Adelaide Crows star Hugh Greenwood admits he was nervous and anxious before Sunday’s win over Gold Coast

Hugh Greenwood says Adelaide’s Easter Sunday win over Gold Coast was the first time he’d felt nervous since his AFL debut in 2017. But the post-game feeling of relief didn’t last long.

Hugh Greenwood of the Crows against the Suns. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

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Hugh Greenwood says Easter Sunday win over Gold Coast was the first time he’d felt nervous since his AFL debut in 2017 but the post-game feeling of relief didn’t last long.

Greenwood had 18 disposals and kicked two goals in his first senior game of the season as the Crows celebrated Eddie Betts’ 300th and Brodie Smith’s 150th milestone games in style.

“I was super nervous, it was the first time I’ve been nervous since my debut and I was anxious,” Greenwood said on The Advertiser’s new podcast The Lowdown.

Hugh Greenwood gets a handball away in his first AFL game of the season on Sunday. Picture: James Elsby (Getty).

“For the last couple of weeks the boys have been tapping me on the shoulder and patting me on the back like ‘we’re looking forward to having you back, stick with it, it will all work out’, and sure enough it did.

“So the boys were really good before the game and said ‘it’s great to have you back’ and that gives you confidence to go out there play.

“I’m not going to have 30 and kick five, I just had to play a role as a forward and when I go in the midfield be a presence.

“And we had an even contribution across the board.

“It felt good to be back out there and to be a part of such a special night with Eddie’s 300th, Brodie’s 150th, first win at Adelaide Oval for the year it was a lot of relief, a lot of emotions for sure.”

ALSO IN EPISODE 6 OF THE LOWDOWN:

- Eddie’s post-game party and Charlie Cameron in the rooms

- Xavier Duursma building his ‘brand’

- Standing up for ‘Big Unks’

- Catching up with Kane Mitchell

- Poholke a chance to replace Milera

- Pic of the week (why this is Tom Jonas’ favourite moment in footy)

Sam and Tom Jonas after Sturt’s SANFL premiership in 2016. Picture: Supplied.

But Greenwood said the mood quickly turned to focusing on St Kilda this weekend where the Crows must win to prove to themselves and their fans that Sunday’s win over the Suns was not a false dawn and their season had turned a corner.

“That will be a lot of the external noise - was it a one off? But hopefully it will be a trend,” Greenwood said.

“We showed glimpses of it, and we showed glimpses in halves and quarters last year but unfortunately reverted back to some of the other stagnant stuff.

“But playing the top of the table team (St Kilda) in really good form it will be really good test for us.

“I don’t think it’s a one-off, we had fun on Sunday night and played an exciting brand of footy so hopefully we can continue to do that this weekend.

“Obviously they’ve knocked down most of West Lakes, and last week I think everyone was keen to keep going and knock the whole thing over and get rid of the Crowies but we’re back on the board.”

Tom Jonas leads Port Adelaide through the banner against West Coast on Friday. Picture: Daniel Carson (Getty).

Port Adelaide faces a similar challenge to back up its stunning upset over West Coast in Perth by beating North Melbourne at home on Friday night.

It will be the first time the Power comes up against old teammates Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard for premiership points.

Power co-captain Tom Jonas said his team must guard against dropping its intensity after it went to Perth with such a fierce focus on beating the reigning premier.

“There’s always a chance and absolutely we need (to be on guard),” Jonas said.

“We have to take in the same mindset as we did on Friday night in the west, and I think we are pretty well positioned to do that and I can’t wait to get back out there under lights at Adelaide Oval.”

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