Crows are better than 97/98, says Ricciuto

ADELAIDE great Mark Ricciuto believes the Crows of 2009 are a better team than the back-to-back premiership sides of 1997/98 and a genuine chance to win this year's flag. 

Ricciuto, who played 312 matches for the Crows from 1993-2007, played in the 1998 grand final win over the Kangaroos, after missing 1997 through injury. He believes Adelaide has the nucleus to go all the way in 2009.

"I think they're probably a better side [than 1997/98]," the 2003-joint Brownlow Medallist told afl.com.au.

"They've definitely got a better forward line and they're at full strength and they're fit.

"I think if you ask any premiership coach or anyone who knows much about finals football, you have to have your best side out there to be fit."

Statistically, Adelaide had a better home-and-away season in 2009 than 1997/98. This year it won 14 home-and-away matches, as opposed to 13 games each in 1997/98.

Ricciuto believes the Crows are now in tip-top form for September. 

"They certainly played their best game for the year in round 22, which is a fantastic time to hit form. That doesn't always happen, I can assure you," he said.

"I think they've got a great chance [of winning the premiership] and there hasn't been a side outside of the top winners since we did it in '98. They're probably in as good as a position to do that.

"It's a timing thing and there is a certain amount of good management and a fair degree of luck as well. The Crows haven't had much luck in the finals since '98, but having said that, in '97/98 they had a fair bit of it, so they probably used it up for a while."

Although the Crows have missed the finals just twice this decade – 2000 and 2004 – Ricciuto said previous September experience won't necessarily help this year's group.

"The majority of the guys probably aren't from [recent finals campaigns], but the coach and a few of their senior players are, so they'll take a lot of out of it. It's certainly not going to hurt, but it won't have a huge impact," he said.

"They've got a lot of belief at the moment, but they still haven't beaten the top sides yet – Carlton was the first side they've beaten above them on the ladder this year. So if they're going to win the flag, they're going to have to beat three sides above them in a row.

"That's a pretty big achievement if they can do that."

As for his grand final tip, Ricciuto, like many football pundits, is finding it difficult to narrow it down to two.

"It's very hard to tip; I've got no clear winner," he said.

"The two in-form sides at the moment are the Western Bulldogs and the Crows, but I'm a little bit wary of Collingwood at the moment.

"I can't rule out St Kilda and Geelong, if I can have a bit each way on five, so it's going to be great."

Meanwhile, the eight-time All-Australian says he is honoured to be the AFL's finals ambassador for 2009.

"I was absolutely rapt to be asked to do it, considering the last couple of years have been [Glenn] Archer and [James] Hird, so it'll be a great week," Ricciuto said.

"After [playing in] '98, I didn't come back to Melbourne [for grand final week] until I won the Brownlow in 2003.

"I had such a good time at the grand final that week, so I've been back every year since and I can't see myself missing it for a while."