The Bombers, already without lead ruckman David Hille for the season, were dealt a double blow on the weekend losing emerging teenager Tom Bellchambers (knee) and also pinch-hitting big man Jason Laycock (foot) to injury.
Athletic 21-year-old Paddy Ryder is expected to shoulder the majority of the ruck load and will have to contend with not just two, but three different opponents.
However Craig said Essendon’s ruck dilemma was far from an advantage for his side.
“Someone will bob up on Sunday, just as Paddy Ryder bobbed up when David Hille went down,” Craig said on Thursday.
“Everyone says, ‘Hille’s got an ACL injury, so that’s the end [of Essendon]’ but all of a sudden Paddy Ryder jumps up and becomes an outstanding ruckman.”
The Crows have experimented with three talls - Ivan Maric, Kurt Tippett and Brad Moran - for the past fortnight and Craig said he was unlikely to change the winning combination this week.
“We’ve been happy with the structure it [playing three big men] enabled us to get against two different opponents,” he said.
“We like the structure that one of those big guys up forward gives us, irrespective of who it is, because it gives us a nice blend. The big guy up there suits us and we place a lot of importance on clearances, so the more we can keep the heat on in the ruck the better.”
The Crows had two noticeable absentees from the track at their main session on Thursday.
Skipper Simon Goodwin was given the afternoon off to rest an ongoing ankle injury and Jason Porplyzia also spent the day inside nursing general soreness.
Both are expected to play against the Bombers.
Quick ball movement was again a feature at Adelaide training and Craig said it would be a good challenge for his team to try and match Essendon in the running stakes.
“The Bombers are a very dangerous side if they get up and running and they have some exciting talent,” Craig said.
“They like to play really quick, offensive footy coming through the corridor and if you’re not on top of your defensive game they’ll just blow you away.
“Our record in Melbourne hasn’t been great against them. We’ve [only] beaten them once in the history of our footy club, so we’re looking forward to the game”
Sunday will be the first time Bomber Hayden Skipworth has fronted up against the club where he spent six years.
Craig said he was happy that Skipworth had received an opportunity at AFL level.
“Hayden has played some good footy for Essendon and it’s good, particularly given what he’s been through with a knee reconstruction and having spent some time in the VFL,” he said.
“It’s a good story for Hayden to come back into their side and play a more senior role than he played here with us.”
