Adelaide SANFL coach Mick Godden says that despite recent availability issues, his side is still primed for a strong premiership push this September.
The Crows finished the Home and Away season in third position, and will face second-placed Sturt in the Qualifying Final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
While they won six of their last seven games in the lead-up to September, injury has ravaged Godden’s side over the past fortnight, resulting in just 10 AFL-listed players lining up against Norwood in Round 18.
Speaking to the media at the Finals Launch on Tuesday, Godden said the group still believed they had what it took to deliver a first SANFL premiership to West Lakes.
“Absolutely (we can still win the premiership),” Godden said.
“It’s been challenging (with personnel), the last couple of weeks have certainly been difficult without a ruckman or a key forward or key back, which are pretty important ingredients to a winning team.
“But we’ve been competitive and that is a product of the strength of our whole squad, our AFL side has had a good year and our SANFL squad has reaped the benefits of that.
“Our development players have been fantastic as well, those guys will get their opportunity (in the finals) and all year they have shown they can match it with hardened SANFL players.”
Adelaide will get some reinforcements this weekend, after the AFL side concluded its season last weekend.
Godden said the Club was still working through what players would be available to face the Doubles Blues on Sunday.
“We’re not too sure (how the team will shape up) yet, we are going through our AFL exit meetings today and tomorrow so we’ll get a bit more clarity in the next 48 hours,” Godden said.
“It’s just one of those anomalies we have as an AFL Club, but at the moment we’ll plan for all qualified players to come back (this Sunday).
“I think we had five players that are qualified and fit that didn’t play last weekend, so hopefully we get them back, but we also might get none so we will just move forward with what we have.
“The whole squad has been very strong all year, so we will be happy with any squad we put on the park and be confident that we can get it done.”
Godden also gave an update on AFL-listed ruckman Kieran Strachan as he continues to recover from a wrist injury.
“Kieran will definitely be back (this season), as long as we progress for long enough,” Godden said.
“We aren’t really sure of the length of that, he certainly won’t play this week but we might get him back next week.”
Adelaide faces Sturt in the Qualifying Final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, with the first bounce at 3.15pm.
