When the Adelaide Crows got to within a goal of the 2012 grand final in Brenton Sanderson’s first season as coach, it appeared a new dynasty was on the horizon.
That narrow preliminary final defeat to Hawthorn looked as though it would be the start of a regular berth in the finals.
However, if you peel away the layers, the Crows’ 17 wins that year came from a very favourable draw.
They played four of the bottom sides, including Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, twice.
The Crows faltered the next year and disastrously lost their two key forwards: Kurt Tippett to Sydney in controversial circumstances and Taylor Walker to a knee injury.
You could raise the argument that the Crows were a one-hit wonder – much like North Melbourne when they made the 2007 preliminary final from nowhere only to falter almost immediately.
Fast forward 12 months and the Crows find themselves in the mix to fill probably the last spot in the top eight. However, they have been frustratingly inconsistent and haven’t often produced their best football.
They lost their first three games to clearly superior sides Geelong, Port Adelaide and Sydney, then beat bottom sides in St Kilda, the Giants and the Bulldogs before a bad loss to Melbourne. But they did beat top-four contender Collingwood after their bye.
However, they lost another tight one to a Carlton side out of finals contention, before beating the Gold Coast, who had won five in a row and are aiming for the top four.
Can the real Adelaide Crows stand up please? Their wins over the Magpies and the Suns showed they can match it with the best. Even the early losses to the Cats, Power and Swans, where they fell away in the final quarters, they were competitive for three terms.
Walker is back and firing and obviously gives the forward line the edge it’s been lacking. It means the handy James Podsiadly and Josh Jenkins don’t have to be the key targets and can provide the excellent support they are renowned for.
The club hopes Walker’s comeback will help Eddie Betts have more of an influence. The ex-Blue has just 16 goals so far, but did kick four against his old team last week in Tex’s return to the big time.
Daniel Talia is one of the best key defenders in the game now and Kyle Hartigan has shown he can fill Ben Rutten’s shoes at full back more than adequately when the Truck puts a stop to his fine career.
The midfield is covering Bernie Vince’s departure to Melbourne, with Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas and Rory Sloane among the best trio of midfielders in one club.
They can’t wait to get Brad Crouch back from injury, and his younger brother Matt has slotted right in.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs has mirrored the club’s fortunes. He was outstanding in 2012, struggled last year and has been up and down in 2014. We know how good his best is, but it’s not produced every week.
The next month will decide Adelaide’s fate as they face four potential finalists and two premiership contenders – Fremantle, North Melbourne, Essendon and Port Adelaide.
Three wins from four would keep them thriving, and the key is trying to beat their nemesis, Port Adelaide, who have turned the new Adelaide Oval into a fortress while the Crows are still working this outstanding venue out.
Brenton Sanderson continues to be impressive in selling his club, particularly in their method for chasing long-term success. But there’s no doubt he would love to be assured that the team he chooses every week will play at its best.
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We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
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