It’s all about team for Crows
SCOTT Camporeale says Adelaide’s finals thumping of GWS without star midfielder Rory Sloane is proof that its success is built on a team ethos rather than individuals.
While possible preliminary final opponent Geelong appears reliant on star on-ballers Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, Crows assistant coach Camporeale declared his club had been assembled around player depth and a sharing-the-load mentality that stands up in September.
“That’s always been our philosophy,” he said.
“We’d rather have a team than one or two jets that stand out every week because that doesn’t win finals.
“We’re about weight of numbers, particularly in the midfield, where we don’t rely on one player.”
After a season of living with the tag “no Sloane, no Crows” after the club struggled midyear when its prime midfielder was tagged, Adelaide – with Sloane sidelined following an appendectomy – emphatically showed in the six-goal qualifying
WE’RE ABOUT WEIGHT OF NUMBERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDFIELD, WHERE WE DON’T RELY ON ONE PLAYER
final win against the Giants that it had built a strong midfield unit.
“I’ve been really proud of them,” midfield coach Camporeale said.
“Internally, we always understood the talent that we’ve got here and the need to develop those guys.
“(All-Australian) Matty Crouch was always going to go to another level and Brad (Crouch, left) was always going to be good once he got fit and was able to get a good run at it.
“Richard Douglas is back playing his best footy, Hugh Greenwood has come in from a different background (basketball) and has added something different, Paul Seedsman has come in and played his role and Rory Atkins has gone to another level, too.”
Sloane will be back for the preliminary final – the Crows’ first since 2012 – against either Geelong or Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Friday week.
The Crows will be without 2014 All-Australian Brodie Smith, who will miss a year after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the Giants.