the entire season, Courtney Cramey and Deni Varnhagen have played just the one match, Rhiannon Metcalfe and Erin Phillips two, and Jess Foley four.

While the likes of Anne Hatchard and Danielle Ponter have been able to step up to the plate as required, Adelaide’s bottom end has grown increasingly burdensome as inexperienced players have been rushed into the line-up as the season rolls on.

The hesitancy of the Crows’ ball movement against GWS spoke volumes about a team of inexperienced players adjusting to the sustained body-blows of injury.

Adelaide’s nerve was stretched against the Giants’ pressure and the midfielders tip-toed their disposal forward, squandering their best chances with the wind at Hisense Stadium.

Hatchard has undoubtedly been one of the most prolific and consistently elite players in 2020 but she was forced to work into the backline to win many of her 20 disposals today.