"This is Pykey's team," he said. As much as the late Phil Walsh instilled all of the physical and mental toughness into these players, a belief that the team approach is everything, Sloane virtually put where the Crows are at right now into perspective.

The love, respect - indeed gratitude - for Walsh, who died on July 3, 2015, is still there, but in a very subtle way Sloane suggested this amazing opportunity to play in the 2017 Grand Final was very much about finally moving on. It's about their current coach, Don Pyke, not Walsh, who coached them for 12 games.

"The work we have done over the last couple of years I can't describe," Sloane said. "Obviously, there have been some tough times and every team has a story as well. We're not the only ones ...

"We have come out far better for it. We are certainly a much tighter group. We have a very strong bond. We spend a lot of time together.

"Since Pykey has come in he's brought a real team-first attitude. It's about playing together, working for each other, playing a role. He's created such a great environment around the club which we can all enjoy.

"The belief we have in ourselves started with all our coaches and support staff and admin ... basically the groundwork for us.

"I am so proud of the boys. They have put in some hard work over the last couple of years and it's great to finally get some reward."

A significant moment during Friday night's first preliminary final came late in the second quarter when Sloane crunched his great friend and former teammate, Geelong Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield. It put "Danger" flat on his back, and there were suggestions he was "not right" during the second half, but coach Chris Scott would not have taken any risk with Dangerfield's well-being.

"Oh, that hurt," Sloane said. "I did my best to stand up and he's got such a strong body. He is such an unbelievable player and obviously I am great mates with him. I respect him so much.

"I love the way he goes [about his football], and I feel for him now. We both went in and that's the way we both play our footy, and that's what I love about this footy too.

"The feeling halfway through the last quarter was indescribable. I have played nine years of footy and some guys longer.

"There are guys on the list who have missed out over the years as well. I certainly feel for them because these opportunities don't come around very often.

Sloane admitted there had been times during this two-year journey under Pyke when he had moments of doubt whether they could make a grand final.

"I don't think you are human if you don't have doubts," Sloane said. "You get nervous like anyone else coming into games like this. It's just your ability to time yourself and not burn up too much energy early in the week.

"We'll make sure we recover early and focus on our footy. I am really looking forward to some good training sessions."