R21 - Adelaide v Geelong

[OnSong]

Again, the attacking game style almost nets us another win.

Sure, the lads bodge it up far too often at the moment to be a premiership threat but the run and carry from defence is a throwback to yesteryear.

Even without Rutten, our defence held up well in several tough scenarios and overall, I think the Crows played the better footy.

That's a bit biased, I know, but I honestly think we were better than them on the day, the Cats just too efficient going forward for us to win.

Sloane, Armstrong, Petrenko, Riley, McKernan all really good. Vince also popped up enough and if we can sneak Callinan back in there for some class and poise and Tippett for some forward potency, it would be a nice finish to the season.

[hawks21]

I agree i thought we had more of the ball and controlled most of the game.

The 1st half turn overs killed us IMO, they scored from 5 or 6 turn overs and took a half time lead. Also our delivery into the forward 50 in the 1st quarter especially was very poor.

Our attack and pressure on the ball carrier was the most impressive thing (Aiden Reilys tackle on Ottens comes to mind)

Alot of possitives out of the game and i expect a good win next week.

[OnSong]

I agree i thought we had more of the ball and controlled most of the game.

The 1st half turn overs killed us IMO, they scored from 5 or 6 turn overs and took a half time lead. Also our delivery into the forward 50 in the 1st quarter especially was very poor.

Our attack and pressure on the ball carrier was the most impressive thing (Aiden Reilys tackle on Ottens comes to mind)

Alot of possitives out of the game and i expect a good win next week.

That was Matty Wright I reckon, the spear tackle?

[Footy Smart]

I agree i thought we had more of the ball and controlled most of the game.

The 1st half turn overs killed us IMO, they scored from 5 or 6 turn overs and took a half time lead. Also our delivery into the forward 50 in the 1st quarter especially was very poor.

Our attack and pressure on the ball carrier was the most impressive thing (Aiden Reilys tackle on Ottens comes to mind)

Alot of possitives out of the game and i expect a good win next week.

That was Matty Wright I reckon, the spear tackle?

Def Aiden, was right in front of us. Bloke is a bull!

[Gingernuts]

Reasons why I got my moneys worth yesterday:

- Riley's spear tackle on Ottens, and the general tackling intensity all game.
- Talia's 1:1 contested work.
- McKernan's contested marking.
- Walker's goal from 60m.
- The run and carry through the guts, brilliant stuff. Armstrong's courage in taking the game on was brilliant to watch.
- Sloane's in and under work. Gee he's kamakaze at times though. lol

Riley is a fair unit already, another couple pre-seasons into that frame and he will be imposing.

Bickley and co are going to find it a little bit tough at the selection table this week. Tippett & Callinan to come in, will be very difficult to drop anyone. Probably Maric & Smith to get the chop I would say, both very unlucky (Maric in particular has really surprised me in the last couple of weeks, was very good again yesterday).

The forward structure will also be the talking point. I would go Tippett at CHF, with Walker at FF and Callinan and Wright in the pockets for crumbs and forward pressure. After so long thinking the best set up was Walker at CHF and Tippett at FF, I'm now thinking Tippett's workrate would be better used up the ground, with Walker's x-factor staying closer to goal.

[Sojourner]

Sorry FS I did mean to say Mckernan!

On the flip side, I dont think Bickley should be worried about dropping players from that side to give others a go, that is what the rest of this season is all about, Callinan played some pretty good footy before he was injured and deserves his chance to have a go and cement his case for next season.

Doughty is one player the Crows could look at resting this week, despite the rest of the side playing much better, I for one did not think he set the world on fire with his game on Sunday.

[Footy Smart]

Sorry FS I did mean to say Mckernan!

On the flip side, I dont think Bickley should be worried about dropping players from that side to give others a go, that is what the rest of this season is all about, Callinan played some pretty good footy before he was injured and deserves his chance to have a go and cement his case for next season.

Doughty is one player the Crows could look at resting this week, despite the rest of the side playing much better, I for one did not think he set the world on fire with his game on Sunday.

I would rest Smith - first year and to play as much as he has is a positive and Maric - would keep him on the list as back up for sure.

Douglas also played this weekend, does he come back in?

[hawks21]

Reasons why I got my moneys worth yesterday:

- Riley's spear tackle on Ottens, and the general tackling intensity all game.
- Talia's 1:1 contested work.
- McKernan's contested marking.
- Walker's goal from 60m.
- The run and carry through the guts, brilliant stuff. Armstrong's courage in taking the game on was brilliant to watch.
- Sloane's in and under work. Gee he's kamakaze at times though. lol

Riley is a fair unit already, another couple pre-seasons into that frame and he will be imposing.

Bickley and co are going to find it a little bit tough at the selection table this week. Tippett & Callinan to come in, will be very difficult to drop anyone. Probably Maric & Smith to get the chop I would say, both very unlucky (Maric in particular has really surprised me in the last couple of weeks, was very good again yesterday).

The forward structure will also be the talking point. I would go Tippett at CHF, with Walker at FF and Callinan and Wright in the pockets for crumbs and forward pressure. After so long thinking the best set up was Walker at CHF and Tippett at FF, I'm now thinking Tippett's workrate would be better used up the ground, with Walker's x-factor staying closer to goal.

While brilliant when it came off, we did turn the ball over by hand and foot way to much through the middle which resulted in Geelong goals. However, the only way we will get better at this is by persisting and learning from all these mistakes. keep doing it i say!

Tippet comes back in this week for Maric. No need to change the forward line structure, just a 1 for 1. This way walker stays where he has been playing for the last 3 weeks!

Tough selection, they might give Douglas/Calinan 1 more in the SANFL

[Gingernuts]

Forgot about Douglas! You're right, Tippett may be the only change this week yet.

[Hefty]

Awesome game of footy to watch.....intensity at it's highest.

36 touches for Sloane this bloke is going to be a gun!! And Daniel Tallia was super impressive......get a bit more bulk on over the pre-season and the signs look promising.....Phil Who??

[CUTTERMAN]

Riley's tackle on Ottens was hard at the waist with his shoulder, wasn't a spear tackle. That was Wright, wasn't really a spear tackle the Geelong player leaped, Wright didn't lift him, I though the decision was a bit harsh.

[OnSong]

Yeah, it's not a spear like the rugby definition but like in wrestling circles, where the tackler is almost horizontal flying into the opponent (thus, like a spear).

Example (poor American version) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-r_KDQ6-Bw

[bulldog2004]

The best part about Adelaides game last night was the pressure applied. Aiden Rileys tackles on Ottens was awesome and so was Petrenkos chase down on Joel Corey.

[NFC]

Again, the attacking game style almost nets us another win.

Sure, the lads bodge it up far too often at the moment to be a premiership threat but the run and carry from defence is a throwback to yesteryear.

Even without Rutten, our defence held up well in several tough scenarios and overall, I think the Crows played the better footy.

That's a bit biased, I know, but I honestly think we were better than them on the day, the Cats just too efficient going forward for us to win.

Sloane, Armstrong, Petrenko, Riley, McKernan all really good. Vince also popped up enough and if we can sneak Callinan back in there for some class and poise and Tippett for some forward potency, it would be a nice finish to the season.

Excellent post!! We just lack the polish, but the attacking, risk taking game plan is brilliant and a joy to watch, so refreshing after seeing Craigy's game plan for so long.

As I said, just the polish was lacking, that's all, but we have a lot of good young kids in key positions to get us excited for the future!

[Mad Mat]

Forgot about Douglas! You're right, Tippett may be the only change this week yet.

Douglas was very good on Saturday against Sturt. Also had the bonus of having Bickley watching him.

[Footy Smart]

Watched the replay last night, and forgot when Dangerfield ran away from Wojinski from a standing start.... See ya later! Was great to see him take it on like that!

[Gingernuts]

Watched the replay last night, and forgot when Dangerfield ran away from Wojinski from a standing start.... See ya later! Was great to see him take it on like that!

Great highlight! I re-watched it Monday night and the thing I got out of it was how well Knights played, I think people's criticism is actually a bit unfair IMO. He was in the thick of it in the middle, and quite often a link man when running the ball out of defence. If only he could find his raking left boot again!

[Footy Smart]

Watched the replay last night, and forgot when Dangerfield ran away from Wojinski from a standing start.... See ya later! Was great to see him take it on like that!

Great highlight! I re-watched it Monday night and the thing I got out of it was how well Knights played, I think people's criticism is actually a bit unfair IMO. He was in the thick of it in the middle, and quite often a link man when running the ball out of defence. If only he could find his raking left boot again!

See i watched it again and found even more errors and the fact he is soft as melted butter He worked hard back into defence, yes. But he was slow to react and turned the footy over by hand, foot and/or being tackled ie. Bad handball to Smac which resulted in chappy goal, not contesting the mark against Vardy (1st qtr) numerous turnovers, running(lumbering) through the centre tackled by Harry taylor/turnover goal to stevie J. His work rate is there but hurting us due to his minimal efficiency

[Gingernuts]

Watched the replay last night, and forgot when Dangerfield ran away from Wojinski from a standing start.... See ya later! Was great to see him take it on like that!

Great highlight! I re-watched it Monday night and the thing I got out of it was how well Knights played, I think people's criticism is actually a bit unfair IMO. He was in the thick of it in the middle, and quite often a link man when running the ball out of defence. If only he could find his raking left boot again!

See i watched it again and found even more errors and the fact he is soft as melted butter He worked hard back into defence, yes. But he was slow to react and turned the footy over by hand, foot and/or being tackled ie. Bad handball to Smac which resulted in chappy goal, not contesting the mark against Vardy (1st qtr) numerous turnovers, running(lumbering) through the centre tackled by Harry taylor/turnover goal to stevie J. His work rate is there but hurting us due to his minimal efficiency

Well, I didn't think his errors were any more or less noticable than anyone elses - we'll have to agree to disagree on this one I think.

I guess the question is - is his fitness situation a permanent one or just a side effect of an injury plagued couple of years? Could he recapture 2009 if he has an injury free pre-season? He's only 24 isn't he? Surely his hammys can't be that shot yet.

[Brodlach]

Watched the replay last night, and forgot when Dangerfield ran away from Wojinski from a standing start.... See ya later! Was great to see him take it on like that!

Great highlight! I re-watched it Monday night and the thing I got out of it was how well Knights played, I think people's criticism is actually a bit unfair IMO. He was in the thick of it in the middle, and quite often a link man when running the ball out of defence. If only he could find his raking left boot again!

Agree, the way he burnt off Wojo was impressive but the kick went over the head of the leading forward.