ADELAIDE will consider rushing star forward Eddie Betts back into its senior team next week in an effort to arrest its demoralising downward spiral over the last month.
Betts was controversially dropped from Adelaide's team for Saturday's clash with Carlton, in which it slumped to its fourth defeat in five matches to the tune of 27 points.
However, the veteran was instrumental in the SANFL, pushing for an immediate recall with four goals from 14 disposals as Adelaide fell to a slender two-point loss to Glenelg.
Eddddiiiieeee!! how does he do it? @Adelaide_FC #SANFL pic.twitter.com/gNua01C9mU
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) July 27, 2019
Fellow axed stars Bryce Gibbs (40 disposals, 10 tackles), Richard Douglas (34 disposals, three goals), Sam Jacobs (13 disposals, two goals) and Hugh Greenwood (23 disposals, one goal) were also impressive, with the Crows likely to act at the selection table this week.
"I haven't heard a report from today," Adelaide coach Don Pyke said after the senior side’s loss to the Blues.
BLUE MURDER OF CROWS Full match details and stats
"But hopefully he (Betts) has gone back and he's played the sort of way he's capable of playing. Hopefully he's done the things we needed him to look at.
"I'd expect that, based on today's performance, there might be a few guys in line for selection."
Pyke revealed after the match that Adelaide was low on confidence as a result of its dismal last month, suggesting he will talk to his players about ways to improve their morale.
The Crows are also set to investigate whether the spate of recent high-profile omissions from the team, which continued last week when they dropped Betts, is having an impact on their confidence levels.
"That's something we'll have to discuss," Pyke said.
"I don't know whether people perceive that as meaning everyone is on notice. Clearly, that's not the intention behind the selection decisions. It's based on what we think is the best team to play and win games of footy.
Just what the Crows needed!
— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2019
Three goals for Walker now. pic.twitter.com/0MoDFML6q6
"We'll explore that and we'll explore a lot of things. Today, it looked like we were down on energy and down on confidence. Clearly, we're not playing the footy we're capable of.
"We've got to do some analysis and have some conversations and get ourselves ready for St Kilda (next week), because the season is still alive. We'll fight on."
WATCH Don Pyke's full post-match media conference
Betts' replacement on Saturday, Tyson Stengle, was lively in Adelaide's defeat, kicking two goals from seven disposals, but struggled to have an impact after half-time.
Lovely finish from Tyson Stengle! #AFLBluesCrows pic.twitter.com/gJunfAgyGG
— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2019
Pyke was apprehensive to suggest he subsequently regretted Betts' omission.
"I'm not sure that was going to be the difference in the game," Pyke said.
"Looking at the numbers and the way we played, I'm not sure the difference between Tyson and Eddie was necessarily going to be the difference.
"We'll consider what that looks like for selection next week."