IN EVERY season there comes a point in which teams realise they are either doomed or destined.
For Adelaide captain Nathan van Berlo that time was from the end of April through to the start of June, when the side faced five daunting challenges that would reveal whether it was ready to succeed in 2012.
The block started with the season's first Showdown against Port Adelaide in round five, followed by matches against the Sydney Swans in Sydney, Geelong at home, Carlton away, Collingwood at home and then Fremantle at the house of pain in round 10.
The Crows won four out of the five games, losing only to Collingwood.
Van Berlo said from that point on the team knew it was a premiership threat.
"There probably was [a point] when we realised that our best was certainly good enough and that was the period where we had five or six tough games from about round five or six onwards," he said.
"We held up really well throughout that period … That gave confidence to the playing group and no doubt the coaches that our game style holds up against the best sides and that we were able to sustain it for weeks on end."
This finals campaign will be van Berlo's sixth, but he's one of few Crows to have significant finals experience.
There are 25 players on Adelaide's senior list who haven't played an AFL final and just seven players, van Berlo, Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock, Jason Porplyzia, Brent Reilly, Ben Rutten and Scott Thompson, who have played at least five.
The skipper's first two years in the AFL system in 2005 and 2006 saw the Crows lose consecutive preliminary finals and, as a young player, he admitted he mistakenly developed the notion September action was almost inevitable.
Van Berlo said that while it was difficult to get young players to understand the importance of making the most of such golden opportunities, it was important for ultimate success.
"People can talk about it as much as you like, players can relay stories to you, but as coaches and players we've just got to try and paint the picture that you've got to make the most of your opportunities when you get them," he said.
"For such a young group to go through a difficult period last year helped somewhat to paint that picture because they know what it looks like and how hard it is to turn things around and that success doesn't just come to you.
"Hopefully they can embrace that, but at the end of the day it comes up to each individual and hopefully they can respond to that."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
