ADELAIDE veteran Scott Thompson could be recalled for his first game of the season against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night to add some muscle to a Crows midfield desperately in need of more grunt.
Premiership favourites after six straight wins to start the season, the Crows have been smashed at the contest in the past fortnight on their way to getting belted by North Melbourne and Melbourne.
Thompson, 34, had an interrupted pre-season with shoulder, calf and adductor injuries, but he has worked his way back to match fitness in the past two weeks in the SANFL.
"He's obviously a warrior, he's played that way for 300-plus games," Crows forward Tom Lynch said on Monday.
"He's certainly one (player) and a leader of our football club that I'm sure they (the match committee) will look at.
"At the same time, it's not just one or two players, it is all the guys who are out on the park at the minute.
"We're going to have to do something about it."
Former Australian under-19 representative basketballer Hugh Greenwood, third-year midfielder Harrison Wigg and draftees Jordan Gallucci and Myles Poholke will also come into consideration for a senior debut.
However, the Crows could decide to keep changes to a minimum with defender Jake Lever (hamstring) and midfielder/forward Riley Knight (glute) set to return.
Thompson's physical presence at the contest would be a huge assistance to midfield star Rory Sloane, who has been shut out in the past two weeks.
Sloane has averaged just 14.5 possessions after getting tagged by the Kangaroos' Sam Gibson and former teammate Bernie Vince.
"As a whole team, we can help him out more if he's getting that close tag," Lynch said.
"We've got to stop him getting bashed all the time and we've got to put some blocks on for him.
"We've got to help him for the whole 120 minutes because he's a key part of our team."
The Crows led by 28 points midway through the second quarter before the Demons turned the tide to kick 15 of the next 18 goals.
It follows on from the Kangaroos booting the opening 10 goals in their victory over the Crows in Hobart.
"We're obviously concerned about it, the boys are disappointed and frustrated in what we dished up," Lynch said.
"That can only rest on our shoulders so we're going to have to do something about it and roll up our sleeves and get to work.
"I'm not saying they've worked us out or figured out how to beat us, every team has a plan going into the game.
"We pride ourselves on being that contested, hard-working team.
"That hasn't been us the last couple weeks."
