Adelaide Crows win on jumper and entry order to MCG on grand final day, don’t care about scoreboard

ADELAIDE has scored another win at AFL House - after keeping its home jumper for the grand final - by having the Crows enter the MCG after the “Tiger roar” with Richmond.

ADELAIDE chief executive Andrew Fagan has scored another win at AFL House - ensuring the Crows enter the MCG after Richmond on grand final day on Saturday.

This will spare the Crows a repeat of the rundown sheet that annoyed the higher-ranked West Coast when the Eagles took the MCG first against Hawthorn in the 2015 AFL grand final.

And taking to the field second averts the Crows players being overwhelmed - as the Eagles did in 2015 and Port Adelaide in 2007 with Geelong - by the fans’ roar as the Tigers enter the MCG for their first grand final since 1982.

“We’re really comfortable about being second (on the ground),” Fagan said.

“For the rest (such as being first named on the MCG videoboards as West Coast expected in 2015) we don’t care who is listed top or bottom of the scoreboard.”

Crows CEO Andrew Fagan speaks to media at the end of an Adelaide training session at Adelaide Oval.

This is Fagan’s second win at AFL House this week after securing the rights for Adelaide - as the minor premier - to wear its traditional hoops while Richmond is being forced to its predominantly yellow clash guernsey.

But Fagan is not objecting to Richmond great Kevin Bartlett urging the Tigers to ignore the AFL edict to wear its trademark black jumper.

“I thought it was reasonably straight forward for the highest-placed qualifier (to keep its preferred jumper),” Fagan said.

“There should not a question on whether we wear our home strip, but the question should be;: Is there a clash?

“If there is not a clash, I have no problem with Richmond wearing their (home jumper). If the AFL and broadcaster (Channel 7) deems there is a clash, then there needs to be an alternative.”

Adelaide’s now much-debated “Crows stare” during the national anthem before each final continues to create mystique - and sensitivities when the Crows are challenged on whether the aim of out-psyching the opposition is appropriate during the anthem.

The Crows stand across much more ground than their rivals - and do not budge from their stare until the opposition moves when the anthem ends.

“We want to prepare for the game to be ready - ready and focused,” Fagan said. “And we’ve worked out something that has done that for us in the last couple of weeks (in home finals against Greater Western Sydney and Geelong).

“It is unusual (when compared with regular AFL games) to stand there for a national anthem. It is not a normal preparation, so you have to come up with something that you think will have you best prepared.

“The guys have got that at the moment- and what others have to say about it is up to them. We face the opposition - and they know we are going to be staring at them..”

Fagan described the fascination with the “Crows stare” as part of the “thirst for content when it comes to the AFL - and that is fantastic.”