Midfielder Mitch Grigg says Adelaide’s SANFL team can be a genuine finals contender if the side can haul itself into the major round by season’s end.
The SANFL Crows kept their 2014 finals hopes flickering with a convincing 45-point victory over South Adelaide on Saturday to move to within two games of the top five.
The challenge remains ahead for Adelaide’s young state league side however, with the Crows to confront four clubs inside the top five to close out the minor round. Adelaide’s run home starts with a huge SANFL Showdown clash with league leaders Port Adelaide at Alberton in a fortnight’s time.
Mitch Grigg said the players know their best footy is good enough to match it with rival finals contenders.
“At the start of the year we struggled a bit, but we’ve improved dramatically as the year has gone on,” Grigg said following Adelaide’s win over the Panthers at Noarlunga.
“There’s a long way to go and the boys are taking it one week at a time, but I think we can still make a run for finals and be a force to be reckoned with.
“But it’s good recognition for the boys to get a few wins together, so hopefully that continues and we make the five.”
Grigg led the way for Adelaide at a windy Noarlunga Oval on Saturday. The smooth-moving midfielder used his piercing left foot as the Crows’ preferred avenue in transition and was unsurprisingly named best afield by Crows coaching staff.
The impressive 21-year-old finished with 34 possessions – the most of any SANFL player for Round 13 – along with seven clearances and two goals in a complete performance.
Click here to see all the individual player stats from Adelaide’s Round 13 triumph.
Grigg’s superior work ethic was also a noted feature of his game. He finished with five rebound 50ms, five inside 50ms and 11 marks as an indication of his ability to run hard to create opportunities at either end of the ground.
“I think when I’m playing my best footy, my work rate is very high,” Grigg said.
“Whether it’s getting back and helping out the defenders, or pushing forward to get a few goals, or just using my kick to break the lines in the midfield.”
Grigg has averaged 30 disposals in his past three games for the SANFL Crows, and could be in line to return to Adelaide’s AFL side for the first time since Round Seven when both sides return following next week’s bye.
“I’m pretty happy with my form in the last couple of weeks, but I’ve just got to keep going and hopefully an opportunity arises.”
Fellow young midfielders Matt Crouch (25 disposals, one goal), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (23 disposals, seven clearances) and Jarryd Lyons (23 disposals, two goals) also pressed their claims for a senior recall in a supreme midfield display.
“All of us midfielders are in pretty good form, which is a great sign for the Club,” Grigg said.
“It’s good to have that competition for spots and that of course helps us perform well here in the SANFL too.
“Hopefully we can keep pushing and finish off the year strongly.”
