Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty is firming for an AFL return, but two experienced teammates could be made to wait longer.
Fogarty hasn’t played since round four because of a back injury, but made a comeback in state league ranks last weekend.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks says the attacker is likely to return to AFL action against North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
“I think you’ll see Fog – everything going well today,” Nicks told reporters before training on Wednesday.
But he tempered hopes of recruit Callum Ah Chee and veteran Taylor Walker facing the Roos.
Ah Chee played alongside Fogarty in the SANFL last weekend – his first match since tearing a hamstring on March 20.
Walker didn’t play at any level because of a hamstring injury and, despite publicly expressing hope of returning on Saturday, is likely to miss again.
“He’s a competitor – he wants to play,” Nicks said of Walker.
“The reality of it is … probably leaning towards maybe not because of the importance of Taylor to our group for the longer term.”
Nicks hinted Ah Chee also could be forced to wait longer for an AFL return.
“We know Cal is in our best 23 players,” he said.
“We want him there for the rest of the season. We don’t want to bring him in and then lose him for another month or five or six weeks.”
Key defender Jordon Butts is also expected to be available after recovering from a groin ailment.
And Nicks confirmed All Australian spearhead Riley Thilthorpe, who has been down on form, has been carrying a lower back injury.
Thilthorpe has kicked only 14 goals from nine games this season.
“Riley has worked his way through some physical challenges this year, the lower back has troubled him,” Nicks said.
“But there’s a combination: our delivery at the moment and our overall game plan isn’t consistent.
“We all know … this guy is a beast. When are we going to see it? Well, let’s do what we can to help him as a team.”
