The memories of 2012 form part of the motivation driving half of the Adelaide team living out an emotional rollercoaster this finals series.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs says 11 current players who lost to Hawthorn in a thrilling preliminary final three years ago still remember the pain of that loss.

While it hardly compares to the grief the entire team feels for the tragic loss of their coach Phil Walsh, Jacobs said the heart-breaking five-point loss at the MCG will be another motivating factor when they take on the Hawks at the same ground in Friday night's second semi-final.

"You still think about it now, and I guess now we've got the chance to be able to change that. So we're really looking forward that chance," Jacobs said on Channel Seven's Game Day.

Jacobs said the Crows had learned plenty from West Coast's stunning win over Hawthorn on Friday night, in particular how they were able to hustle the Hawks out of the normal flow of their top-flight ball movement.

"When I think of Hawthorn, I think about their elite kicking skills," Jacobs said. "On Friday night West Coast probably took that away from them. That's something we really have to do," he said.

Hawks captain Luke Hodge underlined how crucial West Coast's defensive pressure was in the overall result, however he also said he and his teammates did not execute, either.

"Especially on that oval - obviously it is a bit narrower than other grounds - everywhere you looked there seemed like there was a West Coast player," Hodge said on Channel Nine on Sunday.

On the emotional situation surrounding Walsh, Jacobs said the players were "in a really good space at the moment".

"The team is really galvanised and I think it shows in the way we've been playing," he said.

Recovery will be the key theme for Adelaide this week as they will have one day's break less than the Hawks.

That notwithstanding, former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said it would not be surprised if the Crows were able to exact revenge on the Hawks for the 2012 finals defeat in which he led the club - particularly with key Hawk Jack Gunston in serious doubt, and Isaac Smith still under an injury cloud, despite the fact he got through the Eagles game unscathed.

"The Crows won't be afraid of playing Hawthorn. Coming back from Perth with a few injuries, the Crows will be quietly confident they can get the job done," Sanderson said on Channel Seven.

Jacobs joined in the universal praise for captain Taylor Walker, which was so big on Sunday that former Collingwood star Luke Ball called his three-goal performance in Saturday night's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs as "Wayne Carey-like".

"We've got great belief that he will stand up when it matters," Jacobs said.

Jacobs also called Patrick Dangerfield another "big time player" after his clutch final quarter against the Dogs that included two pivotal contested marks.

Dangerfield is considered almost certain to leave the Crows  for Geelong, however the superstar midfielder displayed an emotional reaction directly after the siren at the MCG.

Jacobs said he thought the joy of the win over the Dogs meant Dangerfield's decision on whether or not to leave would "become even harder".