Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Adelaide are vowing to have a “real swing” at Fremantle in Perth, with the Crows not even afraid of the prospect of facing ‘Wharfie time’.
The Dockers (18-3) will secure the minor premiership with victory on Friday night, while Adelaide (14-7) are battling to stay in the crowded top-four hunt.
Fremantle are a perfect 11-0 at Optus Stadium this season and if things are close, they have ‘Wharfie time’ to give them an extra edge.
Wharfie time is an enthralling crowd activation shown on the big screen that sends fans wild.
It features a boat tackling massive waves, accompanied by the iconic gong and intro from AC/DC song “Hells Bells” and a dramatic heartbeat sound.
The Crows have won their past two games at Optus Stadium – both against West Coast – and Nicks is confident his players will be able to handle the daunting pro-Dockers crowd.
“The Fremantle crowd – we have got similar at home, we just haven’t put a title on it yet,” Nicks said of ‘Wharfie time’.
“But when our crowd gets going, they get going. So it’s a great challenge for us. They have got a finals atmosphere.
“When a side performs like they have, they get what they deserve.”
Fremantle remain premiership favourites despite last week’s four-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG.
Nicks knows it will be a challenge becoming the first team to beat Freo in Perth this year.
The Crows looked shaky in last week’s nine-point win over struggling Richmond, but the vibes are high as they venture west to take on the ladder leaders.
“We’ll go over and have a real swing and enjoy the challenge, there’s not many bigger at the moment than playing Freo,” Nicks said.
“We get a win, it puts us in a great position, gives us some confidence. If we don’t get a win, it’s more about how we attack it – how do we play, does our group remain confident?
“We’re in some pretty good form when it comes to win-loss, we haven’t forgotten about that and we’re not living in the last five days.
“We’re very much backing ourselves in for what we’ve done throughout the season and backing ourselves to perform well in these last couple of weeks.”
Fremantle welcome back skipper Alex Pearce, but have lost Murphy Reid after he copped a painful hit to the groin last week.
Adelaide have made six changes, with Darcy Fogarty back from suspension, but retiring veteran Taylor Walker rested.
