Crows captain Nathan van Berlo has urged the AFL to reward the best performing team of the NAB Cup series with a home grand final.
Van Berlo, one of the star attractions at today’s Members Day, said Adelaide should host next Saturday night’s final if it finishes top of the NAB Cup table.
“We want to play here, no doubt about it, and show our fans what we have been training so hard for over the pre-season,” he said.
“I’m sure they (the fans) want to see a final here at AAMI Stadium too, so let’s hope the AFL do the right thing by us.
“From my point of view, I’d to see the fairest way to do it is the team that deserves it by the largest winning margins or the best aggregate scores, whatever you want to put it, that would be the best way to do it I believe. But we will just have to wait and see what happens from here.”
Van Berlo said the opportunity to play in the NAB Cup grand final would help the development of the squad. Friday night’s team included eight players who have played less than 15 AFL games and so far this pre-season 38 players have represented the Crows in their four wins.
“We’ve got to be pleased with our form over the pre-season to date,” van Berlo said. “Obviously at the start of the pre-season competition we were not looking to make the grand final.
“But the way that we’ve played we have out ourselves in a position where we are able to play in a grand final, which I think is going to be great for our young group to experience, and obviously it’s a game we want to win too.”