Adelaide has confirmed a late Supplemental Selection Period addition after a ruckman’s injury, as the AFL re-opens the SSP following long-term injuries at Carlton and Melbourne.
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The Crows placed injured tapster Kieran Strachan on their inactive list and in turn signed fellow ruckman Lachlan McAndrew, who had been training with the club since December after signing with the SANFL side.
The move means Strachan cannot take part in the upcoming season. The 29-year-old, who in December suffered stress fracture in his right foot as part of an already-interrupted pre-season, experienced soreness in his right heel after returning to running, with scans revealing a stress fracture.
“Kieran has made a very selfless decision and put the team first,” Crows list boss Justin Reid said on Monday.
“Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, and his latest setback exposed us to significant risk in our ruck stocks particularly in the early part of the season.
“He is a very popular member of the playing group, which obviously shares in his disappointment, and at the same time would acknowledge the significance of his decision to be placed on the inactive list for the rest of the year.”
Given that “significant risk”, Adelaide pulled the trigger on adding McAndrew to its list.
“Given the timing of Kieran’s latest injury and the importance of the ruck position, it was crucial we moved quickly to find a replacement,” Reid said.
“Lachie has been very impressive with us over summer and has earned the spot on the list and I’m sure he will make the most of his opportunity.
“We completed the necessary paperwork before the SSP deadline on Friday, but with the timing of our pre-season match-simulation against Port Adelaide on Friday night, it was important for us and Kieran to be able to inform the whole playing group together on Monday.”
The 24-year-old McAndrew, whose AFL arrival came via the 2021 mid-season draft, played two games for the Sydney Swans over four seasons before being delisted at the end of last season.
The SSP deadline, which passed last Friday, has been extended by the league after frustration from the Blues and Demons following respective injury blows.
According to the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark, the AFL has re-opened the period to allow Carlton and Melbourne to sign replacement players after Jagga Smith and Andy Moniz-Wakefield suffered season-ending ACL ruptures.
The initial deadline passing on Friday meant Carlton, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Melbourne were left vulnerable with regards to potential longer-term injuries suffered.
Melbourne has landed former West Coast midfielder and No.1 midseason draft pick Jai Culley.
Meanwhile Carlton has signed another small forward with ex-VFL Blue Will White joining Francis Evans as additions to the list.
It means the Blues won’t have additional tall help nor a midfielder replacement for Smith. Denver Grainger-Barras, Sam Durdin, Ethan Phillips and Liam McMahon also trained with the club this pre-season.
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