The Crows kicked off 2014 with a two-kilometre time trial on Monday morning.
Captain Nathan van Berlo continued his long-distance dominance, finishing ahead of Brodie Smith and draftee Riley Knight in the first group, while utility Ricky Henderson led the second group home. Midfielders David Mackay, Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Grigg, and rookie Jake Kelly also ran strongly.
Senior assistant coach Mark Bickley was pleased with how the players had returned from the break.
“The players look in pretty good shape,” Bickley said on Monday.
“By the end of the pre-Christmas training block, you start to see that the players are stressed both physically and mentally. They’d been training really hard and concentrating for a long period of time.
“It’s great they’ve had two weeks to recover. Now they’re back, knowing that training steps up a level and that games aren’t too far away.”
Bickley said it was no surprise to see van Berlo finish at the front of the pack in the time trial.
“VB being the professional he is takes pride in setting the example. He’s tough to beat,” he said.
The Crows will play their first game of the year against Port Adelaide in a NAB Challenge game at Richmond Oval on Sunday, February 16. The twilight match will start at 4:10pm.
Adelaide will then head to Melbourne to play Carlton in a Monday night fixture on February, 24 as part of the AFL’s new ‘18 games in 18 days’ NAB Challenge format. The game will start at 7:10pm (local time).
Bickley said the team was keen to make amends after narrowly missing out on finals in 2013.
“We saw a desire from the players pre-Christmas and I’m certain it’ll still be there now,” he said.
“They know last year wasn’t good enough and they feel as though they’ve got a point to prove that they can get back to the heights we got to in 2012.
“It’s something that’s been driving them.”
A highlight of Monday’s training session was the presence of strategy and innovation coach Dean Bailey.
“Dean is really well-liked around the Club. He has an infectious spirit about him,” Bickley said.
“For Dean to come out to training in a time of adversity, particularly when he’s going through some treatment, is a testament to the bloke he is. The players love that. All our support is behind Dean.”
Members and supporters can watch the team train at an open session on Wednesday (January 8) from about 2:30pm on Max Basheer Reserve.
The Crows are on track to sell out Adelaide Oval in 2014. Don’t miss out! Visit 19thman.com.auor phone the Member Service Centre on (08) 8440 6666 to secure your spot.
