Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks noticed the long run – and he preferred it.
Nicks was rapt together with his callow defence in a 28-point win in opposition to Gold Coast on Saturday.
Adelaide’s backline featured debutant James Borlase, third-gamer Luke Nankervis, Mark Keane (seven video games), Josh Worrell (14) and Max Michelanney (19).
Collectively, they helped maintain the Suns goal-less within the first time period and to a few majors in every of the next quarters of Adelaide’s 13.11 (89) to 9.7 (61) victory.
“We have been forced into that through injury,” Nicks stated of the inexperienced defence.
“But sometimes you look at it and go ‘geez, I’m glad we’ve been forced into that’.
“Not as a result of you’ve got guys injured, you do not want that upon anybody.
“But we have been able to now see the depth that we have.”
Adelaide misplaced influential backman Tom Doedee (knee reconstruction) in June.
A fortnight in the past, key defender Nick Murray additionally had a knee reconstruction. And final week, his tall defensive associate Jordon Butts suffered a damaged foot.
The accidents compelled Nicks to pick Keane two video games in the past – the Irishman performed 5 video games for Collingwood in 2020-21 however stayed in Ireland throughout COVID-19 final 12 months.
Borlase, the son of Port Adelaide SANFL nice Darryl Borlase, was linked to, and signed, by the Crows as a Category B abroad recruit as a result of he was born in Egypt.
“James Borlase tonight was huge, similar to Keane the week prior,” Nicks stated.
“It is a large jump to AFL level but to see two guys in two weeks step up and show they can play at the level … was really pleasing.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
