INTERVIEW: Nathan Van Berlo - 11 September 2026
Summary
Adelaide Crows midfield manager Nathan Van Blow joins The FIVEAA Sports Show to preview Saturday's semi-final against the Brisbane Lions. The discussion centers on the team's "quiet confidence" and the critical importance of winning center-square contests to neutralize Brisbane's elite stoppage play. Van Blow also addresses the tough decision to drop Zak Taylor, the strategy for containing key players like Harris Andrews, and the need to maintain relentless pressure to secure a win.
Topics discussed
Introduction and pre-match confidence
Reflections on the Bulldogs win and resilience
Explaining the decision to drop Zak Taylor
Midfield contest and center bounce strategy
Analyzing Brisbane's ruck and ground level play
Locky Mand's role and hit spot variations
Countering Sydney's stoppage execution
Inside 50 efficiency and aerial threats
Wing selections and team lineup tweaks
The importance of pressure and turnovers
Murray Davis's intel on Brisbane's system
Lessons from previous Brisbane encounters
Defensive strategies against Harris Andrews
Playing DNA footy and managing game chaos
Debate on T-signs and closing remarks
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