Coach defends doctors as Crows players play out game after head clash

By Chris De Silva

Adelaide skipper Jordan Dawson was inspirational in the win over Geelong, kicking three goals. (Getty Images: James Elsby)

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Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is optimistic his side's tough victory over Geelong won't be soured by a significant injury toll and match review findings.

Callum Ah Chee (hamstring) and Jordon Butts (calf) both failed to finish Thursday night's gripping contest, which the Crows won 11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74).

Toby Murray and debutant Hugo Hall-Kahan were involved in a sickening head clash, while Taylor Walker faces scrutiny after shoving an opponent into a marking contest.

"It's disappointing that we've lost those guys but also really pleasing that we were able to hang in there and just fight it out towards the end," Nicks said.

"Ah Chee's a hamstring, Jordon Butts is a calf, but we don't know to what extent. We hope they're minor."

Ah Chee (11 touches, one goal) did a brilliant job blunting Geelong star Tom Stewart for three quarters, but finished in a familiar position on the bench with ice on his right hamstring.

It is the two-time Brisbane premiership player's fourth hamstring injury since crossing to the Crows.

"It's really tough for him. The first thing he says about it is he doesn't want to let the group down, because that's the sort of person he is," Nicks said.

Callum Ah Chee kicked a crucial goal in the third quarter to put Adelaide on top before coming off the ground with a hamstring injury. (Getty Images: Sarah Reed)

"But it's an interesting one because he's had such a long career at a club and every club trains differently … so we'll just keep looking at whether there's challenges in what we do here compared to what he's done for such a long time.

"We're really confident we'll get that right and he's going to be super important for the latter part of this year."

Murray and Hall-Kahan collided in the final quarter, temporarily reducing the Crows to one fit man on the bench.

But neither player had to sit out for a concussion test and both returned to play out the match.

"(We have) complete trust in our medical group about how they do that and we don't take any risk in that space," Nicks said.

"I'm led to believe it's more of just a gash across the nose for Hugo, which just adds a little bit more to his game."

Walker pushed Geelong defender Connor O'Sullivan into Crows skipper Jordan Dawson in a marking contest — an action the AFL has cracked down on in recent times.

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield finishes with a season-high 30 disposals and seven clearances in the loss.  (Getty Images: Sarah Reed)

"We had a brief look but we didn't go back and watch it. I'm hoping there wasn't much in it," Nicks said.

"I probably can't comment on it too much. I haven't had a good enough look."

In the television broadcasts, former AFL stars Nick Riewoldt and David King said they felt Walker would be in trouble.