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AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Lions' AFL discard Keays to captain Crows

Adelaide midfielder Ben Keays will skipper the Crows for the first time against Carlton. (AAP)

Adelaide midfielder Ben Keays' remarkable AFL revival will continue when he captains the Crows this weekend.

Keays, who was delisted by Brisbane at the end of the 2019 season, will be Adelaide's skipper against Carlton on Sunday.

Regular captain Rory Sloane will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury, with Brodie Smith filling in for the past three games.

But Smith will miss the Marvel Stadium match against the Blues after suffering concussion last weekend.

Keays, who joined Adelaide as a rookie selection after being cut by Brisbane, was this season elevated to the Crows' leadership group alongside Sloane, Smith, Tom Doedee and Reilly O'Brien.

And Doedee says Keays' rise to the acting captaincy is just reward for an outstanding season in which the midfielder is averaging 31 disposals a game.

"Keaysy, with the form he's in, we just thought it was a good opportunity for him," Doedee told reporters on Wednesday.

"It's huge for him ... and for Keaysy's story, to be delisted and get another chance at our club.

"He is probably the hardest worker we have got, we have got a few that maybe match him, but in terms of total workload he is up there in-game, off-field, he does everything can.

"He is probably leading our b and f (best and fairest award), he has been consistent and been dominant.

"It's a just reward for him."

The 12th-placed Crows will be forced to make at least two changes to their side to tackle the rejuvenated Blues, who sit in sixth spot on the ladder with five wins and two losses.

Along with losing halfback Smith, forward Ned McHenry was also concussed during Adelaide's heavy loss to GWS last Saturday. Both have been ruled out under AFL protocols.

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