EMERGING Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien will replace injured ironman Sam Jacobs against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, and may be needed next week against Fremantle as Jacobs battles to overcome an ankle sprain.
Jacobs fell awkwardly in a marking contest last weekend against Essendon, rolling his left ankle in the second term. His absence ends a consecutive games streak of 93, the second-longest in the AFL behind North Melbourne's Sam Gibson (103).
He had his injured ankle scanned on Tuesday, and while the results confirmed to the club that it was a minor sprain, coach Don Pyke said the club was only hopeful he'd be back to take on Fremantle in round 21.
The 201cm O'Brien has proven himself to be the Crows' next-best big man through consistent SANFL form; he was named in the best players in seven of 17 matches last year and in six of his 15 games this season.
The 20-year-old is a great competitor when the ball goes to ground, and has a sound goal sense.
"Jacobs is genuinely injured, he's not available," Pyke said.
"Hopefully he'll be right for next week, but we'll see how he trains.
"It's great for 'Rob' (O'Brien), he's been in terrific form in the SANFL and he's really learnt a lot of his craft this year – his last five or six weeks have been really impressive.
"His follow-up work's really impressive … we're not just picking the next tallest bloke on our list, we're playing a guy who's played ruck and has played really well."
Veteran midfielder Scott Thompson will be rested against the Lions, as the Crows look to have the 300-gamer at peak fitness come the start of the finals.
"I spoke to 'Thommo' over the break about the likelihood of trying to give him another spell between the mid-season bye and the end of the season," Pyke said.
"Six-day break this week, he pulled up a bit sore, so it just made sense."
Pyke said Thompson's replacement would be one of either Mitch Grigg, Harrison Wigg or Cam Ellis-Yolmen.
Skipper Taylor Walker trained on Wednesday evening and is set to return to the senior line-up if he doesn't aggravate his ankle injury.
Despite beating the Bombers by 82 points last Sunday, the Crows conceded four of the game's final five goals, which cost the club fourth spot on the ladder.
The Crows trail fourth-placed Geelong by just 0.1 per cent, and with the Cats primed for what looms as a big win against Essendon, Adelaide also needs to win big to ensure a double chance remains in reach.
"We spoke briefly about [the finish] in the review on Monday, and it was more just a reminder that if we divert away from how we want to play, that opportunity to be scored against exists," Pyke said.
"Whether that's the last five minutes or five minutes in the first quarter or in the second or third, it's neither here nor there. It was more just some of the things we went away from."
