THERE'S nothing like a good story of redemption and last Friday night Adelaide wrote the first chapter in, what Reds fans hope, is a long story of courage and resilience leading to ultimate success.

Of course every story needs its characters and the game against the Mariners threw us at least three worth following through to the next page. Firstly there was...

....The Selfish Giant. Mark Rudan had the guts to admit that he should have paid admission to his first game in a Red shirt, such was the extent of his influence on the match. He was right. Like every fallen hero he then proceeded to pick himself up, dust himself off and start all over again.

Against  Phoenix he got into gear and last Friday he became the Selfish Giant that Adelaide fans had been hoping he'd prove to be.

Always an intimidating presence he was a rock at the back and gave absolutely nothing away to the yellow clad children who were playing in his garden. For those who don't know it, Oscar Wilde's deeply romantic and beautifully written children's story of the same name is all about redemption. Welcome to the Red, Mark, you're on your way into our hearts.

Then, just as you thought the Adelaide attacking story was turning to farce, along came the 'Wham, bam, holy free-kicks', Dynamic Duo, Cassio and Dodd.

Even Craig Foster, the man who thinks he knows all about football (and maybe he does), went so far as to say that Adelaide are a different team with Dodd on the park. He may not have been at his sparkling best and he may have missed a goal from a distance less than the length of a Apis Mellifera's phallus (a bee's dick) but he made one hell of a difference to the attacking thrust and morale of the team.

As for Cassio, after his much reported falling out with Viddie, he proceeded to bring Hindmarsh alive with his footballing brilliance, his heart-on-his-sleeve attitude and his pure joy in scoring the winner.

This was the Prodigal Son returning and killing the calf for his own welcome home dinner. I doubt there was a single fan in the house who wasn't pleased to see the little man with the number six on his back. A terrific counter to the quiet, slightly distant, brilliance of Dodd, Cassio brings animation, exuberance and fire to, what has been this year, a somewhat beige United.

Along with Owusu and Pantelis, Adelaide's own Dynamic Duo showed us for 45 mins just what was possible if we choose to attack. And attack we need to do this Friday when we 'welcome'  (and I use that word most loosely) Melbourne Victory to Hindmarsh.

To say we owe Victory a thrashing is like suggesting that a woman who's been pregnant for 18 months is ready to give birth. Let's face it, this is long overdue.

 I'm not brave enough to say it'll happen but it couldn't have been set up better, could it? Adelaide is starting to look like a team again. Melbourne is looking like anything but. That old Bluebeard Kevin Muscat, is probably going to be leading them out again and we're all hoping he'll be slain by our brothers in arms.

I mean to say, what would be the point of beating Victory without Muscat playing? Half the fun? Not even that.