Adelaide have lost their past three AFL finals, a hurtful enough statistic for any Crows player or coach.

But when it is considered that on each occasion Adelaide led by more than 20 points before being overrun by West Coast (2006 preliminary final), Hawthorn (2007 elimination final) and Collingwood (2008 elimination final), the frustration becomes far more palpable.

The ability to cope with momentum swings in finals is pivotal to victory, for it is quite common for both sides to have a spell in the ascendancy.

How an opponent responds to this is key, and Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin believes that having not handled this well over the past three years, the 2009 Crows edition is far better equipped both to respond when the opposition attacks, and to take full toll in attack when ready strike.

"Our ability to score quickly is something we've really put into our game over the last 12 months and that's enabled us to change momentum in games and we've been able to do that in the last few weeks, in the Hawthorn game and again in the Carlton game," Goodwin said.

"And not only do it at quarter-time but during quarters, and I think that's a great attribute to have as a footy club, that belief that no matter what situation you're in you can work your way back into the game.

"We're very confident in our ability to do that, we don't want to be in that situation, but there's no doubt momentum in footy is big and we need to be able to change it in the course of a game."

Goodwin predicted there would be such a time during Friday night's elimination final against Essendon at AAMI Stadium.

"There's no doubt in finals you're going to be faced with tough situations," he said.

"This week there'll be a time in the game where there's a tough situation the playing group are going to have to deal with and the teams that can dig in and show the resilience they need to will come out with victory.

"We certainly believe as a playing group we're in a position to do that, and that belief's never been stronger."

Adelaide's attacking personnel play a large part in forming that belief.

Brett Burton, Kurt Tippett, Jason Porplyzia, Chris Knights, Trent Hentschel and Patrick Dangerfield form arguably the most potent attack in Adelaide's history, certainly since glamour full forward Tony Modra exited for Fremantle in 1998.

"What I like about it is you've got some experience, with Brett Burton, and even Chris Knights now is in year four or five at the footy club, then you've got the youth of a Tippett, Dangerfield, Porplyzia type player," said coach Neil Craig.

"You've got the hunger of a Hentschel from where he's come from (long-term injury) to now playing in a finals series and that's a great story in itself.

"So you've got a great mixture in that aspect plus you've got a really good mixture of skill sets.

"From Brett Burton's marking, to Porplyzia's ground-work, to the raw power and bullish nature of a Dangerfield, so I think that's put us in good stead and given us a lot of flexibility."

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