Wayne Carey says Adelaide is preparing for ‘a very physical game’ against the Brisbane Lions in Friday night’s semi-final at the Gabba.
“They're a very physical side,” Carey said of the Lions before the Crows trained at AAMI Stadium on Monday.
“They've proven that over the last couple of years. The Essendon of the late ’90s and 2000 were a physical, hard side and I think Brisbane took that mantle off them.
”It's going to be a tough game. We go up there and have to withstand that and give more back. It's going to be a very physical game because from here on in it's all knockout.
“I think you just play your game naturally, as you would any other week. If it happens to be a physical game, you'll play a physical game. If it doesn't, so be it.”
Asked whether he enjoyed ‘physical footy’, Carey said: “Every game's different and there are games where bodies clash more and you have the opportunity to be more physical, and then there are games where it’s free-flowing and we kick a lot of goals, and you come off the ground and you haven't got a bruise on you.
“It really depends on the game but, being a finals game, I'm sure this will be a great game to watch and a great game to be involved in.”
Carey also described the Lions as ‘a very, very good side – a very capable side’.
“It's going to be a great challenge for us, but one we're looking forward to … we've got a
fair bit of improving to do … we're starting to get a bit of balance there (up forward), which we haven't had all year, and hopefully we can carry that into Friday night,” he said.
Carey, 32, looking fitter and sounding more relaxed than he has for a long time, will play his 300th senior match this week to qualify for automatic life membership of the AFL.
His tally will comprise 260 regular-season matches (244 with the Kangaroos, 16 with Adelaide), 35 pre-season games (34 with the Roos, one with the Crows), three state-of-origin appearances and two International Rules fixtures for Australia against Ireland.
“It gets me a couple of tickets to all the games for the rest of my life, which I'm sure I'll
appreciate in a few years,” Carey said of his AFL life membership.
Of his much-improved fitness, Carey said: “From about the halfway mark, when I had a five-week break, my body's been great. I had tight hammies at the start of the year and calf soreness and all that sort of stuff, and it was purely caused by not doing that type of football training.
“I could go out and kick an 80-metre torp now and not worry about my hammy going. The body's adjusted and I've had a few breaks during the year so I feel as good now as I ever have.”
Asked whether the 80-metre torpedo punt would be with the wind or into it, Carey smiled and said: “If it went 80 metres, I'd have to have a fair wind behind me.”
On being back on the big stage of finals, he said: “I'm really happy with the way the guys played (to beat West Coast in last Saturday’s elimination final). I thought we found a little bit of form the week before against the Power and I thought it was a good team effort on the weekend.
“It's been a while since I'd played in a final so to get out there and get my hands on the ball a few times was very enjoyable, and the fact we had a good win obviously made it more enjoyable than if you get a few kicks and don't win.”
