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The Roar

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Crows score a great win, but hold the premiership talk

Roar Guru
6th April, 2015
17

I was lucky enough to be at the Crows’ opening game at the Adelaide Oval against the Kangaroos on Sunday, and I left a very happy fan.

All played well. The coach got through his first test with flying colours. There were no major injuries, a massive crowd, and pretty good pre-match entertainment.

Taylor Walker was omnipresent for the entire game, ripping down 15 marks and booting 6 goals 5, while Richard Douglas was adjudged one of the best on ground by the FiveAA commentary team.

The defence proved it is not just a one-man show. Daniel Talia had monumental support, with Rory Laird one of a number to shine.

And then there was Patrick Dangerfield’s goal, which capped the night off perfectly.

If I know my town, the message will be loud and clear: here come the Crows.

After one game the finals and even premiership bandwagons will be out, and this could be a problem for the club.

Adelaide can go one of two ways: either manager the already lofty expectations, or embrace them.

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Crows fans have every reason to celebrate, but I get the feeling they’re starting to mature. They know their footy, they understand that it is a week-by-week proposition. They understand that if you win enough games you will make the finals. And they understand that if that happens then anything is possible. They live in hope but they are becoming more footy savvy.

But hype can have a major effect on expectation and the football mood in this town.

I lived it for 20 years as a football reporter. After a first-up win with a new coach over a very good team, my instructions would be to run a story and play it up as much as possible. Find out what price the bookmakers are now offering for the club to win a premiership, interview delirious fans after the match, ask the coach and players if this could be the year.

Very rarely would the story be totally balanced. But that’s how it has worked for so long in Adelaide.

What’s wrong with that approach is that if Adelaide has a loss next week against Collingwood, the talk will be that maybe this isn’t the year for the Crows, and maybe the coach isn’t getting it right.

We all need to be more mature when it comes to winning and losing. And if we can just narrow the emotional gap after a win or a loss we’ll have a far more relaxed season.

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