Daniel Brettig @ The Advertiser wrote:Crows may send Nathan Bock to SANFL Eagles
Adelaide is flirting with the idea of playing key defender Nathan Bock in the SANFL this weekend in a bid to build match fitness.
Bock has not turned out for his local club Woodville-West Torrens since 2006, but is eligible to play for the Eagles in the local league finals so long as Adelaide remain in the race to the grand final.
Having not played any football since he pulled up lame with a heel fracture against Geelong in round 18, Bock is an outside chance of returning against Collingwood on Saturday night.
But Adelaide football operations manager John Reid said Bock would have to train the house down to be chosen.
Nathan van Berlo (back) and Robert Shirley (hamstring) are stronger chances to squeeze their way into the team, Reid said.
``Nathan (Bock) is still a day-by- day proposition and we're at the stage now where you do have to debate taking someone in who hasn't played (for six weeks) where two weeks ago you would've said he'd be straight back into the team,'' Reid said on Tuesday.
``It may well be a situation where the selectors decide that from a touch and fitness perspective Nathan doesn't make the side.
``If he didn't make our team we'd certainly want him to play somewhere.
``He'd certainly have to train extremely well to convince the selectors.''
Reid said the Crows would be reluctant to field any player who was not 100 per cent fit.
``Over the last two or three weeks we've taken in sides with all fit players,'' Reid said.
``When you start to take one, two or three (questionable) players history's shown it can catch you out.
``We won't be leaving the decisions on Bock and van Berlo until Friday.
``The coaches will make their decisions earlier than that because we won't be taking players into the game that are a big risk.''
The Crows are wary of a the strong opposition they will face from a reactionary Collingwood unit.
The Magpies famously produce a fighting performance the week after a loss.
``They've got a good rebound history, Mick (Malthouse) is a great one for that,'' Reid said.
``It started straight after the game, he named three or four players who didn't perform, so he started to point the finger there.
``That's how they go about their business and it doesn't make it easy, but at the end of the day it'll be as much if not more about how we go about our business.
``But they're a proud footy club, they will rebound and their history does say that.''
