Ben Keays says Crows adjusted too much away from Adelaide Oval in 2023

Inside and outside the walls at the Crows, there was plenty of discussion about the Crows’ terrible away record, now one of their leaders has offered a theory as to why they struggled so much.

There was plenty of analysis in 2023, both inside and outside of West Lakes, regarding Adelaide’s inability to win away from Adelaide Oval.

Crows leadership member Ben Keays says there might have been too much of this on the field with Adelaide adjusting too often away from Adelaide Oval.

There has been a lot of talk around the Crows and the expectations of Matthew Nicks’ side as they push for finals in 2024.

But if they are to return to finals for the first time since 2017, the Crows will have to significantly improve its away record in 2023.

While they were able to blow away teams at Adelaide Oval, the Crows had just the two wins away from their home ground in 2023.

One of them was a narrow win in Launceston over 16th placed Hawthorn, the second was over wooden spooners West Coast in a dead rubber clash in the last game of the season.

The Crows’ away record is one to watch in 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While they were within a kick of reigning premiers Collingwood and other top four teams Brisbane and Melbourne on the road, it was fade-outs against GWS in Sydney and Gold Coast in Darwin that seriously hurt the Crows final chances in 2023.

The Crows get a big chance to put this in the past with a trip to the Gold Coast to take on a Suns side high on confidence following their big win over Richmond in opening round.

Keays said the Crows needed to stay focused on playing their game outside of Adelaide.

“That was something we spoke about at the end of last year as to reasons why we didn’t get to where we should have,” he said.

“That was one of the main reasons and we have a great opportunity to make that right this weekend.

“It is a hard one, there are a lot of different factors that go into it.

“You can almost go down a rabbit hole with stuff like travel and when you train the day before and when you do all these little things.

“But I think it essentially will be how do we handle the pressure and how do we stick to our way and our footy.

“Probably too much last year we adjusted too much, maybe a younger group contributes to that but with the pressure of playing away maybe we changed our style.

“So hopefully now we have had another pre-season together and we have really nailed down our style and the way we play and it is just going to be about sticking to that.”

Ben Keays is backing his side to handle the pressure. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Keays said he was confident Crows talisman Taylor Walker will take on the Suns on Saturday.

Walker missed the Crows session on Friday with a back spasm, and just walked laps on Monday.

It is hoped Walker can train on Wednesday ahead of the season opener.

“I’ve seen him doing a little bit but obviously him being a veteran of many, many pre-seasons I think he is just managing his body the best way he knows how,” Keays said.

“He has done pretty much the whole pre-season again, which is phenomenal for us younger guys to look up to someone like that and see how he trains during the summer.

“Hopefully we can get him out there, he is a leader of the club and fantastic for our forward line.”

Originally published as Ben Keays says Crows adjusted too much away from Adelaide Oval in 2023