Mong
14 Sep 2006, 17:17
Well as we all know, it is Semi Finals week in the AFL and while we've got the benefit of the week off this year I thought it was a good time to have a look back and rate our previous semi final games. While semi finals generally tend to get overlooked when discussing memorable finals in favour of the more glamorous preliminary and Grand Finals, we've been involved in some absolute classic semi finals.
In our history we've played in 6 semi finals, for a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. I've rated our wins in order, from 4-1.
4. 1998 v Sydney, SCG
Not the prettiest game of football to watch. But that was mainly due to the attrocious weather conditions. I have never been as confident going into a final as I was before this game. That side of 98 (and 97) was great at responding to poor performances and the week before was extremely poor. The response from the Crows was predictable and vintage performances from our two small forwards, Peter Vardy and Andrew McLeod, in the wet led the way and put us back on track to what would become our second Premiership two weeks later.
3. 2005 v Port Adelaide, AAMI
Amazingly, a finals win against Port that knocks them out and advances us to the preliminary final, by 83 points no less, only comes in at number 3 for me. That says more about the calibre of the two games I've listed ahead of it than anything else. Although, the one sided nature of this game is the main reason it doesn't come in higher on my list. Afterall, Chad Cornes summed it up best, this was a Dream Final.
2. 1997 v Geelong, AAMI
Unfortunately, this game is sometimes remembered for the wrong reasons. That is, the umpires. Leigh Colbert's should-have-been mark received the most focus, partly because Geelong lost, and partly because it was literally one of the marks of the year. But there were other decision, benefitting both sides that took the focus off what should be remembered as a classic. Close well into the last quarter this was a very high standard game, with both teams desperate to the end. The reward of a preliminary final and the end result of our first Premiership contribute to making this one very special and a landmark moment in our club's success.
1. 2002 v Melbourne, MCG
Adelaide earned the right to play this one at home but the rules requiring one game to be played at the MCG that weekend meant this game was played there. We'd come off a predictable loss to Brisbane at the Gabba the week before and were in danger of going out in straight sets. This game delivered everything. After getting out to a lead early Melbourne stormed back in the second quarter, and took the game by the scruff of the neck. By the third quarter we looked almost gone. We then stormed home and won a classic. Not only was it an intense game of several huge momentum swings but it was fast paced and brilliant to watch. My favourite Crows semi final of all time and one of the best games I've ever seen full stop.
I'm not going to rate them for obvious reasons but the two semi final losses in our history were 1993 v Carlton, Waverley Park; and 2003 v Brisbane, Gabba.
Only once in our now 7 finals appearances have we not at least made the semi finals, that being 2001 when we were knocked out by Carlton. Obviously this week we are not participating because we have advanced past the semi final stage, which is a first for us.
In our history we've played in 6 semi finals, for a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. I've rated our wins in order, from 4-1.
4. 1998 v Sydney, SCG
Not the prettiest game of football to watch. But that was mainly due to the attrocious weather conditions. I have never been as confident going into a final as I was before this game. That side of 98 (and 97) was great at responding to poor performances and the week before was extremely poor. The response from the Crows was predictable and vintage performances from our two small forwards, Peter Vardy and Andrew McLeod, in the wet led the way and put us back on track to what would become our second Premiership two weeks later.
3. 2005 v Port Adelaide, AAMI
Amazingly, a finals win against Port that knocks them out and advances us to the preliminary final, by 83 points no less, only comes in at number 3 for me. That says more about the calibre of the two games I've listed ahead of it than anything else. Although, the one sided nature of this game is the main reason it doesn't come in higher on my list. Afterall, Chad Cornes summed it up best, this was a Dream Final.
2. 1997 v Geelong, AAMI
Unfortunately, this game is sometimes remembered for the wrong reasons. That is, the umpires. Leigh Colbert's should-have-been mark received the most focus, partly because Geelong lost, and partly because it was literally one of the marks of the year. But there were other decision, benefitting both sides that took the focus off what should be remembered as a classic. Close well into the last quarter this was a very high standard game, with both teams desperate to the end. The reward of a preliminary final and the end result of our first Premiership contribute to making this one very special and a landmark moment in our club's success.
1. 2002 v Melbourne, MCG
Adelaide earned the right to play this one at home but the rules requiring one game to be played at the MCG that weekend meant this game was played there. We'd come off a predictable loss to Brisbane at the Gabba the week before and were in danger of going out in straight sets. This game delivered everything. After getting out to a lead early Melbourne stormed back in the second quarter, and took the game by the scruff of the neck. By the third quarter we looked almost gone. We then stormed home and won a classic. Not only was it an intense game of several huge momentum swings but it was fast paced and brilliant to watch. My favourite Crows semi final of all time and one of the best games I've ever seen full stop.
I'm not going to rate them for obvious reasons but the two semi final losses in our history were 1993 v Carlton, Waverley Park; and 2003 v Brisbane, Gabba.
Only once in our now 7 finals appearances have we not at least made the semi finals, that being 2001 when we were knocked out by Carlton. Obviously this week we are not participating because we have advanced past the semi final stage, which is a first for us.