Adelaide coach Don Pyke says it's just a matter of when.
He's certain an AFL club will win the premiership from outside the top four, but doesn't know when.
To Pyke, the feat is like Australia's 1983 America's Cup triumph. Or breaking the four-minute mile - achievements thought impossible, until done.
"The difference between first and seventh is a game (win)," Pyke told reporters on Tuesday.
"The opportunity for someone with a week's break heading into the finals to ... win four games in a row to win a premiership exists.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Sport is full of history lessons talking about sides and teams winning from rare spots.
"The America's Cup where you're four-one down and got up and win; the four-minute mile was broken when no one thought that was going to be done either.
"Someone will do it. I'm not saying it's going to be us, but someone will do it."
But Pyke, whose Crows enter the finals from fifth spot, reckoned an air traffic controller's calmness was required to be the first club from outside the top four to win the AFL flag under the current finals format.
"It doesn't matter whether you're sitting in an air traffic controller's tower trying to land a plane: you're ability to stay composed at times under pressure is what allows you to actually complete the task," he said.
