"IT'S NOT supposed to be this way."
These are the words a shattered Josh Jenkins uttered when asked to articulate how he was feeling after Adelaide's 48-point Grand Final loss to Richmond.
He was right – it was meant to be different for them. The Crows were the best team all year; their minor premiership showed that.
They were also a formidable finals opponent, entered the game as favourites, and appeared to be on a mission whereas the Tigers were just happy to be there.
"We couldn't have been more ready," Jenkins told AFL.com.au.
"We're not perfect, but everything we've tried to implement this year had gone to plan.
"Credit to Richmond, we just couldn't deal with what they presented today.
"Their pressure was just relentless, it seemed like we couldn't string two possessions together without them tackling us or dispossessing us.
"You've just got to give them credit, they play a different structure to most teams and they made it work."
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As the Tigers celebrated next door, the Crows cut lonely figures as they emerged one by one from the team meeting room in the bowels of the MCG late on Saturday afternoon.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs was first, openly sobbing. Having been through the toughest month of his life with the passing of his older brother Aaron, Jacobs walked straight into the arms of wife Izzy and parents Corrine and John.
Eddie Betts was next and entered to a welcome distraction; his young sons Lewis and Billy were innocently playing with their friends and inadvertently providing a mood elevator as they scooted a footy around the floor.
Superstar Crow Eddie Betts is consoled after the loss. Picture: AFL Photos
Daniel Talia and Rory Sloane followed, visibly upset, and Matt Crouch with his left knee still strapped from an injury he picked up during the game.
Slowly, the noise grew and the atmosphere picked up, but there was still plenty of disappointment in the air after such a gallant year that promised so much.
"We've been through a lot, this club, but this is a different kind of hurt – and it hurts just as bad," Jenkins said.
"We feel we're already incredibly strong but certainly today, we've learned we've got a little bit to go.
"It seems a little bit unfair that two teams come here, and for one, it's absolute euphoria, and we're left to lick our wounds.
"It is what it is, and we've just got to get better."
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We know what the Crows have been through, headlined by the tragic 2015 death of coach Phil Walsh.
Their group is tight, having faced the type of adversity that no other club has had to ensure.
Jenkins said he believed their loss would only add to that comradeship, as they looked to regroup in the aftermath of Saturday's result.
"We're galvanised already, we've been through stuff away from football that's strengthened us," he said.
"If those things didn't bring you together, you'd never come together.
"We got here together, we were going to win here together and we've lost together.
"We've just got to stick together. We've been through much more than this.
"At the end of the day, it's just a game of footy and as much as it hurts, we've been through much worse.
"We've got to let it soak in, get over it, and then get better."
Hugh Greenwood struggles to hold back tears. Picture: AFL Photos
Want more Grand Final coverage?
• RECAP: the Tigers' rampaging win as it happened
• 10 things we learned: the Tiger cub who was born for finals
• Match report: Terrific Tigers end 37-year wait
• Norm Smith: Dusty completes historic treble
• The moment: When Dusty fired up the Tiger train
• Every Crow rated from the Grand Final
• Every Tiger rated from the Grand Final
