Crows can down Hawks: Sando

19 Sep 2012, 7:19 pm   -   Source: AAP
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says they'll need to lift 10 per cent to beat AFL favourites Hawthorn. (AAP)

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says they'll need to lift 10 per cent to beat AFL favourites Hawthorn. (AAP)

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says Hawthorn will need to play below their best if the Crows are to win Saturday's AFL preliminary final.

Hawthorn will need to play below their best for Adelaide to triumph in Saturday's AFL preliminary final, Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says.

While believing his Crows can upset the raging flag favourites, Sanderson says Hawthorn's "best is almost hard to get near".

Sanderson said the Crows must to lift "another five or 10 per cent" for the MCG preliminary final.

"These games go another level again," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have seen, and our boys have commented on, the pressure that is involved in these matches so far, qualifying finals and semi-finals.

"But prelim finals are almost the toughest game to win.

"Sometimes structure and set-ups get thrown out the door and it's just brutal, hard footy and that is what our guys are expecting."

Bookmakers installed Hawthorn as the shortest-priced preliminary final favourites in history but Sanderson said his Crows were ready for the challenge.

"I love the build-up of prelim finals - there are four teams left and there is all the speculation and people looking at match-ups and who looks better," he said.

"There are still four teams that can win it.

"It seems really simplistic but the game will start with the score at 0-0.

"We will do everything we possibly can to be at our best, hopefully our best is good enough.

"We certainly need Hawthorn to not play at their best."

Sanderson said Adelaide, outscored in first quarters of their two finals, must ensure the Hawks don't get a fast start.

"We have been jumped the last two weeks, Hawthorn normally start the game really well, so we have got to ensure that we are ready to go right from the first bounce," he said.

"The anxiety and the emotion and the big stage can sometimes get to people, but we have just got to make sure our first contest, we are switched on.

"We can't allow Hawthorn to get a decent start on us - it takes too much energy to get back and then over-run a side.

"We know Hawthorn has had the 15 or 16 days break into this game so they're certainly fresh and fit, and we're coming off two hard finals.

"But I think our guys are ready for this game."

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