ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson has demanded more from his senior personnel, revealing that only three players polled any votes in the club champion award during last week’s loss to Fremantle.
Only four Crows collected more than 20 possessions against the Dockers, while Patrick Dangerfield (18 possessions, one goal), Taylor Walker (11 disposals, 0.2), James Podsiadly (10 disposals) and Eddie Betts (nine possessions, 0.1) all struggled.
Sanderson said the output from the club's key players had to lift.
"We didn't have enough consistency from our leaders last week so we need more from our star players – it's as simple as that," Sanderson said.
"They know, when we play well we get a maximum output from our senior players.
"We had three players [who] got votes in our club champion award last week… you're not going to win many games when 19 players get zero votes in your club champion award.
"This week they get (Brent) Reilly back [in defence], they've already got (Ben) Rutten, (Andy) Otten, (Daniel) Talia have played plenty of games now.
"We have to rely on those guys to play for 120 minutes, concentrate and execute for four quarters."
Key to ensuring the club remains in the game each week is its ability to hit targets when the going gets tough.
Adelaide's kicking efficiency last weekend was just 57 per cent and Sanderson conceded that simply wasn't good enough.
He said the Crows had to execute fundamental skills and in that vein walked his players through a series of drills on Friday in pouring rain.
Sanderson called upon those playing on Saturday night against North Melbourne to show poise when the heat is on.
The club's depth of experience will be boosted this week by the return of Reilly, who will finally notch his 200th game after being dropped in the wake of the club's round six loss to Melbourne.
The veteran described the omission, which left him stranded on 199 games, as one of the lowest points of his career.
"Apart from injury it was probably the toughest week of my football life," Reilly said.
"[I've] got too much respect and too much self-pride… when you get knocked down, you want to get back up and really prove [to] everyone what you're worth.
"That was my goal over the last three or four weeks.
"I've responded and I'm now back in the team and I'm going to stay here."
Reilly said playing in the SANFL reminded him what it was like to play football just for the joy of the game.
The 30-year-old, who is contracted for next season, collected 30 disposals and took an incredible 17 marks in the Crows' 48-point win against Woodville/West Torrens, its first-ever consecutive victory.
"AFL is so high-pressured and so over-analysed now and to go back to the SANFL was actually good to and just enjoy myself again and enjoy playing footy," he said.
"I got a real kick out of that…that was one thing that I'm going to take out for [Saturday] night - just to enjoy my footy and get the most out of it."
