Crows coach leaves Friday night fights up to fans

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson is leaving the fight to break the Victorian stranglehold on the AFL's prize of Friday Night Football to Adelaide fans.

Sanderson

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson is leaving the fight to break the Victorian stranglehold on the AFL's prize of Friday Night Football to Adelaide fans.

Sanderson is unsure if he will make the battle an issue for his players. The snub from AFL House is relevant on Friday as the Crows feature in their only access to the game's premier timeslot - at home to St Kilda. Victorian clubs - Geelong (eight FNF events), Carlton (six), Collingwood (five) and Hawthorn (five) - have more than half of the 42 match-ups on Australian football's biggest national TV stage.

"I'm not sure how to handle (the image of Friday Night Football) with the players," Sanderson said.

"Do we say, this is a big chance - Friday night, big national TV audience - go out there to make a statement (for Adelaide Football Club).

"Or do we say, it doesn't matter who is watching - we just play the Adelaide way, the way we have in the first 10 rounds and it does not matter who is watching.

"We'll just play a way that's ruthless, relentless no matter who is watching. I don't know which way to go with that."

Of the political battle to get more Friday night football exposure, Sanderson left this fight to the off-field number the AFL cannot ignore - crowd figures.

"Commercially it would be better for us if we had every game on a Friday night," said Sanderson.

"Last time we played here (against Collingwood a fortnight ago) it was a sell-out. This is another chance for a big crowd at home."

Adelaide resumes from its mid-season break with an 8-2 win-loss record and Sanderson refusing to reflect on the past to see how the Crows deal with the re-start after a bye - and adamant there is no merit in crystal ball gazing at West Lakes.

Adelaide seems certain of ending its two-season absence from finals. It is considered outside the club to be a top-four contender and, by its supposedly easy draw, a chance of winning the minor premiership.

Sanderson wants nothing of these predictions.

"We're not patting ourselves on the back yet - or saying we have had a great first half of the year and it is just going to happen," said Sanderson yesterday.

"The minute that you think you are going well, the game bites you. We have to ensure we keep improving and being hard on each other.

"If for one minute you take your eye off the ball, you will be exposed.

"It is important we stay focused. The competition is so tight that you can't afford to slip up.

"It's business as usual this weekend. One of the strengths of this playing group is not to look too far ahead. There is still a lot of the season to go - and a lot of improvement left in us as well."