Round2: Adelaide vs St Kilda @ AAMI

[Interceptor]

Crows need to go back to basics with their game plan. They were exposed through the middle of the ground tonight and spent too much time on the flanks and wings. Young fowards are going to struggle with high kicks coming in from the flanks against experienced backman so Craig needed use the middle alot better then he did.

Things just fell apart under the pressure applied by the Saints.

Too many short handballs to players in poor positions, trying to set up the perfect play.
Only in the 3rd qtr was there some reasonable run and carry that was more effective.

[brod]

Bar the obvious, I thought that Maric had a good night out, but it has to be somewhat of a concern that Maric, very inexperienced player is playing majority of game in the ruck and has only Tippett as backup. The use of Tippett in the middle then exposes further the lack of options in the Crows forward line, Porps cant always be the marking option, and it will take Walker time (as shown tonight).

Otten does lots of very positive things, as shown tonight, but the mistakes that he makes aloways seem to be glaring and quite often costly (as they are playing in that position)

[FD88]

I'd like to get the umpiring issue out of the way without ripping anyone's head off because we had our opportunities regardless to change the dynamic of the game and failed to capitalise. So, 30-11. They had almost triple the number of free kicks. If the Crows fielded a notoriously undisciplined unit then perhaps you could mount an argument for all of those being there, but that is not the case. There were some truly bizarre decisions tonight and they didn't come at the best of times. There were a couple where the free kick was taken a fair way from the contest; closer to goal; that I'm still scratching my head over. The free to Tippett for a push in the back was a shocker, but it was about the only "controversial" one I can remember going our way. A lot of decisions went uncalled too - Dangerfield being held in a marking contest inside 50, Tippett being grabbed by the arm and pulled back from the contest, and the umpire a few metres away acts as if nothing happened. Strange night from the men in green.

Anyway this game is a sobering reminder that we're not a genuinely good side yet. We came up against a mature outfit - they've got established, big-bodied players in nearly every important position on the ground and they hurt us with their presence at each contest. I walked away again feeling good about the state of the club though, because we are seeing some kids emerge in this team who will give us the best chance we've had in years to take us to the next level. Dangerfield, Walker, Petrenko, Otten, they're all looking the goods. The nous of Otten in defense and Dangerfield's class in congestion were on show for all to see; both made errors but that's part of the development process. We saw Danger use his speed out in the open on one occasion tonight and it was glorious stuff, but the thing that sticks out to me is that as a teenage kid he's able to get to his feet when being tackled by multiple opposition players, and more often than not get the footy out. Very few midfielders I can think of were doing that at Patty's age.

I'd like to dedicate this paragraph to (Sir) Taylor Walker. What a talent he is. One thing you notice watching him live is how easily he can lose his opponent, you can see how he so regularly appeared to be running free at SANFL level. Unfortunately with the pressure our midfield was under we couldn't give him quality supply too often. He needs to improve his workrate over four quarters (his third was easily his best in this respect and the stat sheet should back that up) but geez, so so much to look forward to and his kicking action is poetry in motion.

Petrenko was up against it after copping a knock early in the game but he picked himself up and produced some classy moments throughout the night. I love players who combine toughness with explosive pace and that's him to a tee. He is just so nippy around the contest and makes good decisions in confined spaces which is absolutely paramount in today's footy.

Of our seasoned campaigners Edwards, Bock and Johncock stood out to me. Bock is pretty much the best key defender in the competition now imo. He took honours over Riewoldt tonight and racked up a lazy 29 disposals, I mean, what more could you want. Meanwhile Edwards just keeps on keeping on and once again, while someone like him is up and about our kids have a fine example to follow.

I had my doubts about how well Johncock would go tonight but those were put to rest very quickly. Play like that every week this year and it's AA honours for him.

So yeah, not the result we were looking for but there is real promise in our group going forward.

[brod]

Thought that dangerfield showed small glimpses of why the Crows put the effort in. The way he stood up in a couple of tackles, or gather possession was simply classy.

[NFC]

I'll post more when I'm less tired but Dangerfield WILL be a dead set freak! He is amazingly strong, the amount of times he stood up in tackles and broke free was amazing. He will definitely not be dropped for next week after Craig pumped up his performance after the game!

[FD88]

I'll post more when I'm less tired but Dangerfield WILL be a dead set freak! He is amazingly strong, the amount of times he stood up in tackles and broke free was amazing. He will definitely not be dropped for next week after Craig pumped up his performance after the game!

He is scary. It's an alien feeling knowing that we've got a midfielder of his quality on our list. And T Walker, he will rip at least one game apart this season I feel.

[brod]

I'll post more when I'm less tired but Dangerfield WILL be a dead set freak! He is amazingly strong, the amount of times he stood up in tackles and broke free was amazing. He will definitely not be dropped for next week after Craig pumped up his performance after the game!

He is scary. It's an alien feeling knowing that we've got a midfielder of his quality on our list. And T Walker, he will rip at least one game apart this season I feel.

Hope there is no yellow on his jumper when he does

[FD88]

On the negative side, pressure must be starting to mount on Douglas. After an impressive game last week he has failed to crack the 10 possession mark or register any majors. With Cook waiting in the wings and Jacky apparently playing well for the Eagles today there's no shortage of options waiting for a gig.

[brod]

On the negative side, pressure must be starting to mount on Douglas. After an impressive game last week he has failed to crack the 10 possession mark or register any majors; with Cook waiting in the wings and Jacky apparently playing well for the Eagles today there's no shortage of options waiting for a gig.

Made a couple of really poor decisions, especially without the ball defensively

[The Sleeping Giant]

And Sydney happily pass the baton as the most boring team in the AFL.

[NFC]

You absolute idiot, get off this board.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Thanks for the welcome.

[NFC]

If you want to come on the Crows board and post rubbish then you get what you deserve. Don't act all high and mighty.

[The Sleeping Giant]

You get away with it.

[Felch]

Ottens is very Marty Mattner-like - anyone else agree ?

I like the way Ottens finds the footy, but i found myself cringing at times with his disposal and decision making. Doesn't seem to have alot of awareness about him either. Hopefully that develops with time.

[JK]

Fair post Felch and I agree, decision making looks a concern but thats to be expected from a kid trying to come to grips with the pace and intensity at that level ... I thought he acquitted himself pretty well on Friday night despite one of two costly moments of confusion.

I didn't rate the kid at all on what I saw last season, but on this years performances thus far I think he certainly has the potential to be a player.

[NFC]

Fair post Felch and I agree, decision making looks a concern but thats to be expected from a kid trying to come to grips with the pace and intensity at that level ... I thought he acquitted himself pretty well on Friday night despite one of two costly moments of confusion.

I didn't rate the kid at all on what I saw last season, but on this years performances thus far I think he certainly has the potential to be a player.

Identical thoughs CP. I didn't think much of him last season but so far in 2009 he's been impressive. I don't like his intensity, hardness and lack of awareness but he has some fine attributes. Can find a stack of the footy and when he gets more confidence I see him as a 25 possession per week kind of guy. He has good height, is actually reasonably quick and is agile. He can play virtually all over the ground and eventually he'll play as a tall midfielder who can harm with his overhead marking. He's learning his trade in defence but I see him pushing further up the ground in time. He has got to work on his strength/hardness though.

[Footy Smart]

Fair post Felch and I agree, decision making looks a concern but thats to be expected from a kid trying to come to grips with the pace and intensity at that level ... I thought he acquitted himself pretty well on Friday night despite one of two costly moments of confusion.

I didn't rate the kid at all on what I saw last season, but on this years performances thus far I think he certainly has the potential to be a player.

Agree Cp he must work on his conetested marking... he got out marked by schnieder and anotehr smaller opponant.... just didnt go hard enough but very impressed with his first half in particular

[cokadonkeytoo]

Now in an avid crows supporter and what i saw on friday night troubled me, theres too much handball in footy, and then theres TOO much handball in footy and the crows were the biggest culpritts. I think its going to be a very long season for us if we continue to have a gameplan that promotes so much handball. There were a few times where we broke the lines with the initial couple of handballs then proceed to either handball again sideways or behind. Now ive played a bit of footy and i do believe its a cardinal sin to handball BACKWARDS. Look at the high flying teams in the comp at the moment, Geelong - Mooney/Gamble/Hawkins/Lonergan, Hawthorn - Franklin/Roughead/Williams, Carlton - Fevola, Sydney - Hall/O'Loughlin, Stkilda - Riewoldt/Koschitske, they all look to inside 50 as soon as they near the centre circle. Now the crows are very skilled in the way they rebound out of defense but fall so terribly hard when they fart arse around with handball and chip kicks to find a good option inside the attacking 50. Now i know we dont have the calibre of the forwards that i have mentioned above but why dont we start developing these kids into superstar players, and its definately possible with Tippett, Walker and Hentschell (if Ok).
Adelaide were written off at the start of the year as a bottom four side, and if we persist with this strategy of handball, handball, handball (sideways), handball, bomb inside fifty, rebounded for an opposition goal we will finish in that very spot. How about we start playing a much more direct game and throw our forwards to the wolves because they will improve so much quicker than at present. Every forward will tell you that its so much better to have the ball delivered quickly so that defences cant strenghten with numbers, and unfortunately the crows seem to be flying against 2/3 opposition players 75 - 80% of the time. Is it time for a change in hierachy, i dont think so, but maybe Craigy needs to do a bit of adjusting, we do have a good list so we need to start using it.
Finally, even if the free kick count was 30 - 11 the crows way we still wouldve lost!

[JK]

I don't think the amount of handball we saw on Friday night is what the Crows are trying to deliver, it's more a byproduct of their style/plan that can occur when a team really get's them good and proper with man-on-man footy ... Problem is, many teams are good at playing in that manner so we could see a few repeats of the overuse.

To my mind the style the Crows are trying to play might pinch a few wins here and there, but by design it's first priority, is to avoid copping a hiding ... The theory being the longer you have the ball, the less time the opposition has to score - It clearly didn't provide for quick or beneficial movement to the forward targets, nor get there quick enough to prevent the Saints from clogging the area.

Unlike the week before when the Crows had some good run and delivery opportunities ahead of centre, they were well and truly choked on Friday night and naturally you'd expect to see more of the same from opposition teams who would have duly noted it's success.

Still, for mine the objective for the Crows this season doesn't change .. See which kids can emerge through this period and further their game on the big stage.