The timely return of livewire small forward Josh Rachele for this Friday night’s blockbuster Semi-Final against Hawthorn is exactly what the Adelaide Crows needed.
For one of the very few times this season, the Crows’ forward line lacked speed and creativity against Collingwood last Friday night, and especially without superstar Izak Rankine.
Rachele’s return adds those two qualities to this Adelaide forward line, and he instantly makes them a better scoring side.
The Crows averaged two more goals per game this season when Rachele was on the field, averaging 102 points per game with him, compared to 91 without him.
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While their two biggest defeats of the season also came when he was off the field, with none bigger than their Qualifying Final defeat to Collingwood.
Rachele’s 1.9 goals per game is a career-best and is the second-best return of any Crow this year, only trailing Riley Thilthorpe.
And that number could be higher, factoring that Rachele has been subbed out three times this season.
The small forward has completed his rehabilitation from a Posterior Capsular Tear that he sustained in round 17.
Adelaide’s General Manager of High Performance Darren Burgess said Rachele had successfully taken part in full training over the past week.
“Josh has passed every test we’ve given him and has done a hell of a lot of work in the past month,” Burgess said.
“He’s feeling great, he’s been knocking on all of our doors for the past two weeks saying he’s ready,
“He’ll be available for selection assuming he gets through training.”
While there is no doubt of Rachele’s impact on this Crows forward line, he will have to overcome his recent personal record against the Hawks.
The Hawthorn defence has kept him goalless in three of their last four matchups, with only one goal to his name for his career against them - and he’s only been victorious once.