Burton closes in on return for Crows
Adelaide's looming match against unbeaten AFL ladder leaders St Kilda provides a significant selection poser for the Crows' match committee - what to do with livewire forward Brett Burton.
In two SANFL matches since resuming after a knee reconstruction, Burton has done all he can to show he is ready to re-commence his AFL career.
His high-leaping, creativity and boundless run makes him a difficult match-up for any side, and coach Neil Craig has made it clear a fit Burton still belongs in the Crows' best 22.
But there is a risk inherent in trying Burton against the Saints at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
"It's probably a tough one for the selectors but a good position to be in as well, Brett's worked as hard as I've seen anyone over the last 10-12 months," said midfielder Brad Symes.
"He's come back and played two games now and is in pretty good form already, which doesn't really surprise anyone at the club.
"If he does come into the team I'm sure he'd do a great job."
Adelaide have been a happy bunch over the past seven rounds, all of which have ended in victory, and Symes said Burton's contribution on the training track had been significant.
"His enthusiasm for someone who's had to go through what he's been through has been second to none," he said.
"He's probably added a bit of a spark to training actually the way he's come back over the past two months since he joined us, he's trained as well as any, looking pretty good and ready to go."
Burton's recall would add another string to a forward line that is functioning capably, offering another aerial threat in addition to that of Kurt Tippett.
The ruck is an area for some pondering, given the likelihood that Ivan Maric and the inexperienced James Sellar will be hard pressed to hold their own against Michael Gardiner and the returning Steven King.
"It's up to the whole midfield as a group to help those guys out, they're always strong around the footy and over the last few weeks have given us first look at a lot of ball," Symes said.
"It might not be like that for the whole year as we come up against some more experienced ruckman so it's up to the midfield as a group to stay tight, win that hard ball and generate that hard ball into our forward line."
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