Crows chairman Rob Chapman: this looks like our season

ADELAIDE chairman Rob Chapman has explained to key backers why he is as excited about the Crows’ prospects this year as he has ever been.

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ADELAIDE chairman Rob Chapman has told a room full of Crows’ stakeholders he is as buoyant as he has been ahead of a season after a decade of leading the club.

As Chapman addressed a room full of key sponsors, partners and the top end of town alongside coach Don Pyke and the players at the National Wine Centre, he listed the expected cornerstones for success in football: strong leaders, strong backing, good culture and talented people.

But the thing that had jumped out at Chapman this season had been the fitness of the players.

It was a stark difference from the previous season, when the players had returned from their break either in questionable shape after or still carrying niggly injuries.

Some of that had been caused by bad luck, some by the fact that the pre-season was shortened because of the Crows’ making it to the grand final in 2017.

This year, Chapman said, had a different feel to it.

“I’m not sure I’ve gone into a season with a greater sense of optimism or level of confidence about the health of our football club,” Chapman said.

“The club is in great shape across all areas.

“And it is very, very difficult as a football club in the AFL world to have every facet of your club working.

“By and large, the playing list — which has been enhanced with some new talent — is all fit and training well.

“And the club has strong and stable leadership across board, management and senior coaching groups.

“And critical, and important, membership and sponsorship is tracking extremely well.

“So the club is in a very healthy position.

“The challenge is to make sure that all of those healthy positives transfer into on-field success for both the women’s and the men’s team.”

Adelaide Football Club Chairman Rob Chapman speaks to the media during a press conference. Picture: Kelly Barnes/AAP

Chapman could see no reason why it shouldn’t.

The reason for his confidence was what he had seen in training.

“Let me say, they are tracking nicely for this time of year,” Chapman said. “The value of having nearly a full and fit squad is going to be telling.

“It cannot be underestimated.

“We compete in what is an ultra-competitive competition, you all know that.

“The league tries, understandably, to level or to equalise, the playing field, both on and off the field.

“So the club has to be smart.

“But one thing that we definitely have is strong leadership.”

Four life memberships were handed out at the club’s official season launch at the National Wine Centre.

Development coach and Australian football coaching great Alan Stewart, recruiter Robert Reid and players Andy Otten and Rory Sloane were presented with the honour and spoke emotionally about what the club and the game meant to them.