Crows' AFL revival due to guilt: Petrenko - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Crows' AFL revival due to guilt: Petrenko

Steve Larkin 23/08/2011 01:27:53 PM Comments (0)

Adelaide's late season AFL revival is motivated by guilt for the departure of ex-coach Neil Craig, Crows utility Jared Petrenko says.

Since Craig quit his post four matches ago, the Crows have won three games and suffered an 11-point loss to powerhouse Geelong.

"When you lose a coach, it's obviously pretty disappointing and you realise that you have driven him out of his job. You want to make up for it," Petrenko told reporters on Tuesday.

"There was a fair bit of pressure on the coach and the playing group and now that things have happened the way they did, I guess a bit of the pressure has been released - but I'm not saying it was a good thing."

Petrenko said the biggest change under caretaker coach Mark Bickley was an instruction to take on-field risks.

"He (Bickley) hasn't changed too much really. Our game plan is pretty much the same," the 34-gamer said.

"But obviously, we're taking a few more risks with the ball and moving it quickly so the defence can't really get set up."

The orders have been rewarded on the scoreboard with Adelaide breaking the 100-point barrier in three of Bickley's four games in charge, a feat only achieved three times under Craig this season.

Petrenko said the late flourish proved Adelaide had a substantial core of talent.

"We have got a young group and we all enjoy playing with each other," he said.

"And we're getting stronger as the year goes on and that is going to hold us in good stead for the next couple of years.

"We have definitely got something there and hopefully next year it will take us right to the top."

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