Hard times prove the making of Adelaide
THE strength Adelaide have drawn from pulling together through tragic off-field events will be their “little edge” in tonight’s preliminary final against Geelong, veteran Richard Douglas says.
As Adelaide prepare to fight for a place in their first grand final since 1998, Douglas, 30, said the Crows had emerged through tough times as a mature and closer unit.
The Crows were hit by the death of senior coach Phil Walsh in 2015, the year after the loss of assistant coach Dean Bailey to cancer.
“We’ve been through some tough times and come out the end and really grown as a group and matured and I think that is going to hold us in good stead against Geelong and hopefully what’s to come,’’ Douglas said.
“It probably can’t help but galvanise the group. Obviously it’s pretty unique circumstances but I think the great thing about being around a football club is you all gel together and lean on each other, and that’s something we’ve certainly done.
“A byproduct of that I guess is that we have become closer as a group and that can only help you on game day.
“We will draw on that throughout (tonight) and I think that might be the little edge we have over the Cats.’’
The Crows, in their first preliminary final since 2012, also will draw on the support of a raucous Adelaide Oval crowd.
Douglas has described the home-ground advantage as “huge” and said making a strong start is a must.