Who is on the chopping block?

[Dogwatcher]

I think the Bullies would have a very different opinion of Hudson's performance this year Psyber.
I do agree on Welsh though.

[JK]

Neil Craig .

His finals record as a coach is terrible . The players just dont respond to his coaching style and he hasnt moved with the times relying on defensive , tempo football .

Might of been a different story 2008 with Ben Hudson , Scott Welsh & Marty Mattner still in the 22. Not a wise move Craigy.

Ah the Crows have lost, Hafey's back....

Yeah, and I don't think any of the three were any more outstanding with the new clubs.
Hudson performed better for the Crows than he did with the Bullies - presumably the "off field issues" were better controlled before he decided he was a star, and irreplacable.
Welsh is in the Jericho class - patchy performer and front-runner.
Mattner was a useful player, but patchy, and I think Symes more than replaced him.

Thought Hudson had yet another good season with the Doggies, just as good as those he contributed at AFC ... Interestingly the AFL experts mentioned over the weekend, that the Dogs had remarked about his off-field activity as "now we know what the Crows had to contend with" (think it might have been Footy Classified last night).

Welsh has been a solid AFL player, but the years and injuries are rapidly catching up with him, still would have played 22 games at Adelaide this year I think, but the point is that none of the 3 were going to be important to the Crow's future.

[Hafey]

Those 3 mentioned would walk into the current starting 18.

Now is the time for the Crows to be proactive and axe Craig and bring in 'Lethal' Leigh Matthews, but thats the Crows problem .. they are not ruthless enough and are happy just to make a healthy profit every year.

[Psyber]

I have been waiting for the Crows to stop playing at FF guys who are not big enough, strong enough, fit enough, or quick enough, and can only succeed when delivery is near perfect. Welsh was one of those. He kicked a few bags when the Crow's midfield was on top and delivering well, and scored very little in difficult games. He may have been more productive on a HFF.

[Browny25]

Neil Craig .

His finals record as a coach is terrible . The players just dont respond to his coaching style and he hasnt moved with the times relying on defensive , tempo football .

Might of been a different story 2008 with Ben Hudson , Scott Welsh & Marty Mattner still in the 22. Not a wise move Craigy.

Here here, I couldn't have said it better myself!!!
The scientist may know how to get his players into finals contention, but when it comes to winning finals, he fails as bad as Chris McDermott's articles!

Crows will not, repeat, will not win a premiership under the lead guidance of Neil Craig.

Put him back in his place as an Assistant Coach or Rehab Coach!

Easy to say that now...

[Psyber]

Those 3 mentioned would walk into the current starting 18.
Now is the time for the Crows to be proactive and axe Craig and bring in 'Lethal' Leigh Matthews, but thats the Crows problem .. they are not ruthless enough and are happy just to make a healthy profit every year.

Hudson may have been useful, but I really don't think the other two have been missed much. Obviously Welsh would have been used had he been there, in view of the other injuries in the team, but he isn't consistently good enough to be the answer at FF any more than Burton, Goodwin, or Jericho were. All are medium sized players who can succeed when delivery is good. None of them is a Franklin, Fevola, or Pavlich.

Leigh Matthews isn't the answer either. The Crows are "not ruthless enough", but a few "name" players and a "name" coach won't do it. There needs to be a philosophical change throughout the hierarchy, like the one Malcolm Blight forced on them when he accepted the coaching position in the 1990s.

I do agree that I don't see them winning a premiership under Neil Craig without him changing his approach, and I'm doubtful that he can.

[Sojourner]

After having heard this a few times and at first dismissing it, I do wonder if maybe Nathan Buckley might be the man to coach the Crows?

[Psyber]

After having heard this a few times and at first dismissing it, I do wonder if maybe Nathan Buckley might be the man to coach the Crows?

I've heard his comments and read his columns. He would be worth looking at for the job if he is available when it is...

[the joker]

With talk in the Sunday Mail this morning from both Rod Jamieson & Chris McDermott that the Crows need a clean out who does everyone think the Crows will delist or offer up for trade?

Ken McGregor looks all but gone but I think that the following players will come under scrutiny and could be offered up as trade bait: -

Kris Massie
Rob Shirley
Luke Jericho
Chris Knights
Graham Johncock
Brett Reilly
Michael Doughty
James Sellar
Trent Hentschel

you should add Bryce Campbell to that list, you gotta think his spot is far from safe. but Shirley,Knights,Doughty (who had a career best year),hentschel will all be there next year and deserve to. Radar is the interesting one, is one of my favourate players but could be up for trade but the crows would want nothing less than a first round pick

[GWW]

They may want nothing less than a first round pick for Reilly but I'd be quite surprised if they got it.

[Psyber]

Shirley, Knights, Doughty, Hentschel will stay, and I think Massie will too.
Massie is less of a worry in the back pocket than Johncock is - not as specky, but not as erratic, so he'll keep his spot unless Edwards moves back there.
Goodwin's future has to be uncertain - he has been chronically carrying injury this year - but I don't think they'd delist or trade him.
Perhaps he could be Bassett's replacement in the back pocket if he comes up, as it looks like Stevens should get a forward pocket.

[JK]

Shirley, Knights, Doughty, Hentschel will stay, and I think Massie will too.
Massie is less of a worry in the back pocket than Johncock is - not as specky, but not as erratic, so he'll keep his spot unless Edwards moves back there.
Goodwin's future has to be uncertain - he has been chronically carrying injury this year - but I don't think they'd delist or trade him.
Perhaps he could be Bassett's replacement in the back pocket if he comes up, as it looks like Stevens should get a forward pocket.

Stevens will remain a utility at Adelaide, a swingman if you like for defensive matchups earning some minutes up forward when the Crows are looking impotent in attack.

I agree that the first 4 are likely to remain at this stage ... Someone like Knights would only leave via trade, certainly wouldn't be cut.

Mass would have to be in strife I reckon, given whats happened with Hart, Torney and Bassett in recent years and all clubs looking to be very active in final pre-GC17 draft.

Similarly Johncock wouldn't be going anywhere unless it's via trade.

[RustyCage]

Shirley, Knights, Doughty, Hentschel will stay, and I think Massie will too.
Massie is less of a worry in the back pocket than Johncock is - not as specky, but not as erratic, so he'll keep his spot unless Edwards moves back there.
Goodwin's future has to be uncertain - he has been chronically carrying injury this year - but I don't think they'd delist or trade him.
Perhaps he could be Bassett's replacement in the back pocket if he comes up, as it looks like Stevens should get a forward pocket.

Stevens will remain a utility at Adelaide, a swingman if you like for defensive matchups earning some minutes up forward when the Crows are looking impotent in attack.

I agree that the first 4 are likely to remain at this stage ... Someone like Knights would only leave via trade, certainly wouldn't be cut.

Mass would have to be in strife I reckon, given whats happened with Hart, Torney and Bassett in recent years and all clubs looking to be very active in final pre-GC17 draft.

Similarly Johncock wouldn't be going anywhere unless it's via trade.

Stiffy has asked to be traded to the Power. At a guess I'd say Surjan would be a part of the trade. Id love Stiffy to come back home but Id be disappointed to lose Surj, one of my favourite Port players.

[magpie in the 80's]

Shirley, Knights, Doughty, Hentschel will stay, and I think Massie will too.
Massie is less of a worry in the back pocket than Johncock is - not as specky, but not as erratic, so he'll keep his spot unless Edwards moves back there.
Goodwin's future has to be uncertain - he has been chronically carrying injury this year - but I don't think they'd delist or trade him.
Perhaps he could be Bassett's replacement in the back pocket if he comes up, as it looks like Stevens should get a forward pocket.

Stevens will remain a utility at Adelaide, a swingman if you like for defensive matchups earning some minutes up forward when the Crows are looking impotent in attack.

I agree that the first 4 are likely to remain at this stage ... Someone like Knights would only leave via trade, certainly wouldn't be cut.

Mass would have to be in strife I reckon, given whats happened with Hart, Torney and Bassett in recent years and all clubs looking to be very active in final pre-GC17 draft.

Similarly Johncock wouldn't be going anywhere unless it's via trade.

Stiffy has asked to be traded to the Power. At a guess I'd say Surjan would be a part of the trade. Id love Stiffy to come back home but Id be disappointed to lose Surj, one of my favourite Port players.

All fabricated says his manager

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

[Psyber]

... Stiffy has asked to be traded to the Power. At a guess I'd say Surjan would be a part of the trade. Id love Stiffy to come back home but Id be disappointed to lose Surj, one of my favourite Port players.

Surjan, plus Cassisi, [and the unwanted kid Thomson is it?] would probably clinch it. Struggling to think of anyone else to consider ....

[NFC]

McGregor
Bassett
Biglands
Jericho
Gallman
Gill
Campbell

IMO all will go, Campbell harsh as he showed good signs but was then dropped so it would appear he is not in their future plans. Gallman hasn't shown enough, Jericho been given long enough and still hasn't proved anything, Bassett and Biglands already retired. McGregor too slow for the AFL, and Gill because he's injury prone and too erratic.

Massie, Shirley and Edwards are the next that will find themselves in trouble.

Doughty, Sellar, Johncock, Knights and Reilly are all safe. Why the heck would anyone want to get rid of Knights? Elite midfielder in the making IMO. All Reilly needs is a bit of luck. Sellar not convincing but only 19 and will be given 1 more year to show improvement. Doughty top 3 in B&F, no way he's going. And Stiffy, he stays, too good when in form.

[Hafey]

On Johncock , the word from inside the Crows camp is they want him gone as much as Port are keen to secure his services. Like a few others before him there has been some off field incidents and a noticeable attitude change in 2008.

They want as much as they can get for him now ( player trade wise ) before the wheels fall off and his value plummets.

Only Ken McGregor will be delisted at this stage. Neil Craig doesnt like to play around with his list too much and is investing alot in these younger guys like Sellar , Knights , Reily & Jericho .

[JK]

McGregor
Bassett
Biglands
Jericho
Gallman
Gill
Campbell

IMO all will go, Campbell harsh as he showed good signs but was then dropped so it would appear he is not in their future plans. Gallman hasn't shown enough, Jericho been given long enough and still hasn't proved anything, Bassett and Biglands already retired. McGregor too slow for the AFL, and Gill because he's injury prone and too erratic.

Massie, Shirley and Edwards are the next that will find themselves in trouble.

Doughty, Sellar, Johncock, Knights and Reilly are all safe. Why the heck would anyone want to get rid of Knights? Elite midfielder in the making IMO. All Reilly needs is a bit of luck. Sellar not convincing but only 19 and will be given 1 more year to show improvement. Doughty top 3 in B&F, no way he's going. And Stiffy, he stays, too good when in form.

You reckon they'll get rid of Gilly?!?! He's their best/only lead up forward ... Thats just plumb craxy loco muchacho!!!

[RoosterMarty]

I think it's 50/50 at this stage on Gilly. He should get another year though as he did improve our forwardline a lot. If you get rid of him then you are relying on Hentschel, Sellar, Walker, Tippett to do the job when one is recovering from injury, the other 3 are young.. and Sellar is still yet to show anything since getting drafted. Even if the other lads to shine next season, it's handy to have Gill as backup. With Burton out for most, if not all, of next year we need Gill.

[Hondo]

I agree with NFC's list - I think 6 or 7 will be the number changed over

Except for Gill. I think Massie is in more trouble than Gill. Purely because our forward line is where the gap is compared to defence where there are options.

I think Massie may be 2008's Jason Torney.