Crows Interim Coach Scott Camporeale has demanded his team brings the same fierce attitude it displayed in the Showdown against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
The Crows put in a gutsy performance last weekend, holding off a fast-finishing Port Adelaide to record a crucial three-point win – the Club’s first since the tragic loss of Phil Walsh.
The narrow victory returned Adelaide to the top eight, but the Club will need to overcome the resurgent Suns to stay there. Camporeale dismissed talk of a possible letdown this week, saying the Crows had to keep winning to remain in the hotly-contested finals race.
“We’ve had some emotional weeks, but we’re back to normal now,” Camporeale said.
“We’ve got a game to win and it’s going to be an important one for us to, hopefully, earn the right to play finals. Training was outstanding again today, so the players are in a really good head space and physically we’re well prepared and ready to go.
“I’d be disappointed if they (the players) don’t come with the same attitude that they had against Port on the weekend.”
Camporeale accepted the difficult task of coaching the Crows in the wake of Walsh’s passing.
The former Carlton and Essendon star has been an assistant (midfield) coach at the Club since returning to South Australia ahead of the 2011 season. Prior to that, he spend three seasons as an assistant with the Bombers.
When quizzed about his senior coaching aspirations beyond this year, Camporeale said he hadn’t given the possibility of pursuing the vacant position much thought.
“We’re here for the now. There’s a lot of water (to go) under the bridge,” he said.
“I’m just worried about making sure we get this team to, hopefully, where we need to get to by the end of the year.”
Camporeale has been supported by the Crows coaching team and newly-appointed Coaching Director John Worsfold. A premiership-winning player and coach with West Coast, Worsfold has been a good sounding board for Camporeale and his coaches.
“He (Worsfold) has been outstanding,” Camporeale said.
“To have some of John’s ilk around the footy club, whether that’s coaching, player welfare or as a sounding board for other people in the footy department, it’s great to have him.”
Much of the external commentary this week has been about out-of-contract star Patrick Dangerfield.
Camporeale praised the two-time All Australian’s ability to put the speculation aside, and play his role for the team.
“He (Dangerfield) has been outstanding. He’s been great all year. From a coach, from a leadership point of view and the way he’s playing, I couldn’t have asked any more than what he’s doing.”
