They might have lost their qualifying final, but Patrick Wilson says no one could criticise the Crows’ team spirit as they prepare for semi-final against Norwood
Patrick Wilson has singled out the efforts of Crows teammate Andy Otten, who rose from his sick bed to star in the fighting loss to Port Adelaide, as the side draws on team spirit ahead of its first semi-final final against Norwood on Sunday.
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ADELAIDE might have gone down to fierce rivals Port Adelaide by five goals in Saturday’s SANFL qualifying final, but Crows midfielder Patrick Wilson says no one could fault the overall team effort.
Wilson said no other Crows player exemplified that effort more than veteran defender Andy Otten, who went into the final at Adelaide Oval under a cloud of sickness, but emerged as the team’s best on ground.
“(Otten) was really sick during the week, so credit to him, he could have easily pulled out and not played, but that’s just the club person he is,” Wilson said.
“He was in bed for Thursday and Friday (with a bad cold) and came out and was best on ground for us, so he was just awesome.”
Otten, who announced his retirement from AFL footy last month, finished the game with 24 disposals, five marks and seven rebound 50s.
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Wilson revealed that coach Heath Younie’s post-game comments focused on how proud he was of the players’ effort, particularly considering the Crows were down by only three points at three-quarter time but were defeated by the Magpies in a five-goals-to-one last term.
“For three quarters we played exactly how we’d planned, (Younie) just wanted us to try and win the game in the last quarter and … we were sort of in a position where we had to try something different to win,” Wilson, who was also among the Crows best and finished with 19 disposals, said.
“He was just super proud of the group.
“It’s a bit of reward for effort — the year we had — that we’ve got the double chance and yes, we didn’t win last night, but we deserve to have another chance in the finals.
“So, he just moved on to next week and we’ll regroup and go again.”
Adelaide ruckman Kieran Strachan was a late withdrawal from the game after being unable to overcome concussion sustained during a tackle drill at training, while Sam Jacobs is sitting out finals as he weighs up his AFL future.
Wilson said the lack of a noted ruckman made it all the more difficult for the Crows, with key forward Elliott Himmelberg having to fill the breach. Port won the hit-outs 47 to 15.
“It would have been nice having a ruckman, but that’s how it is and that’s football and we adjusted to it and played a different game plan and knew if we could pressure their midfield and cause a few more stoppages that we could maybe get more field position,” Wilson said.
“It was challenging, but I think we handled it pretty well and Elliott played an awesome game.”
Adelaide now plays Norwood in the first semi-final on Sunday, after the Redlegs beat Sturt in a high-scoring elimination final by 14 points.
Strachan is expected to be back for Sunday’s game, as too is defender Jordan Butts who was also unable to overcome a concussion he suffered against South Adelaide the previous week.
“We expect both of them to play next week and hopefully maybe even Paul Hunter (foot) and Andrew McPherson (hamstring),” Wilson said.
“With Strachan and Hunter, two big blokes, we probably missed them last night.
“We were also probably a key defender down in the backlines with Jordan, so a lot rested on Otten’s shoulders and Port have quite a tall forward line, which was pretty hard to match up against, so having Butts back will help next week and McPherson gives us another look off half back with that run and carry.”
Wilson said the Crows matched up against Norwood well
“We’ve played them twice this year and won both, but I think it will be a really even contest,” he said.
“They’ve got a strong midfield, strong ruck, but I think we will be able to beat them on the outside with a bit of speed and be able to use the ball and get it into our runners’ hands and hopefully we’ll be able to break the game open like that.
“But in saying that, I know it’s finals footy and it doesn’t always happen like that. But we are confident going into next week, but we also know they’ve got their tails up after beating Sturt and they’re playing some good footy, so it will be a really exciting game.”
Wilson, who re-signed with the Crows last week with a one-year rookie contract extension, said it was an easy decision to sign back on with Adelaide.
“I think the club’s going in a pretty good direction … there’s a really good feeling around the club and I enjoy my time there and I want to keep playing for them,” he said.
“I like doing what I’m doing and hopefully I can string a few more AFL games next year.”
First semi-final: Adelaide v Norwood, Sunday, September 8, Adelaide Oval, 12.15pm