Adelaide are ignoring critics who believe the Crows are the weakest link in the AFL’s top four, forward Jared Petrenko says.
The third-placed Crows host Gold Coast on Saturday in the last regular season game, before returning to the finals for the first time since 2009.
Petrenko has heard pundits rating Adelaide as the top four side most likely to falter in the finals.
“I don’t say anything to them – we will let our actions do the talking,” Petrenko told reporters on Monday.
“We have our own sense of belief this year.
“And we’re just going to continue playing the way we have been playing and hopefully that can prove people wrong.”
Depending on other results, Adelaide can rise to second spot or stay third by defeating the Suns – or fall outside the top four with a loss.
“Externally, we get a lot of pressure about finishing in certain places on the ladder and all that sort of stuff,” Petrenko said.
“But internally as a group, we’re just trying to focus on this week and finishing the season and controlling what we can control.
“A lot of boys haven’t played finals footy at the club and people I guess are hounding us about that.”
Petrenko has yet to play a final in 55 AFL games, but 16 others on Adelaide’s list have finals experience.
The Crows expect to have their full playing list available this weekend, except for project player Ben Dowdell, a former basketballer not pushing for AFL selection.
“This time of year, you can’t afford to flirt with your form so we’re always going to try and get the best side out on the park,” Petrenko said.