Adelaide’s “Crows stare” is not disrespectful insists coach Don Pyke
ADELAIDE’s much-debated “Crows stare” during the national anthem is again drawing attention before the AFL preliminary final.
HOW Don Pyke and his Adelaide players stand during the national anthem in the preliminaries to Friday night’s final at Adelaide Oval is filled as much anticipation as the game.
Will the Crows stare down their Geelong rivals as they did with the Greater Western Sydney players in the AFL final at the Oval a fortnight ago?
Pyke is not declaring the “Crows stare” - which has drawn extraordinary comparisons with the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby haka - is a lock in Adelaide’s pre-game.
But Pyke will quickly dismiss any question of the “Crows stare” being disrespectful to the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair.
“No, we would not disrespect the national anthem,” said Pyke at Adelaide Oval yesterday. “How we stood is how we stood.”
Pyke and his 22 Adelaide players lined up - 30 metres from their Giants opponents - with each Crows in the same pose. Legs were spread apart, arms were to the side and eyes were locked in a strong stare on their opponents.
And the Crows did not move until the Giants stepped away, seemingly confused, long after the national anthem had ended.
Inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes this week noted one Adelaide player pumped his fist after watching the Giants “blink” by making the first move after the “Crows stare”. The unusual routine is seen to be designed to intimidate Adelaide’s opponents.
“We’ll see what we do (tonight),” Pyke said.
Geelong midfielder and Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield questions how powerful the “Crows stare” can be on its second presentation when there is no surprise element to the opposition.
And he adds the presentation of the national anthem should never have any doubt cast about how the rival teams and their fans stand.
“I don’t think that part of the game is intimidating,” Dangerfield said. “Good luck to the Crows if they think it is.
“I’m always one to sing the national anthem. The moment is not about footy - and I enjoy it for what it is.
“There are not too many AFL games that begin with the national anthem. And to have Advance Australia Fair against the backdrop of 50,000 fans at Adelaide Oval will be memorable not intimidating.”