SA Footy

A few weeks ago I got howled down in this forum for daring to label the Crows Pretenders. Apparently this sort of comment was misguided because of the pre-season expectations of the playing group so how could the Blackbirds be considered pretenders when they have exceeded these expectations?

So I ignored the 'terrible post' comments from those who had one eye closed and decided not to think about what I was saying. As you win games the expectation of a club rises. Pre-season goals and views are just not relevant once you become rated as a contender.

Now Adelaide is rated as a contender and has been rated a contender ever since Gary Lyon said they were a smokey for the flag. After cleaning up the Blues in impressive style last week now everyone is talking up Adelaide the equal of the top four. I say they are pretenders because their record against the top eight is four wins and seven losses. They simply do not deserve to be ranked up there with the genuine contenders for the flag.

So are they pretenders? To the flag, yes. If they win the flag this year or knock out Geelong, I'll be ordering a couple of Rashers of Bacon to go along with the Egg on my face.

Cheers,

REB

Not until last week did i consider us a decent chance of winning the flag. This was due to a combination of Geelong and St Kilda dropping away in form and our forward line really starting to look very potent. Winning this week will prove nothing but the semi final against St Kilda or Collingwood will be a different story.

BestHumanEver wrote:Not until last week did i consider us a decent chance of winning the flag. This was due to a combination of Geelong and St Kilda dropping away in form and our forward line really starting to look very potent. Winning this week will prove nothing but the semi final against St Kilda or Collingwood will be a different story.

I wouldn't get too carried away with your forward line, it was, after all, against one of the poorer defensive units going around and wont cut it against any of the top 4

The optimistic supporter in me thinks the Crows can win the flag the year for several reasons:

- Injuries are few at this stage
- They are carrying good form into finals
- The current squad is talented enough to give Craigy options, their versatility means he can be proactive when things aren't going well as shown in Hawthorn/Carlton games.
- They have a forward line with x-factor.
- The form of the top 4 sides in the last month hasn't exactly been spectacular.

The realist supporter in me says that the Crows will struggle to make it past week 2 because:

- St Kilda & Geelong will hit the juice now the real stuff starts, they haven't had anything to play for a month or so with their spots on the ladder sewn up.
- The squad is still at least 12 months from serious contention.
- Adelaide hasn't beaten any contender all year.
- No one has won the flag from 5th since this finals system was introduced.

Overall I think 'pretender' status sells them a little short by suggesting they are absolutely no chance, and I think they are a quality outfit who should be underestimated at your peril. In the end Adelaide were supposedly pretenders in 1997 and 1998 too (winning 1 game less than 2009 in both minor rounds), and they ended up 'pretending' their way to both premierships.

So pretenders - No.

I think 'outside chance' is a better term.

BestHumanEver wrote:Not until last week did i consider us a decent chance of winning the flag. This was due to a combination of Geelong and St Kilda dropping away in form and our forward line really starting to look very potent. Winning this week will prove nothing but the semi final against St Kilda or Collingwood will be a different story.

That's a fair call ... I think the Crows need a major scalp to have any legitimate rating as a premiership threat, most of the noises being made regarding their chances (as far as I can tell), emanate from across the border where many haven't recovered from a decade ago, when they didn't rate the Crows but they snuck up on the competition (and most of the football world).

All that said, if the Crows do claim a major scalp before the year is out they are 1 win away from a Grand Final ... Unlikely in my opinion, but I guess it's not something that can be completely ruled out.

The tag 'pretenders' doesn’t sit well with me at all

Each game is a 2 horse race, 1 team wins 1 team looses (or a draw), often the team "tipped" to win, looses.

If this pretender tag is correct then why did the bottom 8 teams continue to play? are they pretenders? why compete at all if that is the case? didn’t St Kilda loose to North Melbourne Didn’t Adelaide beat Collingwood in round1?

I’m not saying Adelaide are certainties or anything like that, but you have to be in it to win it so the top 8 teams are still 'contenders'

Anything can happen in AFL and that’s what makes the game great, so you can stick you 'pretenders' tag where you like

I don't think we can win the flag. We are brilliant against rubbish teams but when pressure is applied we struggle a bit. We should account for Essendon and who knows what happens next? I'm just looking forward to seeing how our young lads cope in September pressure - a game at the G vs Collingwood could be next week which would be a massive test. A flag is not impossible but very unlikely... this year.

I keep hearing "young lads".

McLeod,Goodwin,Edwards,Johncock,Stevens,Rutten,Bock,Doughty,Reilly,Symes,Hentschel,Burton,Thompson are all hardly 'young lads'.

Booney wrote:I keep hearing "young lads".

McLeod,Goodwin,Edwards,Johncock,Stevens,Rutten,Bock,Doughty,Reilly,Symes,Hentschel,Burton,Thompson are all hardly 'young lads'.

I don't think they are the players he was referring too Booney. RM didn't say 'young squad' ie he wasn't referring to the team as a whole, what he's interested in is how blokes like Vince, Otten, Dangerfield, Mackay, Knights will respond to finals football.

Finals are where potentials are realised, and where ordinary has the opportunity to become extraordinary. Will be very interesting to see who (if any) of this group further make a name for themselves in 09.

Booney wrote:I keep hearing "young lads".

McLeod,Goodwin,Edwards,Johncock,Stevens,Rutten,Bock,Doughty,Reilly,Symes,Hentschel,Burton,Thompson are all hardly 'young lads'.

Yeah, but Vince, Tippett, Dangerfield, Mackay, Ottens are. Maric is fairly young for a ruckman, and Van Berlo, Knights and Porplycia are only just outside that bracket.

Take the 'old 4' out of your list Booney, and they rest are probably in their prime years, and will be for the next 2-3.

FWIW, my expectations are we need to beat the Bombers this week, or the year is a failure. What happens after that is a bonus, as i think the flag is wide open. The key will be how they perform next year, and the year after. Thats when true expectations will be put upon the current group.

Booney wrote:I keep hearing "young lads".

McLeod,Goodwin,Edwards,Johncock,Stevens,Rutten,Bock,Doughty,Reilly,Symes,Hentschel,Burton,Thompson are all hardly 'young lads'.

3 are in there twilight of there career yes, but the rest are hardly old still have a heap of footy to play

Look at them go! I feel like a chip on the boundary at Footy Park with all these seagulls swooping....

I was really making reference to that fact the bulk of Adelaide's current group have experienced finals and many of them quite a few finals.

Since Neil Craig has taken over they have played one, sometimes 2 a year.



* Watch them swoop on that REB *

The Chardonnay Set is starting to fire up. I can't wait to get on this forum if they lose Friday night. It will be mayhem. It's ok though, because they will all say it was to be expected blah, blah, blah etc.

trolls jog on

How are those Coronas coming along BC?

Beat me too it FS. lol

So have you blokes actually got an opinion on REB's post or are you just on here to throw the line in?

Gingernuts wrote:Beat me too it FS. lol

So have you blokes actually got an opinion on REB's post or are you just on here to throw the line in?

My opinion is the Cows are pretenders.

Gingernuts wrote:Beat me too it FS. lol

So have you blokes actually got an opinion on REB's post or are you just on here to throw the line in?

Hey its as blatant as is comes 2 posts in a row..... Booney the cereal troller

Bum Crack wrote:

Gingernuts wrote:Beat me too it FS. lol

So have you blokes actually got an opinion on REB's post or are you just on here to throw the line in?

My opinion is the Cows are pretenders.

Thats fine but i wouldnt stoop to the warfy's level atleast show some character

Footy Smart wrote:

Bum Crack wrote:

Gingernuts wrote:Beat me too it FS. lol

So have you blokes actually got an opinion on REB's post or are you just on here to throw the line in?

My opinion is the Cows are pretenders.

Thats fine but i wouldnt stoop to the warfy's level atleast show some character

That's my honest opinion. what more do you want me to say???