Last Friday the Red Army kicked off the excitement with a fantastic march to Adelaide Oval. I didn't witness it but my brother was in the city and said that everyone simply stopped in their tracks as the RA came through. Kudos to those who marched - it had an impact. There's no question that football has found a legitimate place for itself in the Adelaide mainstream and continues to grow.

What better example of that than the 21,000 who turned up to see us beat our new, blue bunnies at the Oval?

I'll be honest. I've been to two previous AO games and I hated the experience. I love Hindmarsh. It's a real football ground that's the right size for the A-League at the moment. This time, however, I wasn't on the hill or by the sideline. I went early and got seats in the eastern stands near the halfway mark. Just as I do at Hindmarsh. I sat with a mate in the covered stands and....it went off!

What a difference a roof makes. Halfway line fans are usually pretty quiet. We bullshit ourselves that we're tactical geniuses and applaud or deride the mistakes made by players and coaches who don't have the benefit of sitting 20 metres above contradiction. Sure, we scream and shout a bit (or in my case - a lot) but most of the noise goes straight up into the uncovered air.

Not last Friday. The stand roofs and the temporary stand floors made a wonderful amplifier and the eastern stands were going wild. It was a magnificent experience. Melbourne fans have the weekly excitement of their loud and proud 'active' support so they know what noise is. Adelaide fans can sit close to the loyal and loud Red Army- but most don't - so this was new. Even my mate, who is not a demonstrative person, was getting right into it.

And why not? The hoodoo is well and truly lifted with home and away wins against Victory. It was a good game. Victory played well but we played just that bit better. And it was clean. And the structure of the win (1-0, 1-1, 2-1 at just the right times) made for a nail-biting, throat-thrashing, fist-pumping experience. For those of us who couldn't afford to see us destroy the Victory in Melbourne this was all the sweeter.

Long may the rivalry continue.

And quickly may the plans be made to put a roof over the north, south and eastern ends of Hindmarsh. Note to stadium owners: If you want to fill the stadium every week then make it a cauldron of noise. People will get addicted. It's a 'football' thing.

That's the 'Stand' bit. Now the 'Deliver'.

Reds fans like the word "chokers" almost as much as Greg Norman did in his prime. We have pre-season trophies and a 'real' premiership but we have been in three grand finals without taking home the beribboned cup. It's time to deliver.

Most people have already given the silverware to Brisbane and their 'Lazarus with a smarmy sneer' coach, Ange Postecoglou. I don't think it's that simple. In this strange (I didn't say stupid) finals system we have in Australia, anything can happen.

There are four teams capable of winning the toilet seat. I may be proven wrong but I don't think Gold Coast can and I doubt the Phoenix will survive this Friday.

That leaves Brisbane (outright favourites), the Mariners (if Perez fires and they remember their scoring touch), Victory (who are coming into form just at the right time and have lost their dead-weight) - and our beloved REDS.

After a second half of the season slump the REDS have picked up new players and have almost all their stalwarts up and running. The return of Matthew Leckie is a bonus almost immeasurable in potency. He hasn't yet hit his straps. But he will. Even the enigmatic Travis Dodd (great goal last week, Trav) is looking lively. More on him later. Of course we have the incredible Flores, Cassio and Sergio. And Rini. God bless Rini.

Could it be our year? In a word...yes.

Adelaide are inconsistent, there's no question about that. Injuries and starting eleven changes have been a thorn in our side. If we lose to Phoenix on Friday not too many of us would be surprised. Gutted maybe, but not surprised. If we beat them 6-0 we'd also not be too stunned. Happier though!

The thing is, on our day we're unstoppable. This year has been a joy, whatever happens now. We've seen some incredible football from our team and levels of skill and speed we haven't witnessed at Hindmarsh before. Players have lifted and  tactics have changed. We still play a counter-attack brand of football but both the team and the fans now believe we can win - and win well.

Can we defeat Wellington, Melbourne and Central Coast to get to the final? Yes, we can. Will we? I think so. If we do it'll set up a mouth-watering final between the slick, fast and confident Brisbane and the enigmatic, magical and robust Adelaide. Brisbane will be confident but inexperienced. Adelaide will be desperate and canny. If we get there we'll win it.

But all this starts this Friday against an improving NZ outfit. They'll actually think they can win. They did a couple of weeks ago. Best of luck, lads, but I think you'll be racking up Frequent Flyer points on your holidays after this week.

Now, Captain Travis. A word in private if I might. Trav, you're an unbelievable player at times. But not all the time. You're a truly decent bloke and a club legend. You're a quiet captain. I don't know what's going through your mind at the moment. I don't know if you think the club and the fans want you to stay. I know I'd like to see you in Red next year. And whatever you do you'll always be respected and welcome at Hindmarsh. All I ask is that, if you're going you go out as captain of a winning team - and that through this finals series you treat the captaincy as a unifying influence. The fans look to you to say and do the right thing. You always have. See us through.

And one last note to Rini. Sign Paul Reid. When he plays, we play. When he gone, so - too often - is the team.

Roll on Friday.