Adelaide star midfielder Rory Sloane says that while late former coach Phil Walsh’s impact at the club still lives on, all of the credit for the Crows’ 2017 success must go to current coach Don Pyke.
The Crows yesterday booked their first Grand Final appearance in 19 years after defeating Geelong by 61 points in their preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.
Flag success this season would be a great fairy-tale story for the Crows, who were rocked with the murder of Walsh two years ago while he was still at the helm of the club.
While Sloane says that the tragedy has helped strengthen the Crows from a mental and emotional perspective, Pyke is the main that should be credited as the mastermind of a premiership should they succeed next week.
“That time we had with Walshy was certainly important for us all as a footy club, a lot of footy clubs go through moments where it can certainly help galvanise a group, unite them and gel a group and make them really tight, but this is completely Pyke’s team,” the 27-year-old on-baller told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“This last two years has completely been Pykey’s doing. The stuff he has implemented around the footy club and the environment he has created has been unbelievable and the belief he has instilled into every player on our list, we’ve seen some guys who have really stood up under Pykey’s doing.
“He has started it all, Pykey has. A lot of the other coaches has just driven it and all out support staff has put in so much time and effort to get us here.
“It’s just about coming out on Saturday and making sure we do him proud and play the way Pykey’s set us up all year.”