An in-form Sam Jacobs awaits Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith at Adelaide Oval. Just a week after returning from a long stint in the NEAFL, Smith assumes the No. 1 ruck position after Tom Nicholls failed to get up from a badly corked quad that forced him to be substituted out of last weekend’s loss to the Giants.
 
With Nicholls departing the game in the opening quarter, Smith seized his opportunity to be the most dominant ruckman on the ground. His assignment on Saturday will be much more difficult than young Giants pair Rory Lobb and Tom Downie, although Rodney Eade is confident his ruckman can challenge Jacobs.
 
“I think Zac should have a fair bit of confidence with his form. In the reserves he’d been fantastic and that’s why he got his inclusion last week,” Eade told SUNS TV on Friday.
 
“We were pleased with his performance last week. It’s a big task, but we certainly think he’s up to it.”
 
After enduring a frustrating maiden season in southern Queensland, All Australian half back flanker Nick Malceski produced the finest performance of his short career at Gold Coast against Greater Western Sydney.
 
Renowned for his penetrating left foot, Malceski has taken awhile to get going at his new club. The former Swan underwent surgery on his knee after round four and didn’t return to the senior side until round eleven against Fremantle.
 
Malceski started with the substitutes vest in his first two return games, but has since worn into the season, with his last two weeks suggesting he is close to rekindling the form that has seen him become one of the premier rebounding defenders in the competition.
 
“He played as the sub against Freo – it was probably a week too early but we were short of numbers. He was okay then. But since the bye the last three weeks have been a steady increase and a steady improvement,” Eade said.
 
“I think his intensity at the ball was terrific. He laid quite a few tackles last week, and his kicking’s starting to come back as well.”
 
Key defender Henry Schade has been brought straight back into Eade’s side after returning from injury via the NEAFL last weekend. Despite the reserves being humiliated by UWS, Schade’s effort in defence didn’t go unnoticed by the match committee.
 
With Adelaide boasting a bevy of tall key forwards in Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch, a third defensive key post is needed to combat the West Lakes trio who, along with Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron, have helped steer Adelaide to an average of 13 goals per game this year – ranked third in the competition.
 
“(It is) a little bit of a show of faith, but the fact is he played really well last week,” Eade said.
 
“He missed the one game and came back through the twos, and even though the side got beaten by 130 points, we thought his effort was really good. So he’s thoroughly deserved his inclusion.”