HAVING been severely punished by basic skill errors this season, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says the Crows need to eliminate fear from their game when in front of goals if they're to push into the top eight.
The Crows are one of the League's most inaccurate sides when kicking for goal this year, converting just 46.4 per cent of their opportunities; only Collingwood (44.6 per cent), Geelong (45.1 per cent) and St Kilda (46.3 per cent) have fared worse.
Inaccuracy cost the Crows dearly last weekend against Carlton, booting 16 points in a game they lost by just five.
With the club now desperate for a victory to keep in touch of the top eight, Sanderson said his players were their worst enemies when kicking for goal.
"We kicked 1.11 from 40m out [against Carlton], even if that was 2.10 from 40m out we win the game," Sanderson said.
"We kicked 10.9 from the corridor, that's unacceptable, we kicked 10.16 and two out on the full … that's the fundamental of our sport is to kick the goals when they matter.
"As always, we've spent a lot of time in front of goals this week trying to replicate match intensity and match anxiety when it comes to goalkicking.
"We need to remove the fear of making a mistake because sometimes that anxiety grows and grows.
"The numbers just keep heading downhill if you go out thinking 'I don't want to make a mistake – we must take the game on."
Last weekend was the second time this year the Crows have lost by less than a goal after it lost to Melbourne in round seven by just three points.
Sanderson said the playing group took some confidence out of the fact that had they found a way to victory in those games, the club would sit entrenched in the top eight, equal on wins with Hawthorn (fifth) and Collingwood (sixth).
"We've copped a fair bit of criticism externally which is fine, we deserve that, there's games that we should have won this year," he said.
"We've had two games now where we've lost by less than a kick, if we win both of them we're sitting [seventh] on the ladder.
"We've just got to keep backing in our program and our systems…internally there's still a real positive vibe around our footy club.
"Our young squad is still really determined that we can turn it around this week."
Whether superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield plays a part in 'turning it around this week' is yet to be determined as he battles a back complaint.
Dangerfield will train again on Saturday morning and be given until the very last minute to recover sufficiently.
There's no doubt his side will need his help though, particularly given the recent form of Suns skipper Gary Ablett.
Sanderson said Ablett had already sewn up his sixth AFL MVP award and would also press for a third Brownlow Medal.
Sam Kerridge is the most likely candidate to run with the champion, but Sanderson said stopping Ablett was a job too large for one man.
"We're coming up against arguably the best player of the modern era, let alone all time, this guy is going to win his sixth MVP this year, he's going to go close to his third Brownlow – a very difficult man to stop," he said.
"We might run different players with him at different times."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
Last weekend was the second time this year the Crows have lost by less than a goal after it lost to Melbourne in round seven by just three points.
Sanderson said the playing group took some confidence out of the fact that had they found a way to victory in those games, the club would sit entrenched in the top eight, equal on wins with Hawthorn (fifth) and Collingwood (sixth).
"We've copped a fair bit of criticism externally which is fine, we deserve that, there's games that we should have won this year," he said.
"We've had two games now where we've lost by less than a kick, if we win both of them we're sitting [seventh] on the ladder.
"We've just got to keep backing in our program and our systems…internally there's still a real positive vibe around our footy club.
"Our young squad is still really determined that we can turn it around this week."
Whether superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield plays a part in 'turning it around this week' is yet to be determined as he battles a back complaint.
Dangerfield will train again on Saturday morning and be given until the very last minute to recover sufficiently.
There's no doubt his side will need his help though, particularly given the recent form of Suns skipper Gary Ablett.
Sanderson said Ablett had already sewn up his sixth AFL MVP award and would also press for a third Brownlow Medal.
Sam Kerridge is the most likely candidate to run with the champion, but Sanderson said stopping Ablett was a job too large for one man.
"We're coming up against arguably the best player of the modern era, let alone all time, this guy is going to win his sixth MVP this year, he's going to go close to his third Brownlow – a very difficult man to stop," he said.
"We might run different players with him at different times."
Twitter: @AFL_Harry
