Minor premiers Sydney are a daunting prospect for Adelaide but at least the SCG holds no fears for the Crows when they take on the Swans in their sudden-death semi-final.
John Longmire’s men are licking their wounds after an upset loss to Greater Western Sydney and will be desperate to atone for the uncharacteristic performance in front of their home fans on Saturday night.
But Adelaide, who demolished North Melbourne in their elimination final, will be no pushovers having won four of their past five encounters against the Swans at the ground.
“I think we take confidence in the fact there is six teams left, no matter where the venue now, it’s game on,” Crows forward Tom Lynch said.
“Every game for us in this finals series is an elimination final.
“I know the boys have pulled up pretty well and we’re eager to get over there and get a result.”
Adelaide escaped unscathed from their 62-point thumping of North, although defender Kyle Hartigan was reported for tripping Lindsay Thomas.
Sydney are counting the cost of their 36-point loss, the club confirming on Sunday Kurt Tippett (jaw) and Callum Mills (hamstring) won’t play this week.
The Crows have advanced to the second week of the finals for the second year running.
Eventual premiers Hawthorn handed them a humbling 74-point defeat in last season’s semi-final and Lynch said his team is keen to atone.
“We were in this position last year – we win our first final and we weren’t able to deliver in our second one,” he said.
“The boys are really keen to change that.
“(But) we know it’s going to be a real fight.”
EddyJ
Guest
A bit of strange analysis about Adelaide "not having any fears" about the SCG. They lost their match last year at the SCG by 52 points – previous match was in 2012 (won by 5 points) and, before that 2008 (won by 24 points) and 2006 (won by 39 points). That's not too many games to hold up any decent analysis. And they also defeated Sydney in a final in 1997, 19 years ago, when most of the Adelaide players were in nappies. I don't think this history will make any difference. It will be the best team on the day that wins.
Josef Stalin
Guest
Whoever wins, should be playing Geelong at Kardinia Park, not the neutral MCG. Ridiculous how Geelong and it's citizens get treated like doormats by Melburnians. The faster Geelong and district breaks away from Victoria the better.
kick to kick
Guest
One thing will favour the Swans - a brutal and skilful qualifying final will have conditioned them to finals at their most intense.The Crows had a walk in the park so will have to ratchet up to a higher standard quickly. The Crows are however a quality team .