Crows not focussing on old mate ‘Danger’
ADELAIDE’S players insist Friday night’s preliminary final is about them – and not Patrick Dangerfield – as the Crows note the task of ending a 19-year AFL grand final drought is no laughing matter.
Crows forward Tom Lynch has stepped away from the almost-scripted banter between fellow Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins and Dangerfield to highlight the real focus on West Lakes.
“I’m more interested in getting myself to a grand final than worrying about stopping someone else being there,” Lynch said.
“A preliminary final makes you excited ... gives you goosebumps.
“The prospect of us getting there (to the premiership-decider) is more important than what happens at any other club or any other player.”
Jenkins last week opened the off-field barbs with Dangerfield – once kept on social media – to tell Fox Sports: “If he marches into town with his Geelong teammates, there’ll be nothing better than beating him and reminding him that perhaps he should have stuck around with us and he could be a Brownlow Medallist and a premiership player.”
But Lynch reveals the strong ties – and respect – Dangerfield still commands with so many Crows players, after playing 154 AFL games at Adelaide, makes a mockery of the mocking game between Jenkins and the Brownlow Medallist.
“Patrick was a fantastic player for our club,” said Lynch. “And he was a champion of our club. He is a player at another club now ... and hopefully he has great success, but only if we don’t get it.”