How Archie Roach inspired the Adelaide Crows

ACCLAIMED musician Archie Roach inspired Adelaide to ‘protect the house’, top-eight status and mummify Greater Western Sydney tomorrow at Adelaide Oval.

Acclaimed Aboriginal singer-songwriter Archie Roach.

Brodie Smith has revealed how acclaimed musician Archie Roach inspired Adelaide to ‘protect the house’, top-eight status and mummify Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The Sir Doug Nicholls round has taken on extra meaning this week at West Lakes after acclaimed Aboriginal singer-songwriter Roach and family made a moving visit.

“It is super important to Eddie Betts, all the indigenous boys and the club this round. We had Archie Roach and his family in to tell some stories and sing some songs,” Smith told The Advertiser.

“It was good they came, now it means so much to all the boys, not just Eddie and the indigenous lads so we are really fired up to get the result for them.”

AFL’s awakening Giants have scalped Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and Geelong this season in a hallmark rise to third spot. Leon Cameron’s side arrives at Adelaide Oval as favourites for the first time. However AFL’s new superpower GWS hasn’t won in Adelaide with the eighth-ranked Crows intent on extending their superiority.

“We love playing at home, get 50,000 to every game and the crowds have an influence so we will be going out to protect the house on Saturday night and knock them off,” said 2014 All-Australian Smith.

No player is more integral to a team than monster GWS ruckman Shane Mumford. The Giants were flying with a 7-4 win-loss record last year before Mumford’s season-ending ankle injury - winning just four more games.

Smith backed Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs to mix it with GWS bruiser Mumford who sensationally steamrolled Geelong’s Mitch Duncan in round two with a front-load tackle.

“He is obviously a big man, good at what he does, very physical and has a big presence,” said Smith of 199cm, 108kg Mumford.

“Sammy Jacobs has been going great for a couple of years, is an elite ruckman so we will back him to get the job done.”

GWS has been slaughtering sides in the clinches led by Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio. The Giants are the competition’s gun clearance machine - averaging 41.2 per game this season. Adelaide’s engine room - with Rory Sloane at the helm - must break even to supply its formidable forward line led by Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and Betts.

“They have been very impressive this year. We have played some good sides, been in some games but let them slip,” said Smith.

“It is a big challenge for us, they have a great midfield so it is a good test for our midfield to put it up against them.”

Veteran Heath Shaw has been dictating terms from half back allowing youngsters Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams to run wild. The Crows are on to Giants defensive set-up.

“To have 30 plus kicks in a game like Shaw is super impressive but our forwards like Eddie and Charlie Cameron are really good at that attacking pressure so that will be a key,” said Smith.

Originally published as How Archie Roach inspired the Adelaide Crows