How team bonding will prove Adelaide’s missing link under fire in pursuit of 2018 flag

ADELAIDE hopes psychological profiling and team bonding will prove the missing link in the race for the 2018 premiership.

Adelaide’s Eddie Betts kicks his sole goal against Richmond in the 2017 grand final at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Picture: David Caird

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EDDIE Betts has revealed the secret psychological profiling that could prove a premiership masterstroke, while daring doomsayers to dismiss Adelaide’s sheer scoring power.

Lashed as sooks by AFL legend Robert Walls following their grand final loss, Adelaide — from coach Don Pyke down — has forged “deeper” relationships with the aim of detecting and reacting to game-day danger signals.

There will be no repeat of the grand final unravelling where the stunned Crows didn’t have each other’s back against the Tigers.

Skipper Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins attracted criticism in a subdued forward set-up that couldn’t replicate Adelaide’s regular season potency.

“It was more we learnt about when each player is having an off day, what goes on in their head, is there anything we can do to get them focused,” said Betts of the special team bonding that proved the fulcrum of Adelaide’s Gold Coast pre-season camp in January.

“We spent more time on that. Now I know if Josh or anyone is off their game, I can see it just by looking at him. We have tools in place now to get each other back focused.”

Pyke’s lesson from the 2017 decider was if Adelaide’s players are “going through a leaner patch it is how we get them back out of that” and engaged.

Players can spend every day together in the sanitised confines of their West Lakes base but true heart to hearts come over dinners, bonding and dedicated time away as a group.

“We did a lot of bonding over the break, getting to know each other outside of footy as well. I think we became closer as a group in the forward line,” 277-game superstar Betts told The Advertiser.

“We spend that much time together training but went to the Gold Coast and did a training camp which was pretty solid. It was something different to get away from Adelaide.

“We can’t really dwell on the grand final, learnt from it, have to move on.”

Eddie Betts says he has worked on his motor during the off-season. Picture: SARAH REED

Eddie Betts expects forward Josh Jenkins to return to his best. Picture: Adelaide Football Club.

Adelaide will blood 2017 No. 12 draft pick Darcy Fogarty who Betts labels a “beast” against Essendon in the season opener at Etihad Stadium. Mitch McGovern is back in the saddle after missing the grand final through injury.

Betts declared Jenkins will ultimately underscore the talent that can better a 62-goal tally the late blooming forward slotted in 2016.

“People don’t see what we see, the way he works up the ground and beat his opponent back. He gets goals through hard work, is a big-bodied forward. I would love to see him kick 70 goals,” said Betts, who kicked one goal in the grand final for a career total of 534.

Betts returns on Friday night with a bigger motor and determined to keep improving in search of the premiership that has proven elusive entering a 14th season

“I had to work on my tank, get up the ground and if it is not going my way have a little burst in midfield and head up forward,” Betts said.

“If you are off by one little bit teams can sneak up on you. I have three years left on my contract, hopefully we can go somewhere in the next three years.”

If Adelaide conquers Essendon in Friday night then the old Carlton cartel of Sam Jacobs tapping to Bryce Gibbs and finding Betts inside 50 will be firing.

“It is great to have him in our team, mature and a leader,” said Betts of Gibbs.