Power Rankings: Adelaide Crows finds the physical pressure required to win in September
ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke used the words “pressure” and “contest” eight times in his post-match press conference on Thursday night. Those two things have lifted them to the top of our finals rankings.
ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke used the words “pressure” and “contest” eight times in his post-match press conference on Thursday night.
If you want to know what underpinned the Crows’ qualifying final win over GWS it was those two components of the game - which it should be noted were their undoing in last year’s semi-final loss to Sydney.
But 12 months on they’ve found them both.
The words “contest” and “pressure” were followed closely by arguably Pyke’s favourite phrase of all “an even contribution” - and he was right.
Adelaide did not have one single passenger against the Giants. Not even Brodie Smith, whose game lasted just 10 minutes of the first quarter, given he kicked their opening goal from outside 50m on the run.
“I’ve been talking about it all season, our ability to execute in the contest and be strong in that space,” Pyke said.
“For the majority of the night I felt we maintained pressure on the ball which was always going to make it hard for the opposition, so that was the key thing for me.”
Adelaide’s in-your-face pressure forced the Giants to fumble, second guess themselves and turn the footy over with hurried exit kicks.
There were so many moments including David Mackay throwing his body in harm’s way to knock the footy on in the first quarter, Smith’s lunge at Josh Kelly on the boundary which cost him his season and Rory Laird and Tom Lynch being so committed they went for the same ball and clashed heads.
Then in the second quarter key defender Kyle Hartigan laid a big tackle on the elusive Josh Kelly to catch him holding the ball, followed by Brad Crouch’s tackle on Jacob Hopper and smother on Tom Scully in the one passage of play.
And if you weren’t watching closely, minutes before Josh Jenkins kicked that goal just before half-time he was the one who laid the tackle which caused the turnover at half-back before sprinting up the middle of the ground.
Then when the Giants asked the question of Adelaide with the first three goals of the third quarter, Richard Douglas put his body on the line to intercept a kick-in - got his eye split open for his trouble - and stood up and kicked the goal.
You can play as attractive, free-flowing footy as you like and kick 20-goal scores but nothing pleases supporters more than effort and pressure at the contest especially in a final.
Adelaide has been able to do it once and the next test will be replicating it against the likes of a Sydney or Geelong when they meet.
Not only whether they dish it out again but can they handle it when it’s thrown back at them?
It will be the difference between a grand final and a flag or a year of what if.
WEEK ONE FINALS RANKINGS
1. Sydney
Previous ranking: 12, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 17, 15, 11, 15, 16, 14, 7, 7, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1
Very convincing against Essendon and should beat Geelong to set up a mouth-watering preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.
The Swans have won their past three, and five of their past six, against the Cats including by 46 points at Simonds Stadium in Round 20.
Nine unanswered goals against the Bombers served as a little reminder to Richmond and the Crows that it ain’t over just yet.
Last 5: WWWWW
Coming up: Geelong, Semi-final
Last time: Sydney by 46 points
2. Adelaide
Previous ranking: 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2
Could not have been more impressive and everything we expected might happen, did.
Too hard, too tough, too many contributors.
The Crouch brothers dominated but thought David Mackay and Richard Douglas’ contribution was enormous. Another week off is perfect for Rory Sloane which may be the only change to play either Geelong or Sydney in the prelim.
Last 5: WWLLW
Coming up: Sydney or Geelong, Preliminary Final
3. Richmond
Previous ranking: 8, 5, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12, 10, 6, 5, 6, 6, 5, 7, 6, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5
I was wrong about Richmond. Gave them a big chance to upset the Cats but I didn’t think it would be so clinical and ruthless like it was.
Everyone was rightly gushing over Dusty and Cotchin post-match but don’t undersell Dion Prestia’s 31 possessions in his first ever final.
One more win and Richmond is into the grand final, who would have thought.
Last 5: WLWWW
Coming up: GWS or West Coast, Preliminary Final
4. Geelong
Previous ranking: 6, 7, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 8, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3
Very un-Geelong like in that they weren’t able to impose themselves physically and simply didn’t rise to the occasion of such a big game.
Chris Scott is now 5-7 in finals as a coach and his side is staring at a straight sets finals exit.
Can’t see them beating the Swans even at home and players arguing in the final quarter on Friday night wasn’t a great look.
Last 5: LWWWL
Coming up: Sydney, Semi-final
Last time: Sydney by 46 points
5. GWS
Previous ranking: 18, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4
The Giants are now 1-8 against Adelaide and they were simply out-gunned on Thursday night.
Now they have to back up against West Coast without Jeremy Cameron meaning more focus will go on Jonathon Patton who only had 10 touches and 0.2 against the Crows.
After two losses in a row, I can smell three and a straight sets exit this week.
Last 5: WWWLL
Coming up: West Coast, Semi-final
Last time: GWS by 21 points
6. West Coast
Previous ranking: 4, 6, 9, 7, 8, 8, 6, 3, 6, 6, 9, 10, 8, 11, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 10, 10, 8
For a team that looked gone 13 points down in extra-time against Port Adelaide, the suddenly have a lot of momentum going to Sydney to play the Giants.
I give them a big chance to cause an upset. The retiring veterans Petrie, Mitchell and Priddis were huge on Saturday night, have they got another big one in them this weekend?
Last 5: LWLWW
Coming up: GWS, Semi-final
Last time: GWS by 21 points