Ruckman Sam Jacobs says a strong performance against West Coast in Saturday night’s NAB Cup Grand Final at AAMI Stadium would be a confidence boost for the young Crows team and rookie coach Brenton Sanderson ahead of the start of the season proper.
The Crows and Eagles will do battle for the 2012 NAB Cup this weekend after going through the first three rounds of the pre-season competition undefeated.
The fifth-youngest team in the competition, Adelaide has 24 players aged 23-years-old or under.
The Club's round three NAB Cup 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.
Jacobs said the NAB Cup Grand Final would be a valuable experience, particularly for the younger members of the playing group.
“All our eyes have been on round one preparation, but now we’re in the final … we’re in it to win it,” Jacobs said after training on Monday.
“I think it’s important for us as a team and for our culture.
“We’ve got a young group and a new coach and if we can get a bit of silverware it’ll be good for us.”
Adelaide qualified for the pre-season decider after accounting for Collingwood by 77 points at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
While pleased with his team’s performance, Jacobs said the players weren’t getting carried away with their good, early form.
“Collingwood were undermanned on the weekend, but it more how we’re playing [that’s important],” Jacobs said.
“We’ve played with a lot of intensity.
“You can see the way we play, how we move the ball and how we defend as a team.
“We’re just really together as a group at the moment.
“Sando has come from a such a strong culture at Geelong.
“You see the way they play their footy … they really play for each other and that’s something Sando is trying to put into the group here.
“I think it’s starting to show in the way we play.
“It’s another challenge for us this week against, not a hardened finals team, but one that went deep in the finals last year.
“It’s just another stepping stone [for round one], but it’s important for us to win.”
Midfielder Richard Douglas, who missed the win over Collingwood with soreness, is expected to be available to play against West Coast, while full-back Ben Rutten has also recovered from a foot injury.
Both the Crows and Eagles will be limited to 22 players on Saturday night, six fewer than last weekend.
In a welcome change of fortune, Adelaide is without a player on its injury list, making selection for the NAB Cup Grand Final incredibly difficult.
“I’m glad I’m not a coach,” Jacobs said.
“We’ve got 48 players up for selection this week … and any position you look at, there are multiple players who could play there.
“It’s a big game this week, so it’s important that guys play well nearing round one.”
Jacobs has been a revelation in the ruck for Adelaide since requesting a trade from Carlton at the end of the 2010 season.
One of the Crows better players against the Pies Jacobs, who hopes to spend more time resting in the forward line this season, said he would need to be at his best against the ruck might of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui on Saturday night.
“Cox and Naitanui are the best [ruck partnership] in the game,” he said.
“They’re so different and there’s just no relief.
“You can’t go up against them on your own.
“We’ve got a really good ruck unit at the moment with Kurt Tippett, Shaun McKernan and Josh Jenkins too.
“We’ll probably have three of us going up against them this week, and we’ll all need to be at our best.”
Tickets for Saturday night’s NAB Cup Grand Final, which starts at 7:10pm, go on sale through Ticketmaster from 9am Tuesday.
Jacobs encouraged all Crows and football fans in general to get to AAMI Stadium.
“Now, that we’ve been given the final it’s important everyone comes along,” he said.
“We’ll definitely need the support of our 19th Man and everyone in Adelaide, getting along to the game.
“The more people we get here, the better it is for SA footy.”
