Adelaide has received an exemption from the SANFL to play ruckman Kieran Strachan this weekend following his recovery from multiple foot injuries.

The Crows big man suffered an initial setback in December, with surgery on his navicular stress fracture placing him out of action for four months.

A second occurred in February as Strachan lifted his training loads amid his rehabilitation, with an unrelated foot concern leading the Crows to place the 29-year-old on their inactive list.

The list manoeuvre gave the Crows the ability to add to their list via the pre-season's Supplemental Selection Period, with Adelaide signing former Sydney ruckman Lachie McAndrew on the player movement window's deadline day as a result.

The decision also meant Strachan would be ineligible to play in 2025, unless the Crows were able to move another player to their inactive list in his place.

AFL Rd 14 - Adelaide v Sydney
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Brodie Grundy of the Swans
rucks against Kieran Strachan of the Crows during the round 14 AFL match between Adelaide Crows and Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval, on June 15, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Crows have young, tall Toby Murray sidelined for the next three months with an ankle injury, but do expect the 2024 mid-season recruit to be back running in the coming weeks.

With Strachan able to play, the Crows have successfully filed for an exemption that will see Strachan suit up for the club's SANFL side on Saturday against Sturt.

The ruckman's inclusion will see him pair up with McAndrew in the team, sharing the ruck duties at Unley Oval.

McAndrew, who had trained with the Crows over the summer, was expected to join fellow SANFL side Norwood if he failed to secure a list spot with the Crows, now leaving the Redlegs with an alternative option and Adelaide with a pair of AFL-listed talls.

Adelaide call on cut Swan following ruckman's long-term setback
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Lachlan McAndrew of the Swans in action during the Sydney Swans Captains Run at St Peters College on April 13, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Strachan and McAndrew will be part of a strong Crows SANFL squad to take on an undefeated Sturt side, with an AFL-listed contingent of Tyler Welsh, Chris Burgess, Lachlan Murphy, Brayden Cook, Chayce Jones, Charlie Edwards, Oscar Ryan, James Borlase, Harry Schoenberg, and Karl Gallagher also named.

The Crows and Double Blues face off at Thomas Farms Oval on Saturday at 2:50pm local time.