Brenton Sanderson reckons he stank as a player in big AFL finals. Got too wound up.
“I didn’t handle big games well,” the Adelaide coach told reporters on Monday.
“And I have been honest with our playing group, I played over 200 games, but I let the big games get to me too much.”
Sanderson’s again trying not to get too wound up – he doesn’t want his Adelaide Crows to make the same mistake.
But as his stunning rookie coaching season continues into the finals, Sanderson can’t hide his relish for proving wrong the doubters who mutter “soft draw” when reflecting on Adelaide’s second spot.
“I love now, everyone in the next four weeks is going to tell us why we can’t do it,” Sanderson said of Adelaide’s first finals campaign since 2009.
“But we have got to get out there and show people that we can do it.
“Finishing second on the ladder won’t happen every year for us – there is a great opportunity now for this team.
“Like I said, why not us? Why not this team?”
Why not is a typical Sanderson reaction.
Adelaide picked him as an inaugural player in 1991, then axed him two years later.
Why not try again at Collingwood, where he played four games, then got axed again.
Why not ask Geelong why not – persistence rewarded with 199 games and a best and fairest at the Cats.
Why not move to Port Adelaide, then back to Geelong, and carve reputation as a shrewd assistant coach.
Sanderson could repeat the feat of his boss at Geelong last year, Chris Scott, by winning the flag in his first year as head coach – he can’t see why not.
“For me, this is as good as it gets,” he said.
“This is why we play footy, to play football in September.
“The whole summer and the whole home and away season is for this moment.
“And that can sometimes bring with it enormous amount of expectations and anxiety.”
Sanderson has written a coach of the year resume in his debut season, taking over a club burnt out by seven seasons of his predecessor, Neil Craig.
The 38-year-old inherited the Crows after their worst ever season – 14th.
But the novice delivered an early gift with Adelaide taking the NAB Cup in an unbeaten pre-season.
Sanderson then equalled Adelaide’s club-record 17 wins in the regular season, lifting the Crows to second.
But don’t expect the 38-year-old to get wound up in those achievements.
“Sometimes I get the credit,” Sanderson said.
“But gee, the players – it has been player driven.
“I have got a great support network around me with coaches and staff.
“But these boys want to win. They’re a great group to coach because they are so desperate for success.
“Like I said, people are going to tell us this week and the next week and the week after why we can’t do it.
“But we’ll be looking to prove some people wrong.”