The Adelaide Crows left Greater Western Sydney completely spooked in their AFL qualifying final — and a footy legend says it was because of a ‘weird’ illusion
ADELAIDE left GWS completely spooked in their AFL qualifying final — and a footy legend says it was because of a “weird illusion”.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Match report: Adelaide books home preliminary final
- Jacobs thanks teammates for their support
- Who stood up on the big stage?
- Crows fear Smith ACL tear
- You bet Crows can win the flag
ADELAIDE left GWS completely spooked in their AFL qualifying final — and a footy legend says it was because of a “weird” illusion.
The Crows’ unusual decision not to link arms for the national anthem before the qualifying final was labelled a genius move by footy legend Dermott Brereton.
The Crows stood with plenty of space between each player as they stared down GWS players across the centre square, while the Giants linked arms as is standard among AFL teams.
Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton described the move from Adelaide as a masterstroke because it gave the appearance that there were more Crows players on the ground because they stretched out over a much greater distance across the Adelaide Oval before the game.
“I don’t know if they were trying for a visual illusion,” Brereton told Fox Footy.
“If you have a half a metre between each one of them compared to a team that are linking arms, you spread the line from the boundary to the centre square with the way they line up.
“Perhaps they want the optical illusion that, ‘There are so many of us out here’.
“It’s the old Muhammad Ali, ‘I’m hitting him from everywhere and he’s going to think he’s surrounded’. It’s a little game, but I tell you what, it’s working at the moment.”
Demons star Jordan Lewis described the Adelaide move as “bizarre” and “weird”.
Crows midfielder Richard Douglas said the tactic wasn’t planned in advance.
“(It was) just a bit of gamesmanship,” he told ABC radio.
“It was a bit spontaneous, just the way it panned out. I’m not sure if we’ll do it next time, I think it worked ... the crowd enjoyed it.”
That shot of Sam Jacobs breaks my heart. What an incredibly brave effort.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) September 7, 2017
Originally published as The Adelaide Crows left Greater Western Sydney completely spooked in their AFL qualifying final — and a footy legend says it was because of a ‘weird’ illusion
Round 1 lock? Verdict on every new face at Crows, Power
It was a big off-season for both South Australian clubs. But a few months on, which new faces have really made their mark? Get the intel and verdict on every draftee and recruit.
Neal-Bullen firming for leadership role at Crows
Adelaide’s oldest recruit in seven years has already become a mentor at West Lakes. Here’s why the man known as Nibbler is likely to sink his teeth into an official leadership role.