Crows fans ponder what might have been after grand final rematch win against Richmond

IF only, the words every Adelaide Crows fan said to themselves as they filed out of Adelaide Oval last Thursday night after the win against Richmond, writes Mark Bickley.

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IF only, the words every Crows fan said to themselves as they filed out of Adelaide Oval last Thursday night.

If only Tex and the boys could have produced that game when it counted most, Saturday, September 30, 2017. Grand Final day.

We all know you can’t turn back time, but you wouldn’t be a Crows fan if you didn’t ask yourself at some stage over the Easter break, how, with an undermanned and seemingly underprepared (physically) team, they could dominate the contested numbers against Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and company, as well as score 18 goals against the Tigers’ much vaunted defence.

Josh Jenkins of the Crows celebrates a goal during against Richmond.

Let’s look at some of the differences, starting with the coach’s box. After the Adelaide forwards were annihilated last year through a combination of poor delivery, poor effort and always being outnumbered, Don Pyke instructed his men to change all three.

The Crows refused to kick the ball long to an outnumbered contest. Instead they kept finding the free player and methodically taking ground off the opposition before then entering it deep inside 50.

This not only helped it attack, it also helped it defend. Richmond like to score from quick turnovers, where upon winning the ball back from the opposition, they attack you while your defence is out of position.

The Crows by controlling the tempo of the game, were always well set up behind the ball, so even when there was a mistake made by foot, the Adelaide defenders more often than not didn’t allow Richmond to attack quickly and score.

And of course the energy and effort from the forwards was in stark contrast to last year’s performance.

Josh Jenkins appeared to play closer to goal, possibly a ploy to take the all-Australian centre half back Alex Rance out of the play, but whatever the reason it worked.

The Crows moved the ball quickly to Jenkins one on one and he took Rance apart,(particularly in the first half), taking three contested marks, drawing three free kicks and bagging himself five goals.

Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal.

Walker was just as impressive considering his limited preparation going into this match.

After looking rusty in the first quarter he exploded into the game late in the second, kicking two goals in time on, and finishing with four straight for the night.

Nine goals from the key forwards compared to two in the 2017 decider makes such a difference.

Assistant Coach Scott Camporeale spoke on radio before the game and when asked what his wishlist for the night was, he said “like every game, winning contested ball”.

In last year’s September face-off the Crows lowered their colours in this department by 30.

So when you win the contested ball by 47 you know you are giving yourself every chance to win. It was even more meritorious given the injury early on to 2017 club champion Matt Crouch.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Hugh Greenwood revelled in the clinches while experienced recruit Bryce Gibbs showed he is not only a classy finisher but can also get it done on the inside finishing with a game high 20 contested possessions, (if only the deal was done for last year).

For all the cries of inactivity in the coach’s box in the second half of last year’s grand final, the truth is, it mattered little as the Crows just couldn’t get their hands on the ball. No such problem Thursday night.

The final difference between the two matches is something that is never going to change even if the Crows were to get back to the grand final again. That is the venue.

This is not an excuse, I’m a big believer in the MCG being the home of football and therefore hosting the grand final each year.

But purely on numbers the fact that the MCG is the home ground of Richmond was a decided advantage.

So with Thursday’s match played at Adelaide oval, a ground where Richmond have a 25 per cent win ratio against the Crows it was always going to be difficult for them to win, just like Adelaide’s unfavourable win loss ratio at the MCG played against it last year.

So while the win was important to Adelaide, it was not revenge, it was not redemption, it was a vital four points.

But as happy as the victory made Crows fans feel, it was hard not to reflect and ask yourself, if only ...