Phil Walsh feels right at home in the Crows' senior coaching role. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
PHIL Walsh walked across the ground to the coach's box at Port Lincoln last week looking every bit a prize fighter: veins visible around his face, head forward and a brisk intent in his step.
He looked like he'd done 50 push-ups just to warm up and get ready for the occasion of being a senior AFL coach for the first time, even though it was only a practice match hiding under the banner of a NAB Challenge label.
But for all of that, the Crows looked like a smooth transition had been made since Brenton Sanderson departed at the end of last year.
Taylor Walker, the Crows' new captain, had a similarly stern look on his face as the players ran out. The former captain, Nathan van Berlo, looked like he had a far more relaxed outlook ahead of the game.
And Walker played like a captain. He set up Tom Lynch for a shot for goal in the first quarter, selflessly palmed off hand passes and laid shepherds and made it clear it was more about the Crows than about him.
Walsh, having had a minute of reflection afterwards, reckoned Walker had just about taken it a step too far. Had he not worried so much about being a leader he might not have forgottten about being the star player he can be in his own right. Like the trackmen say, he'll be better for the run.
Taylor Walker was unselfish in his first game as skipper. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
Walsh was relaxed afterwards.
He'd had a small win, was annoyed by letting the Kangaroos dominate him in the last quarter, but displayed a sense of perspective.
But Walsh wouldn't be anywhere else, and he was not overwhelmed.
"This is what I like doing,'' Walsh said. "I've got a great coaching group and they gave me some great support.
"It was the first time we've been in the heat of the battle together.''
As green as the coaching group is together, there are links to the past. David Noble, the club's head of football, is as shrewd as they come and he had worked both as an assistant coach and list manager.
The Crows have given him more responsibilities each year, and he has now become the mortar that holds together the bricks as a new house is being built.
But Walsh has also sought to fast-track the new coaching group.
One of his methods has been to have match simulation among the coaches while the players have match simulation at West Lakes.
"As soon as I got with this group we sat down and watched a couple of games,'' Walsh said. "Just so that they could see how I liked to coach and what I demanded on game day.
"Today (last Sunday) went pretty smoothly but we'll review that as well.''
Much has changed at Football Park since Walsh came across.
There is still a display photo of Nathan van Berlo at the training headquarters, but "VB'' is no longer the captain.
Despite that, Van Berlo is back after a year on the sidelines because of a ruptured Achilles tendon.
And he's looking himself again, fit as a sheep dog and without a bad word about no longer being the skipper.
If anything, he will be Walker's greatest ally as the new captain learns to deal with the off-field responsibilities that come with one of South Australia's most coveted roles.
Walsh could not speak more highly of Van Berlo.
"He's a leader around the club,'' Walsh said. "He wants to get people to follow in the direction the club wants to go. It's great to see him up and about.''
Nathan van Berlo is back for the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia
Adelaide was at a critical junction at the end of last year. Finals had been missed, the coach was gone and all of this was happening as the other South Australian club — Port Adelaide — was on a sharp upward curve and shaping as a premiership contender.
The coach was sacked, chief executive Steven Trigg departed for Carlton, there was a reshuffling of staff and roles and former champion Mark Ricciuto joined the board and had an immediate influence.
What was most striking about the Crows in their first hit-out — a match with no ramifications — was that here was a settled club, which defied the odds.
Behind the scenes, new chief executive Andrew Fagan was as calm and composed as somebody who had been in the job for years, and he has been in sports administration for most of his working life.
Walsh walked casually thought the township the day after the game, wearing his normal gear rather than the Crows-issue uniform, and showed another side of himself to the Port Lincoln community.
In front of the camera, he comes across — and can be — as intense as they come, but there's a pragmatic side to Walsh that is putting not only the assistant coaches and the players at ease.
Yes, he will be furiously demanding, but he is also unafraid to show his human side.
The players, too, showed another side after they played their first practice match. A few new names were on display, and ruckman Reilly O'Brien was one of the best as Sam Jacobs watched the game from the stands.
He played a manful game, but he did miss a sitter from a set shot that had his teammates cracking up.
The best part was his reaction the next day. When he caught up with the Sunday Mail, he was congratulated on his good game but was also asked about his kick.
The teammates around him nodded at one another and said: "We wondered how long it would take,'' they said as they had another laugh.
The best part was that O'Brien had the good grace to laugh at himself and move on.
For all the intensity that has been brought to West Lakes under Phil Walsh, it is the balance of light and shade that is the most promising sign for the Crows ahead of season 2015.
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