Crows ready to fly in AFL grand final hype
Sep 23, 2017 - 12:46 AM Adelaide's players and coaching staff are at the extremes when it comes to AFL grand-final experience.The Crows' list this season features no players who have played off for an AFL flag.
But there will be plenty of advice close at hand if the Adelaide players want to ask about the week ahead.
Coach Don Pyke is a two-time West Coast premiership player and his assistants also are loaded with experience at the business end of the season.
Ryan O'Keefe, who coaches the Crows' SANFL team, is a two-time Sydney premiership player.
James Podsiadly won a flag in his playing days at Geelong and Scott Camporeale did the same at Carlton.
"These guys have been to the big dance, so I'm sure some guys will pick their brains," said Crows forward Tom Lynch.
"But at the same time, everyone is different ... we'll be ready to go."
Lynch also dismissed their lack of grand-final experience as a potential factor.
"You don't just win grand finals on the day - it's the whole year, the whole journey," he said.
"We've built the brand to get us to this point.
"You don't just fall into 'grannies'."
Likewise, Lynch does not expect their lack of games at the MCG will count against them.
The Crows have played at the ground three times a year for the past three seasons, for six wins and a draw.
"There are four goalposts at each end and we feel like the brand we play, the footy we play, stands up in finals," he said.
What is definitely in Adelaide's favour is that they are proven performers in front of a big crowd.
Friday night's preliminary final win over Geelong featured a record Adelaide Oval crowd of 53,817.
Commentators at the top of the western stand felt the floor shaking, such was the noise at the final siren.
"It was electric - we're so lucky that we get to play in front of 50,000, or near capacity, every single week at the oval," Lynch said.
"That definitely was a good experience for the boys ... last night, it was louder than I've ever heard it."
Source: AAP
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