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The Crows have won 12 of their past 14 matches against the Swans, including a thrilling five-point victory at the SCG in Round Six this season. But Sanderson said those results were now ancient history.
“We haven’t drawn upon that record at all this week,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
"The stats from the past don’t really influence what happens in the next match. It’s good to look back and see what worked or didn’t work against a particular opponent last time, but we don’t think just because we’ve won 12 of the last 14 that this one is home and hosed.
“It’s a different playing group in a different situation, and I don’t think (that record) will have any influence on this game whatsoever.”
Adelaide and Sydney have only met once in a final - in the Semi-Final of 1998 when the Crows upset the Swans at the SCG to advance to the Preliminary Final, en-route to their second consecutive premiership.
Sanderson has a more recent - and far less memorable - finals experience against Sydney.
The Geelong defender’s playing days came to an abrupt and heartbreaking end when Swans forward Nick Davis kicked a goal in the dying stages of the 2005 Semi-Final to snatch victory for his team and deny the retiring Sanderson the chance of a fairytale finish to his career.
Sanderson laughed when asked if he had a finals grudge against the Swans.
“Personally, maybe,” he said with a smile.
“No, we’ve got an enormous amount of respect for Sydney. I think the whole competition does.
“The Swans almost seem to surprise you every year with how good they are. They’ve clearly been one of the best two or three sides throughout the whole season. They’ve had some really difficult games in the lead-up to finals, but they’re a great team.
“They’re really well balanced - hard inside, but with good outside speed. They’ve got some great leaders and a really strong culture. We’re going to have to be at our very best if we’re a chance this week.
“That’s where we need the home support and our members and supporters there screaming and yelling, really getting behind us.”
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