With just one sleep until the GIANTS take on Adelaide in a Qualifying Final at a sold-out Adelaide Oval, we take a final look at the news coming from the Crows’ nest.
While much of the attention has been on the fitness of star midfielder Rory Sloane, who had his appendix removed last week, Eddie Betts took time this week to remind his teammates to make the most of this finals appearance.
The 30-year-old livewire forward has never progressed past a Semi Final appearance and is urging his side to push on to the last Saturday in September.
“But now, as you get older, your time in the game is coming to an end and all you want to do is play in (and win) a Grand Final,” Betts said.
“I’m really looking forward to this finals series. We’re in a great position. I haven’t even had a double chance before now – I’d never finished top four in 13 years.
“This year, we finished on top for a reason and I believe that we’re a stronger group this year.
“It’s a great opportunity and hopefully we make the most of it.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide Coach Don Pyke will give Sloane up until the last minute to prove he’s recovered from surgery just eight days ago.
Pyke said the 27-year-old completed some light running on Wednesday but made no guarantees he’d be named in the side.
"It's not only what (Sloane's) capacity is based on the surgery, but what is best for him and what is best for the team, all those things come into account," Pyke said.
"We've got to look at it from a viewpoint of what's best for his short-term, and we'd love to have him playing tomorrow night, but if that's going to have impact for him longer term, or impact his ability to perform, we'll make the smart decision.
"Players want to play, and sometimes we have to look at what's best for them and what they're capable of and that's what we'll weigh up and make that decision."
Captain Taylor Walker (toe) and key defender Daniel Talia (ankle) have been cleared to play, while Pyke said Sam Jacobs is set to battle Shane Mumford in the ruck after his older brother passed away last week.
"Speaking to Sam on a fairly regularly basis about how he's travelling, he's going to play and is in a really good space to be able to do that," Pyke said.
"It's a tragic set of events that he's dealing with and his family, but he made a pretty early decision that he was keen to play and he's worked himself into a mind frame where he's not only ready to play, but perform.
"Knowing Sam, it gives him a little extra incentive for tomorrow night and the guys will get around him and support him."
The GIANTS take on the Crows to kick off the 2017 Toyota AFL Finals Series on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval. The game will be shown LIVE in Channel 7 in NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy nationally.
