Jordon Butts: Important Adelaide defender won’t face Fremantle Dockers in blockbuster clash amid concussion

Adelaide will be without one of their most important players when they take on Fremantle in a blockbuster Friday night clash, with key defender Jordon Butts ruled out of the game due to concussion.

On Monday, the Crows revealed Butts — who was assessed after a head knock in their loss to Geelong on Thursday but passed his head injury assessment and later returned to the field — would miss his side’s date with the Dockers after reporting delayed symptoms on Sunday.

The 26-year-old has been among Adelaide’s best performers in their disjointed start to the season, earning praise for his job on Western Bulldogs superstar Sam Darcy in round two.

His absence will leave the Crows light on inside their back half, with Mark Keane also on the sidelines as the Irishman continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered over the summer.

Being without the key duo will pile the pressure on their remaining key defenders Nick Murray, Josh Worrell and Max Michalanney to deal with the Dockers’ emerging trio of key forwards Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Pat Voss.

Treacy slotted four goals and clunked 12 marks in a dominant performance in the wet against Richmond on Saturday, while Amiss showed signs of returning to form by kicking 2.3 on the day.

The Crows are also slated to be without Dan Curtin until mid-season as the emerging WA star continues to recover from surgery which followed a partial dislocation of his knee in a pre-season wrestling drill.