Sando asks Crows to respect Dons

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson has asked his charges to respect Essendon amid the supplements scandal. Picture: Tait Schmaal. Source: The Advertiser

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has ordered his Adelaide players - and their fans - to respect their Essendon rivals and the AFL game by avoiding "cheap shots" on the drug-tainted Bombers on Friday night.

"I'd be disappointed if our players tried to unsettle (the Bombers) with any cheap shots," said Sanderson ahead of the AFL premiership season-opener against Essendon at AAMI Stadium.

As the Bombers prepare for a fiery entry to Adelaide, Sanderson has called on all AFL fans to wait on the investigations to end on the Essendon fitness regime from last season before throwing bards at the club's players.

"That's not what footy is about," said Sanderson of the temptation to work gamesmanship against the Bombers.

"We (the Crows) want to be known for playing the ball hard, not cheap shots.

"We'll play the game with the respect it deserves.

"And I'd be disappointed if our fans - and all AFL fans - said those things over the fence. You have to bite your tongue and wait for the AFL investigations to end."

Adelaide will tonight choose its 22 for Friday night's clash at West Lakes.

Teenage midfielder Brad Crouch is expected to be the only debutant for the Crows. On the injury front, Adelaide is still testing the fitness of small forward Ian Callinan (knee).

Sanderson on Thursday will attend the AFL coaches' meeting with a clear statement of disapproval with the AFL Commission's plan to cap rotations next season.

Sanderson revealed today he had considered an on-field protest during the last term of the NAB Cup clash with Carlton a fortnight ago by sending all his players into a super flood of the Blues attack..

"Very seriously," said Sanderson of how much he thought through the protest tactic. "In the end I thought it would be a little bit arrogant of me to do it."

Sanderson ruled out journeyman Richard Tambling for the Round 1 clash.

"There's healthy competition for the (Michael) Doughty (retired) role. Tambling trained the house down today. He won't play this week but he will this year."

"The strength of this group has been the guys knocking on the selection door bashing down the door."

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