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Steve Larkin

Crows hopeful on injured attacking duo for Freo trip

Adelaide forward Josh Rachele leaves the field in round three after suffering broken ribs. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Adelaide's Josh Rachele has stepped up his AFL comeback bid, with fellow forward Darcy Fogarty also hopeful of facing Fremantle on Friday.

Rachele has missed three games because of broken ribs and trained on Tuesday, though wearing a fluorescent cap denoting non-contact.

"He's doing everything he can at the moment to be fit," Adelaide backman Max Michalanney told reporters.

"He trained today, so he's pushing for selection and hopefully he gets up."

And while Fogarty was nursing a sore left shoulder from a collision in Saturday's win over GWS, he could be fit for the away trip to meet the Dockers on Anzac Day.

Fogarty
The Crows hope Darcy Fogarty can overcome a shoulder injury. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

"He's been cleared of anything major, so again, he's pushing for selection this week," Michalanney said.

"One-hundred per cent we love playing alongside Darcy, you know what you're going to get from him - we saw it on the weekend, he puts his body on the line every single week."

Adelaide midfielder James Peatling will also return from a one-game suspension, with his replacement Sam Berry likely to feel the selection squeeze.

The Crows (4-2) hold fifth spot ahead of playing the ninth-placed Dockers (3-3).

Michalanney
Crows defender Max Michalanney (16) celebrates his first goal in 51 AFL games, scored against GWS. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

And they have never beaten the Dockers at Optus Stadium, though they have only played Freo there twice - last year's 35-point loss, and a three-point defeat in 2018.

"We're pretty cautious not to dwell on past results and stuff like that," Michalanney said.

"We'd rather just focus on what we've got coming up.

"We have done our review on what Fremantle are going to bring this week, so are just focusing on that."

Adelaide defender Max Michalanney talks about the relief at scoring his first goal in the AFL. (Steve Larkin/AAP VIDEO)

The Crows fly west after their best defensive display of the season when restricting GWS to just four goals in an 18-point win.

"We have all played a fair bit of footy together now," Michalanney said of Adelaide's backline.

"We're all learning what the strengths are, what the weaknesses are, so I think we're gelling really well together as a group and we're showing that on the field.''

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