Hawthorn will start the twilight match as raging favourites according to bookmakers. Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson refused to buy into hype surrounding his side, saying the two teams would start the game “equal”.
But Sanderson said he was more than comfortable with his young team carrying the underdog tag.
“I’m really happy that Hawthorn are the red-hot favourites. Our boys are going to go over there and give it everything they’ve got,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“There has to be a little bit of doubt in the mind of the Hawthorn players, with a young (Crows) side coming over … really hungry. People are expecting Hawthorn to win, so there has to be some nervousness and tension building up inside them.
“If we can start well and put a bit of doubt in their minds, anything can happen.”
The Crows have been slow starters in both of their finals so far this September.
Fremantle kicked four goals (including two in the first two minutes) to an inaccurate Adelaide’s one in the first quarter of the Semi-Final at AAMI Stadium last weekend. The Crows were able to claw their way back, only hitting the lead for the first time late in the third term.
In the Qualifying Final the week prior, Adelaide was in the contest against Sydney in the first quarter but then conceded five goals in the second term and never recovered.
“We haven’t started the last two finals well and we’ve acknowledged that,” Sanderson said.
“We’ve taken longer than the opposition to get into the groove.
“We’ve got to make sure that from the first bounce this week we’re in the right frame of mind to slot into our game plan as quick as possible. That’s been a theme this week.”
A handful of current Crows, Nathan van Berlo, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock, Scott Thompson, Brent Reilly and Jason Porplyzia have experienced at least one Preliminary Final.
Sanderson said Adelaide was well prepared to play in front of what could be - for many members of the team - its biggest crowd yet.
“There’s something special about Preliminary Final day,” he said.
“The obvious reward of winning is that you get to play in a Grand Final. It’s a really stressful and emotional build-up for some people, but I think our guys have handled it really well this week.
“There’s that great expectation that Hawthorn is going to beat us, but our boys will make sure they give it everything they’ve got and I’m sure we can cause an upset.”
