Adelaide recruit Callum Ah Chee is still in the mix to take on Collingwood in Round 1 after scans cleared him of a serious hamstring injury.
The dual premiership winner with Brisbane suffered a strain to his right hamstring in the fourth quarter of the State of Origin clash between Victoria and Western Australia.
He underwent scans on Monday and in some good news for the Crows they have cleared the West Australian of serious injury, confirming his strain was a low-grade one.
Crows high performance boss Ian McKeown said Ah Chee was still a chance to take on the Magpies at the MCG next month.
“It’s unfortunate for Cal, but we’re optimistic about his chances of being ready to go for our Round One match against Collingwood,” McKeown said.
Wingman Isaac Cumming ran laps at training on Monday after he reported hamstring awareness during the Crows’ internal trial in Port Augusta on Friday.
Despite the injury to the club’s gun recruit, Crows chairman John Olsen said State of Origin was back and the former premier hoped South Australia would be involved as early as next year.
“I didn’t actually pick up Callum’s injury until he was shown sitting on the bench with the ice pack and then you heart sort of sinks a bit,” he said.
“But it is back, it is back to stay and that is a good thing for footy.
“I would certainly hope so, the traditional South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
“Tasmania ought to get a look in at some stage but they are the traditional footy states, that is where State of Origin really has traction.
“So South Australia, based on its performance in State of Origin over the journey deserves to be back in the mix.
“And I would hope that is next year.”
Originally published as Adelaide Crows recruit Callum Ah Chee cleared of serious hamstring injury, Round 1 club debut remains under cloud