For Adelaide Vice Captain Ben Keays, oiling his arms is a pre-game ritual he believes gives him a slight edge against his opponents.
A trend that was particularly prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Keays is one of few players in the competition to continue it into the modern game, in an attempt to make him harder to tackle.
When asked about it by James Brayshaw and Billy Brownless on the Triple M Rush Hour, the Crows forward explained how it helped him on the field.
“It was a little bit of, can I break some tackles?,” Keays said.
“Guys can’t really grab on, guys don’t really want to grab on, especially defenders that don’t want to touch you because they’ll get oil on their hands.
“But there’s also the element of it that gives quite a nice shine on the arms that you work so hard on all year in the gym.
“I usually do it before the game and at half-time as well, because it’s all gone by that point, and hopefully it helps me get a few extra high free-kicks and things.”
Keays and his Crows teammates will be looking for any edge they can find when they face cross-town rival Port Adelaide in Showdown 58 on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old was expecting to be greeted by a fired up Port Adelaide side in the SA showcase, as it looks to end long-time coach Ken Hinkley’s Showdown career on a high.
“It (ladder positions) never matters, it took us right until the last 10 seconds to win the last one, so we’re expecting plenty of the same this week,” Keays said.
“It never quite matters where you are on the ladder, and I’m sure with Ken Hinkley the whole Club will be wanting to put on a really good show for him, to send him off in the right way.
“So we are really looking forward to the challenge, it should be a cracker.”
Pivotal to Adelaide’s success this weekend will be its ability to stick to the process, and have an even contribution across its entire 23.
The Crows have excelled in these areas in recent weeks, having won their past four matches, and will come into Showdown 58 brimming with confidence.
“It (performing as a team) is what we’re about, we love having multiple guys contribute and there’s been games this year where it’s felt like the entire 23 have done their job to the best of their ability,” Keays said.
“In the forward line especially it’s great to see us share the load, when it’s not your week to hit the scoreboard someone else pops up, it’s a great spot to play in at the moment.
“I’m loving life down there in that forward line, and just looking across the whole team it's great to see so many guys performing.”
Adelaide takes on Port Adelaide’s Adelaide Oval this Saturday night, with the first bounce at 7.40pm (ACST).
Limited tickets available here.
