This weekend’s fixture against Melbourne at the MCG will mean a little more to the in form Adelaide Crows, as it marks the anniversary of the murder of former senior coach Phillip Walsh.
From the lows of that first game against the West Coast Eagles in Round 15 at Subiaco to the highs of their inspirational seven-point Elimination Final win at the MCG, these 12 months have been nothing short of a revelation for the Adelaide Football Club.
Under the guidance of CEO Andrew Fagan off the field and captain Taylor Walker on the field the club has galvanised in a way sport in general has never seen before.
With the motto ‘We Fly as One’ firmly engulfed in everybody involved with the Adelaide Football Club, the Crows have continued the legacy of Phil Walsh in an extremely responsible and impressive fashion.
Since Walsh’s last game in charge of the Crows in Round 14 2015 against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, the club has gone from strength to strength with a 16-8 record since the tragedy signifying the unity of this group.
So how have the Crows bounced back in such an emphatic fashion? With a solid board of directors and officials supporting a group of young and talented players the simple answer is stability. From the players down to the supporters and everything in between the Crows seem to have everything going for them at the moment as the groundwork laid by the great Phil Walsh looks almost certain to bring a third premiership down to West Lakes.
Following the drama of the 2015 season the key men at West Lakes were quick to make their first good decision of the 2016 season, by electing Walsh’s successor to be West Coast Eagles assistant Don Pyke.
Through following the methodologies of Walsh along with his views of the game, Pyke has quickly been able to build one of the competitions most effective football systems as the manner by which his team plays the game each week results in on-field success and draws fans to the game.
The last month in particular has seen the Crows truly blossom into a premiership threat as in June the Crows have led the competition in scoring, points differential from turn overs, disposal differential, contested possession differential and uncontested possession differential.
These impressive statistics have led to five straight wins for the Crows, and have exemplified the perfect mixture between the ideologies of Walsh and Pyke.
Off the field, the Crows are also competition leaders in a wide range of areas with the redeveloped Adelaide Oval drawing consistent of above 50,000 and the board of directors managing to maintain the longest ongoing sponsorship deal in the history of the AFL. All of these factors contribute to Walsh’s vision of the perfect football club as Fagan and co are doing all they can to continue the legacy of the great man.
With the club in such a fantastic position at the moment under the guidance of Pyke many may have forgotten the drastic impact Walsh had in his short tenure at West Lakes. In just over eight months at the club, Walsh was able to rid the Crows of mediocrity and build a group of determined players that thrive on elite standards and getting the job done.
All of the inconsistencies that riddle the Crows in the Sanderson years seemed to disappear almost instantly as Walsh was able to build a game plan which would soon become the envy of the competition.
Although he has not been able to see his masterpiece play out, if it was not for Walsh the Crows definitely would not be in the position they are today both on and off the field.
So what will the next twelve months produce for the Adelaide Football Club? With the ideologies of Walsh forever imbedded in the playing group expect nothing but successes from the Crows as the remnants of their list continue to develop into elite players.
Supported by a strong base of coaches and off field officials, the Crows are in as good a position as any to contest for a flag as early as this year. Led on the field by the likes of Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia and Eddie Betts expect the Crows to continue to develop into one of the competitions most exciting sides as the flair by which they play is sure to be making Walshy smile from above.
Quotes such as “great beauty comes out of a level of frustration” and “we are playing formula one footy, so if you drive safe you will come last” foreshadow the effect Walsh has had on the Adelaide Football Club. As soon as he walked in the doors of West Lakes following the dramatic sacking of Brenton Sanderson, he knew he could bring success and stability to this once proud club.
So expect a fired up and emotionally driven Adelaide Crows side to take the field this Sunday Afternoon at the home of football as they look to once again get the job done for the man who put the club back on the map and into contention for a third premiership.
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