Showdown revenge not on Crows’ mind, they just want to win says assistant coach Josh Francou

ADELAIDE is not lacking any motivation for Saturday’s Showdown 45 but revenge is not on its mind according to assistant coach Josh Francou as the Crows look to welcome back a host of experienced stars.

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ADELAIDE is not lacking any motivation for Saturday’s Showdown 45 but revenge is not on its mind according to assistant coach Josh Francou.

Neither Ken Hinkley’s post-game salute from the Round 8 Showdown or the chance to dent the Power’s finals hopes is driving the Crows this week.

They say they are motivated by keeping their own slim finals chance alive and focusing “on what we can control”.

“To be brutally honest with you, that’s not on the agenda (payback), even as a player it was never talked about, it was about preparing to win and beat the cross-town rival absolutely but

never about denting their season,” Francou said.

Steven Motlop kicks the Showdown winning goal in Round 8. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“We don’t look at it like that — in the context of the season it’s just another game, albeit a Showdown, we prepare the best we possibly can to get the result we want so it’s not a matter of getting one back or the ledger.

“Mathematically we can still make it, we’ve got to win all four games so while that’s there it’s business as usual.

“History shows and having been involved in quite a few myself, it doesn’t matter about the previous week’s form, they’re big games, big occasions, big for the state, big for supporters.

“Having been in similar situations (to the Crows’ current plight), personally it didn’t affect me so I couldn’t imagine it would affect the players as far as motivation or ‘what are we playing for?’ those questions definitely wouldn’t be asked.

Adelaide's Brodie Smith could return for his first AFL game since rupturing his ACL in September. Picture: Tom Huntley

Richard Douglas is also in the mix to return from an ankle injury. Picture Sarah Reed

The Crows are set to welcome back a host of experienced players for the Showdown with Brodie Smith in line for an AFL recall after two SANFL games and a knee reconstruction, David Mackay (ribs) and Richard Douglas (ankle) both in the mix and young defender Tom Doedee (concussion) a near certainty to play.

Adelaide’s coaches met on Monday to dissect Saturday night’s 13-point loss to Melbourne which left the Crows two games outside the top eight with four games to go.

Francou admitted the damage was done in the third term when the Crows couldn’t go with the fast-moving Dees.

“I thought we started really well as far as our pressure and intent around the footy, possibly you could argue a case we could have been further in front at quarter-time,” he said.

“But those lapses in concentration where we give the opposition a window — as we did against Melbourne in the third quarter — they kicked five goals in 10 minutes and blew the game wide open.

“To our guys’ credit they fought back in the last quarter and could have potentially stolen the game but not to be.”

Meanwhile, the AFL has confirmed the fixture for Round 23 with Adelaide to play Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, August 25 at 6.55pm (SA time).

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