I don’t like the Adelaide Crows. I don’t think you’ll find a lot of North Melbourne supporters who do. They’ve given us more pain I reckon than any other club in the AFL.
Think of the infamous Petrenko game. Think of Wayne Carey strutting around in their colours. Think of all those wins we’ve had against them in South Australia (hint: there’s not many). Do not even mention the 1998 Grand Final.
But, it’s much as Wes Mantooth once said to Ron Burgundy: “Deep down in my stomach, with every inch of me, I pure, straight, hate you – but God damn it, do I respect you.”
» The Roar’s comprehensive guide to the 2016 AFL Finals
Stop and have a think for a moment about all the bad hands that Adelaide have been dealt with over the past few years.
First, there’s the enormous amount of talent that has left the club. Patrick Dangerfield is the one that sticks in the mind at the moment, but don’t forget about Nathan Bock, Phil Davis, Jack Gunston, Kurt Tippett, and Bernie Vince.
Combine those five with Dangerfield and you’ve got enough talent going out the door to make any club recruiter cry. Some list managers would shrug their shoulders and give it up – oh well, we gave it a try, how about a rebuild?
Most of those players have resulted in Adelaide getting a decent enough trade return but Kurt Tippett was very much the opposite of that.
Now this is self-inflicted pain to some degree so while I would happily criticise those Adelaide people who brought it on the club, one must still admire how the current administration has overcome it.
For those with short memories, when Tippett left the club it was discovered that there had been some untoward deals being made between him and the Crows, which resulted in bans and fines for many, and two years worth of first and second round draft picks being taken from the Crows.
Lastly and most tragically, this is a club that has lost two beloved coaches in the space of just a few years – assistant coach Dean Bailey passing away following a bout with lung cancer in 2014, and senior coach Phil Walsh in absolutely tragic circumstances only a little more than a year ago.
No other club in the AFL has been put through that kind of suffering in recent times, arguably ever.
There’s not a single footy fan who would give them any kind of criticism if they had just rolled over for a little while.
But not Adelaide.
While other clubs might whinge and whine and complain about their disadvantages, or a lack of handouts – see Justin Leppitsch’s press conference last week – the Crows have never wavered from their commitment to excellence.
Look at them now – they’re in the mix to be considered the best team in the year. They might win the flag this year and, putting aside my own biases, I genuinely hope they do.
Could there be a more satisfying sight in footy, after what they’ve been through, than seeing them hold up the premiership cup?
Even if that doesn’t come about this year, or even in this era of the club, they can still be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. As the saying goes, you can’t guarantee success, but you can deserve it – and the Crows certainly do.
Their future, by the way, is very bright. They don’t have much in the way of big retirements coming up, bar Scott Thompson who probably finishes up in a year or two.
Meanwhile they have so much improvement to come from the likes of Charlie Cameron, Brad and Matt Crouch, Jake Lever, Wayne Milera, Mitch McGovern – oh, and the untapped talents of Curtly Hampton, Troy Menzel, Tom Doedee and Dean Gore.
Adelaide, when you achieve the ultimate success – and I believe the day is not very far away – I’ll gladly tip my hat to you.
Cat
Roar Guru
No one 'deserves' a cup, you go out and earn it by being the best on the day.
Eric Hallforde
Guest
Huang Thai, Those sort of comments have no place here or anywhere else, you sound like a sour grapes Essendon fan, maybe Freo??
Eric Hallforde
Guest
Now here is a bloke who still has a solid grip on reality, from a first day of the club Crows fan. I tip my hat to you sir, and hope the current stormy seas at the Roos settle down in a timely fashion, our fans and players showed what sort of club we are after the game Sat night towards the Roo boys, and that sir is a sight I will never forget as long as I live, gave me a lump in the throat....right up there with the WCE footy club and fans after the passing of Walshy..... I hope we can hold up the cup this year, I believe we do deserve it, and also have the cattle on the paddock to achieve it....but also to vindicate this outstanding piece of sports journalism
Patrick Bateman
Guest
So, Cats were 2nd, Crows 5th champ.
June Miller
Guest
Hooray - at last a sports journalist who writes an unbiased article. One disadvantage not mentioned is that in all the years since they entered the AFL, Adelaide has had woefully unbalanced coverage from Victorian media. Most of the time Adelaide has barely been mentioned, and when it has it has often been to deride the club and its followers (this was particularly noticable amongst certain members of Channel 9's Football Show). It is not just an anti-SA thing, because in comparison Port Adelaide has generally been accorded reasonable respect and coverage. All credit to Adelaide's staff and coaches, who have continued to maintain an integrity and professionalism at the club despite setbacks.
Michael
Guest
Huang Thai are you serious??? We had a more than decent coach last year who we lost tragically. And "at least they didn't refuse to play any matches this year"!!! Seriously pull your head in mate.
Huang Thai
Guest
What a difference a decent coach makes. Can't see them winning a flag anytime soon but at least they didn't refuse to play any matches this year.
Julie Kohn
Guest
Awesome article <3 I have followed the crows since inception, I was never sure If my feelings of this team have been harshly dealt with, over the years, was because, I am a crows supporter, or if it was actually Real! But now I am older & wiser & often see, this is a corporate game, rather than a peoples game, And Yes we always had to climb higher further faster than most teams to stay competitive in the Competition... I knew the footy gods one day would shine on our club, and we would have that Team, that young men would want to stay at, or actually ask to be recruited to! I would be happy if the Team simply get the respect they deserve... And this article does just that :D so Thank you so very much for your well written thoughts Josh Elliott
James
Guest
Not quite the whole truth. In the period where they lost their 4 top draft picks they needed to make a tough call to build the future. You are correct that they made the conscious decision to trade, but it was a tough "forced" decision that they wouldn't have had to make had they not had draft penalties imposed. It's looking like a winner so far but only time will tell.
Not Paddy
Guest
Geelong 4th Crows 3rd - jog on mate
Ben
Guest
Bernie Vince was traded out by the club so it was their choice. You could also add Brent Reilly's shocking head injury in a pre season training drill that ended his career and almost his life. Good article. Hope we win the flag.
Evolved
Guest
Ogilvie is a much better recruiter than Rendell.....Absolute gun to keep us in top 4 calculations with the talent that has walked out
Tony
Guest
Great article, thank you; this kind of thing is rare to see - and I'm not sure I could / would bring myself to say the same about another club if things were in reverse
dAn ced
Guest
Correct, they traded him to get someone younger, his form was a bit down but I think all crows fans are happy to see him thriving at Melbourne.
sophie
Guest
very nice article thank you for the kind words yes my club has been through alot and im proud to be a crows supporter so very proud how we.ve managed to come so far after all that. And yes we didnt lose Vince because of the Tippett saga we needed to trade ask anyone if they want Bernie back everyone fans club will gladed put their hands up Mr David we didnt show him the door and we are happy he is doing so well at the demons.
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
If you're referring to the tanking debate, Melbourne were found not guilty yet still fined $500,000 dollars. What compensation would you want exactly? A replacement coach given to you by the AFL?
Sammy
Guest
And were treated more harshly for melbourne football club indescretions than melbourne football club itself...losing bailey for the whole 2013 season without compensation from the AFL
Bobby
Guest
Lol that irrelevant team has beaten the crows convincingly twice this year. Keep dreaming pal
David C
Guest
Didn't really lose Vince did they? They didn't want him and showed him the door.
garlee10
Guest
Great article. I love the way the crows play the game with attacking flair as the philosophy and as we all know its a blueprint for success ( Hawthorn have demonstrated that) My concern for the Bulldogs (I get they have had injuries) is that they're game plan and style is too based on structures and attrition, kinda coal faced footy akin Ross Lyon, Fremantle style. Their lack of scoring is a major concern. They need to open up next season and focus on how they can score an average of 100+ points a game