Crouch and his younger brother Matt were both omitted for tomorrow’s clash with the injury-stricken Suns, who will be without concussed captain Gary Ablett and emerging stars Aaron Hall and Adam Saad among a raft of enforced changes.

Crows assistant coach James Podsiadly told FIVEaa Matt Crouch had “some general soreness he’s been carrying the last few weeks”, and the depleted opposition gave him “a chance to freshen up this week and get his body right and be back next week”.

But the dumping of elder Crouch Brad – who Channel 9’s AFL Footy Show last night claimed was in a standoff with the club over his contract as Victorian suitors circle – has set tongues wagging – particularly with former captain Nathan van Berlo being recalled at the expense of younger aspirants such as Cam Ellis-Yolmen or Mitch Grigg.

https://twitter.com/TheoDrop/status/733212304997654528

Matt Crouch sore, Brad Crouch dropped, Van Berlo in. What on earth is the AFC thinking!

We'll be tearing the selectors a new one at 7.30pm

— Crow Cast (@AFLCrowCast) May 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/imwillis_/status/733225618804875264

Despite an expected one-sided contest, midfield coach Scott Camporeale insisted “we’re about picking the best team to win this game”.

“It’s always difficult when you think there’s a guy who’s potentially in your best 22, but we’ve got to make some hard calls as well,” he said.

“Brad’s missed a lot of footy – he’s played three or four games in nine weeks.”

Podsiadly said Crouch, whose 2015 campaign was wrecked by a lingering foot complaint, is “obviously a guy that’s missed a bit of footy [and] the last two games have probably not been to the standard he wants, and also where we want as a match committee”.

“He’ll just go back to the SANFL this week and get a little bit of form,” he said.

“He’s one of our emergencies, so from that perspective he’s not far off… we thought the best thing for Brad at the moment was to go back to the SANFL, rack up some possessions and get some game time in.”

Crouch, who was dropped to the state league in the pre-season for disciplinary reasons, was recalled after a 40 –possession effort for Round One, but was hamstrung after two rounds. He again emerged through the SANFL, but was recalled after picking up another 35 touches on return. However, he has struggled in the past fortnight in the senior side, picking up just 14 possessions in last week’s home loss to Geelong – at just 35.7 per cent efficiency.

But Camporeale insisted “it’s not about possessions, it’s about how we want [him] to play”.

He denies Crouch, upon whose shoulders much of the post-Dangerfield expectation has been placed – was rushed back into the senior side, saying: “We thought he was right to go.”

“Now he goes back… Brad understands where he’s at, he needs to improve in a few areas to make sure he can be a consistent AFL player for us.”

Podsiadly said while “we expected him to be at his best and unfortunately he hasn’t been… we still believe Brad’s a massive part of our future and we want to expose him to as many AFL games as we can, but he’s just not at that level at the moment.”

The hardline stance – and the rationale behind it – was in stark contrast to the retention of fellow strugglers Brodie Smith and Richard Douglas, of whom Podsiadly insisted: “Guys that are quality players, you can’t just drop them after a couple of bad weeks.”

Another who was dropped after one poor showing this season was van Berlo himself, relegated after indifferent form in the narrow Round One loss to the Kangaroos.

Nathan Van Berlo will return this weekend to the side he once captained. Photo: Dan Peled, AAP.

His return is a surprise, with a glut of midfielders pushing a case for selection.

Two of those, Harrison Wigg and Geelong recruit Dean Gore, have been elevated onto the emergency list, alongside Crouch.

Camporeale said van Berlo was “a quality person” who would provide on-field leadership.

“One thing about VB, if you him as a person – whether he’s in the AFL, SANFL or not playing at all when he had his long injury, he’s a great leader,” he said.

“He works with the young guys and always tries to make the club better.”

He said he hoped the former captain would take the opportunity to cement his place in a senior side in which many thought he would never play again.

“That’s the beauty of AFL footy – there’s competition for spots, and he understands he needs to be playing well enough to be in our best 22 week in and week out,” he said.

Posdiadly said the former captain had shown “pretty good form in the SANFL [and] we’ve got to reward guys for their form”.

“The beauty of bringing in ‘VB’ is he actually gives some versatility: he can play down back, on a wing and inside as well.”

Given Adelaide’s midfield struggles of late, it seems most likely van Berlo will return to the engine room where he spent most of his career.

If so, he will share the centre square with Jarryd Lyons, who returns to the senior side after making way for Brad Crouch a fortnight ago, despite averaging more than 18 disposals and a goal per game in his four AFL games this year.

“Jarryd’s one of the beneficiaries of Brad coming out now,” agreed Podsiadly, who also put a dent in the anticipated elevation of 23-year-old Ellis-Yolmen, who played 11 of the first 15 rounds last year, before losing his spot. He only featured in one senior game after Scott Camporeale stepped in to coach the side after the death of Phil Walsh.

“We’ve got some guys in the SANFL playing really good footy and Cam’s one of them,” said Podsiadly.

“He’s just probably a little bit behind those guys at the moment.”

Despite a shock loss to Carlton, Port Adelaide have resisted swinging the selection axe, with star Robbie Gray the only inclusion, returning from a hamstring layoff. Brendon Ah Chee is the player to make way for his return.

Port’s opponent West Coast have named an unchanged line-up despite speculation spearhead Josh Kennedy will miss Saturday’s match at Adelaide Oval to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

Hawthorn and Sydney have received significant boosts ahead of tonight’s big AFL clash at the MCG, regaining Cyril Rioli and Josh Kennedy respectively.

Rioli, having missed last week’s win over Fremantle due to a family illness, returns at the expense of Daniel Howe.

Kennedy has recovered from a hamstring strain and returns to the line-up along with Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan, who will play his first AFL match of the season.

Dean Towers (omitted), Tom Papley (shin) and Jack Hiscox (omitted) drop out of the team defeated by Richmond last week by a goal after the siren, with Towers widely seen as a culprit for failing to ice the clock with a sideways pass in the dying seconds.

Collingwood regain important defender Ben Reid for their clash with Geelong, who have dropped Tom Ruggles in favour of George Horlin-Smith.

Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin is back after a cheekbone fracture, with Kane Lambert also returning to face Fremantle at Subiaco.

Daniel Rioli (family illness) and Corey Ellis (soreness) depart.

The Dockers regain Matthew Pavlich, along with Tommy Sheridan and Zac Dawson, as they look for their first win of the season, but lose Stephen Hill to an adductor strain.

Farren Ray will play for his third AFL club with the former Saint and Bulldog named in North Melbourne’s side to take on Carlton on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

Michael Firrito and Trent Dumont are also in, while Majak Daw (omitted), Ben Jacobs (foot) and Mason Wood (concussion) are out.

The Blues get top draft pick Jacob Weitering back from a shoulder injury, with former Gold Coast ruckman Daniel Gorringe in for his first game in navy blue.

Matthew Kreuzer (knee), Levi Casboult (leg) and Michael Jamison (illness) drop out of the side looking for their fifth win in a row.

In Sunday selection news, forgotten ruckman Will Minson is in line to play his first AFL game of the season after being included in a 25-man squad to face GWS at Spotless Stadium.

Koby Stevens, Mitch Honeychurch and Lin Jong are also in, while Matthew Boyd and Jack Redpath are both suspended.

Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch could make up to nine changes to the side savaged by Collingwood.

Jarrad Jansen, Eric Hipwood and Rhys Mathieson will make their AFL debuts if they survive Friday’s trim of the Lions’ extended squad to face Melbourne.

The Demons have dropped Christian Salem and added Dean Kent, Ben Newton, Oscar McDonald, Alex Neal-Bullen and Jack Grimes.

Sam Fisher, Paddy McCartin, Daniel McKenzie and upgraded rookie Jason Holmes are in St KIlda’s extended squad to face Essendon, who have brought in James Gwilt, Martin Gleeson, Jackson Merrett and Sam Michael.

-with AAP