TonyK
CibbuanoFinals the focus for Crows: Rutten
June 30th 2008 04:41
ADELAIDE is focused on qualifying for the finals rather than securing a place in the top four, according to key defender Ben Rutten.
The Crows, who face Geelong in a must-win clash at AAMI Stadium on Friday night have lost their past two matches to Hawthorn and Brisbane to slip to fifth place on the AFL ladder, six points behind fourth-placed Sydney.
Rutten said the club's sole focus throughout the season was to ensure that they made the finals.
"Our expectations and goals from the start of the year were always to make the finals and that's what all clubs are doing," Rutten said.
"There's a fair bit of competition on around where we are on the ladder with teams. Obviously top four gives you the best chance in progressing through the finals but at the moment we are just concentrating as we go and firstly making sure we make the finals."
Rutten said taking on the reigning premiers would be a huge challenge and great learning experience for the club's younger players.
"I think they are pretty even across the whole board. They've got some real experienced players on every line and a lot of premiership players now have got that experience during finals and in the real pressure," he said.
"Especially for some of our younger guys to come up against those bigger bodies and experienced players will be a really good experience."
"They've got a pretty good mix and an even spread of players so that'll test our flexibility down back."
The 25-year-old said it was important that the Crows adopted an attacking mentality on Friday night.
"We've trained for it during the preseason and had some good results during the early stages of the year. I think it's as much a mindset than just ability to play with speed," he said.
"Training won't differ too much but there will be a bit more of an emphasis I suppose on that quicker movement and getting some run."
"The last couple of weeks have been pretty hard, tough tests for us but I suppose this is a tough as it gets at the moment."
"I think we are ready for it as a group and we look forward to it."
Rutten said Brad Symes and Kris Massie had recovered from injuries and would be a chance of returning to the side.
The Crows, who face Geelong in a must-win clash at AAMI Stadium on Friday night have lost their past two matches to Hawthorn and Brisbane to slip to fifth place on the AFL ladder, six points behind fourth-placed Sydney.
Rutten said the club's sole focus throughout the season was to ensure that they made the finals.
"Our expectations and goals from the start of the year were always to make the finals and that's what all clubs are doing," Rutten said.
"There's a fair bit of competition on around where we are on the ladder with teams. Obviously top four gives you the best chance in progressing through the finals but at the moment we are just concentrating as we go and firstly making sure we make the finals."
Rutten said taking on the reigning premiers would be a huge challenge and great learning experience for the club's younger players.
"I think they are pretty even across the whole board. They've got some real experienced players on every line and a lot of premiership players now have got that experience during finals and in the real pressure," he said.
"Especially for some of our younger guys to come up against those bigger bodies and experienced players will be a really good experience."
"They've got a pretty good mix and an even spread of players so that'll test our flexibility down back."
The 25-year-old said it was important that the Crows adopted an attacking mentality on Friday night.
"We've trained for it during the preseason and had some good results during the early stages of the year. I think it's as much a mindset than just ability to play with speed," he said.
"Training won't differ too much but there will be a bit more of an emphasis I suppose on that quicker movement and getting some run."
"The last couple of weeks have been pretty hard, tough tests for us but I suppose this is a tough as it gets at the moment."
"I think we are ready for it as a group and we look forward to it."
Rutten said Brad Symes and Kris Massie had recovered from injuries and would be a chance of returning to the side.
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