EXCITING Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch will miss Saturday's clash with Carlton at the MCG after injuring his hamstring at training on Wednesday.

Crouch has averaged almost 20 disposals a game this season, after making a long-awaited debut for the Crows in round two.

But after playing on a soaked AAMI Stadium against the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night, coach Brenton Sanderson said Crouch's hamstring failed him at training, just before the younger players were sent in.

Before Crouch had scans on the injury, Sanderson said it was hard to know how severe it was, but he estimated the 19-year-old might miss two matches.

"It doesn't look too bad, it's hard to know until he has scans – that was a really heavy track we played on at the weekend and sometimes, with the younger players, they take a little bit longer to recover," Sanderson said.

"We took a very cautious approach with (Sam) Kerridge and (Luke) Brown and (Rory) Laird and it was meant to be Crouch, but we sent those boys in and the last drill we did before we sent them in Crouch just felt his hamstring.

"It doesn't look too serious, it might be two weeks but I'm just guessing.

"It is a setback for the kid because he's been in good form."

Fortunately for Sanderson, good SANFL form from Bernie Vince and Brodie Smith's successful return from injury means the Crows have the depth to cover Crouch.
 
Vince was dropped last weekend, after a poor start to 2013.
 
He's averaged less than 14 touches a game this season, but collected 26 disposals, seven clearances and a goal for Woodville/West Torrens at the weekend.
 
Sanderson said Vince's omission from the side wasn't to teach him a lesson but to allow him to find form – a move that proved successful.
 
He admitted the 2009 club champion was "too good" to be left out of the senior side.
 
"I did like how Bernie …  went back and dominated that game in the SANFL. He's too good to be playing in the SANFL," he said.
 
"We'll look for opportunities to get those guys back in where we can."
 
Smith's return from a broken collarbone was also successful. He picked up 17 possessions.
 
Sanderson said that performance, as well the 21-year-old's pace, would ensure he'd be considered for selection against a speedy Blues outfit.
 
The coach admitted the side would have to be well-structured to combat Carlton's "mosquito fleet" of small forwards.
 
"I don't think anyone can catch (Eddie) Betts,(Andrew) Walker, (Chris) Yarran, (Jeff) Garlett – those guys, we'd have to get Usain Bolt in our side to keep up with those boys," he said.
 
"We'll just have to make sure we structure up well defensively and make sure we don't let those boys get in behind us."