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While the focus this week is quite rightly on the Grand Final and Jobe Watson’s Brownlow win, Adelaide have deserved their tiny share of the spotlight.
Their season ended on Saturday, but so many perceptions were changed in the process.
Every milestone the Crows achieved this season was met with a roll of the eyes and a snarky comment from someone, somewhere.
Typically, the complaint was their easy draw or a steadfast belief they wouldn’t be a factor in September.
They just won the NAB Cup? “Pre-seasons are meaningless, let’s see them keep it up for the whole year.”
They beat Sydney and Geelong? “It’s still early in the season, and those teams mightn’t be that good this year anyway.”
They beat Fremantle (twice) and West Coast? “Two of those were at home, and the trip to Perth was when Freo were crap.”
They finish top two with 17 wins? “It was all because of the draw — meeting GWS and Gold Coast twice was the sole reason they got that far.”
They beat Fremantle (again) in a semi final? “Losing in the first week and not absolutely dominating Freo proves what everybody’s been saying all year.”
They get within five points of the overwhelming premiership favourites in a preliminary final? “Clearly this proves that, um, err …”
Clearly, it proves that Adelaide were a team worthy of the doubters’ attention after all.
Had Patrick Dangerfield got away from his opponent late in the fourth quarter, the Crows would presumably be in a Grand Final right now.
It wasn’t to be, but they definitely managed to defy the massive underdog status imposed on them.
Led by Taylor Walker and Kurt Tippett with four goals each in attack, and Scott Thompson (31 disposals) and Dangerfield in the middle, they refused to go away, much to the annoyance of a startled Hawthorn.
Of course, the score at the final siren tells its own story. But players and fans of the club will not easily forget how the team played during those four quarters.
What made it all the more remarkable was where they had come from.
In Neil Craig’s final two years at the helm, the Crows finished 11th and 14th. Although prior to that was a string of top eight — and even top four — finishes, you got the sense the energy behind “the pride of South Australia” had come to disappear.
The home crowd average dipped below 36,000 for the first time in club history. Membership went from 50,976 in 2007 to 44,719 in 2011. On the field, momentum was hard to come by as six-game losing streaks in both 2010 and 2011 sapped confidence.
Injuries and the need to adjust after the retirements of Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton both certainly played a part in all this, but as last year wore on the outlook for the Crows was far more downwards than upwards.
Enter, Brenton Sanderson.
The new coach got to work immediately, promising “a side that is ruthless”. A rigid pre-season saw the players bulk up and a new game plan was introduced. By the NAB Cup the energy, seemingly, was back.
As the season continued, Daniel Talia blossomed in defence and became a Rising Star award winner. 22 year-olds Dangerfield, Walker, Rory Sloane and Matthew Wright all had clear career-best years. Thompson earned a top-five Brownlow finish. Sam Jacobs continued his development and was unlucky to miss out on All Australian selection.
That honour did, however, go to both Dangerfield and Thompson.
Now, there’s even plenty to look forward to. Aside from the youth of some of the aforementioned guns, there are big wraps on pre-draft selection Brad Couch — who was too young to play this year — and 20 year-old Jarryd Lyons.
In the meantime, though, the feat of going from 14th to getting agonisingly close to a Grand Final is a significant journey, and it shouldn’t be left to slip under the radar.
As for the man behind it all, he should get his fair share of recognition. Of all the first-year coaches that were introduced this year, it’s safe to say Sanderson was the clear standout.