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Disaster for Crows as Doedee goes down, 'Worpedo' launches

A second AFL player might have suffered a season-ending injury just days into the season, with Adelaide’s Tom Doedee suspected to have suffered an ACL injury.

The injury blow comes after Alex Rance was confirmed to have ruptured his ACL in Richmond’s season-opening win against Carlton on Thursday night.

In a statement on the Crows’ website, the club confirmed Doedee had likely suffered the same injury.

“Adelaide defender Tom Doedee will take no further part in Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval,” the statement read.

“Doedee left the field in the second quarter and re-emerged from the rooms with his left knee iced.

“The club suspects it is an ACL injury, with scans to confirm the extent of the injury in coming days.”

Crow blow compounded

Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel orchestrated the 32-point away thumping of Adelaide in Saturday’s AFL twilight game.

Worpel gathered 27 disposals and kicked two goals in the Hawks’ 12.15 (87) to 7.13 (55) victory at Adelaide Oval.

James Worpel celebrates a goal. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
James Worpel celebrates a goal. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Veteran Adelaide utility Richard Douglas limped off with a leg injury in the final term, in addition to the earlier loss of Doedee.

The injuries came as Worpel delivered early evidence he will go some way to covering the midfield void caused by Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell’s broken leg.

Worpel’s teammate Ben McEvoy ruled the ruck and James Sicily helped control Adelaide’s potent-on-paper attack as Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch were kept goalless.

Sicily collected 26 touches and took 10 marks while eight-gamer James Cousins and Jaeger O’Meara (24 disposals) kicked two goals each.

On-ballers Liam Shiel and Blake Hardwick, with 22 disposals apiece, combined with Worpel and O’Meara to provide a dominance around the packs.

Worpel was superb, with six centre clearances, a team-high dozen contested possessions plus a momentum-setting goal early in the third term.

The game hung in the balance at halftime, with the Hawks nine points up, before Worpel kicked a goal within a minute to trigger a match-defining period.

Hawthorn booted three goals to none for the quarter as they opened a 34-point lead to stun Adelaide’s 50,180-strong crowd.