Adelaide will lean on the deep and varied grand final experiences of its coaching staff for the big show

ADELAIDE will lean on the deep and varied grand final experiences of its coaching staff as the Crows prepare for the big show in Melbourne on Saturday.

ADELAIDE will lean on the deep and varied grand final experiences of its coaching staff as the Crows prepare for the big show in Melbourne on Saturday.

Forward Tom Lynch noted the players could turn to any of senior coach Don Pyke (for his times in grand finals with West Coast), Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe (Sydney), premiership player and club best and fairest Scott Camporeale (Carlton) and leading goalkicker James Podsiadly (Geelong) for advice on how to handle the hype of the day.

Lynch predicted some players would do their utmost to keep a sense of normality to the week while others would embrace the magnitude of the occasion as not one player on the Crows’ list has been in this situation before.

“Everyone’s different; everyone will deal with it differently,” Lynch said. “I’m sure some guys will seek out others.

“We’ve got a number of our coaching staff who have been through grand final weeks. Pykey especially but Scott Camporeale, Ryan O’Keefe, James Podsiadly … these guys have been to the big dance so I’m sure some guys will pick their brains.

“But at the same time, everyone’s different. Some people will absorb the week more than others and some people will just focus on the game. It will all come together when we get to Melbourne and we’ll be ready to go.

“But I’m sure we’ll lean on them if anyone’s got any questions because they’ve got that experience; it’s handy to have.

“But you don’t win grand finals just on the day; it’s the whole year, the whole journey. They’ve been pivotal all year and we’ve built the brand all year to get to this.

“You don’t just fall into ‘grannies’.”

Lynch spoke as the players were allowing the preliminary final win against Geelong on Friday night to sink in while attending recovery at West Lakes yesterday. The match – and the position the Crows find themselves in – was an obvious highlight in Lynch’s football career.

“That’s definitely on the top of the list,” Lynch said. “It was incredible.

“It was probably the loudest I’ve heard the Oval as well. It was a special night but we’ve got one more to go, hopefully.

“It was quite a thrill. You’ve got to enjoy it, obviously. We’ll take a couple of days to recover but then we’ll move on pretty quickly. We’ll enjoy the week for what it is. In this group no one’s been able to play in a grand final before so everyone’s pretty excited.”

Lynch also said the performance against the Cats – which was spearheaded by a furious opening – was proof the club’s coaching and fitness staff had got the preparation right.

As the club had played only one game in three weeks, it included a short training camp on the Gold Coast and an intraclub match on the weekend off before the preliminary final.

“The coaches have been enormous all year in preparing us to games and getting guys in a good space,” Lynch said.

“And that start was important for us. When Eddie (Betts) and Charlie (Cameron) kicked those first two goals the noise of the ground was unbelievable. It certainly sparked us.”