The Adelaide Crows’ players biggest fans were on hand for comfort as emotions spilt over after their Grand Final loss to Richmond Tigers

EMOTIONS spilt over in the Crows rooms after their Grand Final loss. Is this the end of the road for this resilient playing group, or just another chapter in their remarkable journey?

An upset Sam Jacobs is consoled in the rooms by dad John after the Grand Final. Picture: Sarah Reed

• Crows fans in Adelaide: Cheers turn to tears for the faithful
• Crows fans in Melbourne: Now for the long march home
• Gallery: A not so Grand Final for Crows fans
• Match report: Dream ends in tears
• Rucci’s verdict: They froze on the big stage
• Player ratings: Which Adelaide stars didn’t perform

ONE by one, Adelaide’s players emerged from behind closed doors last night and walked into the waiting arms of their families.

Sam Jacobs was first. Barefoot, he started the walk across the empty change room in silence with tears streaming down his cheeks.

But by the time he reached his parents and wife who greeted him with a hug, there was clapping from onlookers who probably didn’t know what else to do.

“You’re a legend, Sauce,” one supporter yelled.

It might have been hollow comfort to a player who’d just lost a Grand Final but it was nice nonetheless.

Eddie Betts was next, greeted by his kids who ran around the rooms almost like the result hadn’t happened.

That’s the beautiful innocence of children at times like this, they’re still smiling when everyone else isn’t and that is comforting.

Earlier on the MCG Adelaide’s shell-shocked players were forced to wait and watch as every Richmond player received their premiership medal on stage.

Before that, like a form of torture, the Richmond club song kept playing on repeat, and all the Crows could do was sit there and listen as some 80,000 people chanted “yellow and black” at the end of every chorus.

A distraught Sam Jacobs, who was on of the Crows’ best, with his wife Izzy after the match. Picture: Sarah Reed

Eddie Betts and his wife Anna in the rooms after the loss. Picture: Sarah Reed

They didn’t all sit, some like Rory Sloane stood as if he just couldn’t accept that the game was over. One more quarter, one more kick, one more chance to turn it around. But it was too late. Adelaide now needs one more entire season to get back here.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to end for Adelaide, this courageous club that has fought back from so much adversity.

But maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe it’s just another chapter in this club’s remarkable journey to where it wants to get to.

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