End of season report: Adelaide

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End of season report: Adelaide

Postby tigerland09 » Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:04 pm

From http://www.afl.com.au

What went right
The club unearthed some genuine talent in the form of Phil Davis, Rory Sloane, Ricky Henderson and Matthew Jaensch and got some more game time into inexperienced players like Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker and Jared Petrenko.
Small forward Richard Douglas was released into the midfield and repaid the faith of his coaches, with a breakout season. Defender Graham Johncock also produced a career-best year, while Brent Reilly successfully transformed himself into a tagger.
The Crows celebrated their first win over Geelong in four years and also recorded rare away wins at Subiaco Oval and the Gabba.

What went wrong
Andy Otten’s season was over before it even began when he wrecked his knee at training in December and injuries to Jason Porplyzia, Nathan van Berlo, Chris Knights, Bernie Vince, Graham Johncock and David Mackay also contributed to the Crows missing the finals for the first time under coach Neil Craig.
The gamble to keep all four veterans, Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Brett Burton, failed to pay off, with none of the star quartet left standing by round 22.
To top off Adelaide’s disastrous 2010 campaign All-Australian defender Nathan Bock announced that he would be walking out on the club to join the cashed-up Gold Coast Suns next season and Jon Griffin has also requested a trade back to WA.

Most valuable player
Johncock missed seven games through injury and suspension, but was still able to produce career-best form. He averaged 22 possessions and continued to play as though the season was on the line long after the club slid out of finals contention. He will go close in Adelaide’s club champion award.

Coach’s award for one-percenters
Ben Rutten was one of just five Crows to play every game this season. He was rarely beaten in a one-on-one contest and provided leadership in what was at times a very inexperienced Adelaide defence. Richard Douglas, Scott Thompson, Ivan Maric and Phil Davis also deserve a mention here.

Needs a big pre-season
Bernie Vince emerged as an elite midfielder last year, but struggled to cope with taggers this year. He let his teammates down when he was suspended for a week for an off-field indiscretion in round eight. The Crows need him to stand up next season in the absence of Goodwin, McLeod and Edwards.

Trading places
The Crows are poised to be more aggressive in this October’s exchange period. The club will be desperate to hold onto Chris Knights, but might have to entertain a trade if he fails to re-sign, while Griffin has also put his name on the trade table.

Overall grade: C
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Re: End of season report: Adelaide

Postby TEX07 » Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:06 am

I would say that a C is about right, there was winable games this season that we lost more than the other teams won. You win these and they probably play finals. To lose the first 6 games and finish as well as they did would make the season a bit more than an E or an F. I think if they kept going in that way it would have been that way.
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Re: End of season report: Adelaide

Postby Gingernuts » Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:17 pm

Decided to do a bit of a review of the season:

THE DOWNS:

1. The veteran gamble didn't pay off

The decision was made in the euphoria of the barnstorming finish to 2009 that the veterans should stay on for the push towards the top 4. Sadly this decision did not pay off, with all concerned suffering injuries and poor form. Edwards in particular would have to be the saddest story, retiring mid-season only a shadow of his previous self.

2. Future 'blue chippers' fail to realise their potential.

Bernie Vince and David Mackay, two players flagged as key to giving Adelaide an elite midfield failed to do more than splutter their way through a lack lustre season. Soft tissue injuries put paid to Mackay's year, whilst Vince failed to cope with his own hype after winning the 2009 club champion and suffered a quite severe and disappointing reversal in form.

3. Forwards couldn't cash in

The much lauded forward line combo of Tippett and Walker failed to deliver. Tippett's game significantly improved again this year, particularly in contested possession. However he consistently failed to cash in on his hard work, and it will go down as a year of missed opportunity for the big fella. Walker was a similar story, his game did improve but his radar didn't.

4. Confidence (and coping with expectation) is key

Confidence. It makes a good side a great one. Unfortunately the AFC was a confidence vacuum for the first half of the year and for a team full of youngsters, nothing is more important to form than confidence. 2 losses became 4, 4 became 6, and 6 became bye bye 2010. It was also clear that the younger players struggled with external and self expectation - firstly being touted as a top 4 side - and secondly on a weekly basis with beating the teams they were expected to.


THE UPS:

1. The young and the restless

Circumstance provided the opportunity for the next generation to put their hand up, and put their hand up they did - but not the ones we expected. While everyone was watching Walker, Tippett, Dangerfield & Mackay struggle with the weight of expectation - along came Jaensch, Schmidt, Davis, Henderson and Young, providing us with more than we could ever have expected when surveying the list at the start of the year. Throw in a late cameo from Brodie Martin and 2010 gave us plenty of reasons to be excited 'after the fall' that was the first half of the year.

2. The form against the top 4

In a weird turn of events, despite languishing at the bottom of the table for the majority of the season, our form against the top 4 sides improved remarkably. Wins over Geelong and St Kilda and close run affairs with Collingwood and the Bulldogs gave supporters plenty to cheer about in the second half of the year.

3. ROUND 22

The game against the Saints would have to be one of the most remarkable football experiences I have ever had. Not just because of the game itself, but also what followed it. Not a soul left AAMI after the final siren and the cheers and chants that went around the ground as the motorcade circled sent a tingle down the spine. It really did feel like a moment in time where the old passed to the new - the end of 'the foundation years' and the start of the next chapter. I think every supporter headed home proud to be an Adelaide supporter, and knowing that they were part of a great club with a great past, and an even greater future. Hopefully the young players followed McLeod and Goody down the race with that feeling too.


All in all it was a season to remember, but not for the reasons we thought. Sure their was plenty of disappointment, but also plenty of upside. As always I will front up again for Round 1 2011, as excited as I always am to see what the season will deliver. That's the great thing about this game - there's always next year! :D
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Re: End of season report: Adelaide

Postby Footy Smart » Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:35 am

Gingernuts wrote:Decided to do a bit of a review of the season:

THE DOWNS:

1. The veteran gamble didn't pay off

The decision was made in the euphoria of the barnstorming finish to 2009 that the veterans should stay on for the push towards the top 4. Sadly this decision did not pay off, with all concerned suffering injuries and poor form. Edwards in particular would have to be the saddest story, retiring mid-season only a shadow of his previous self.

2. Future 'blue chippers' fail to realise their potential.

Bernie Vince and David Mackay, two players flagged as key to giving Adelaide an elite midfield failed to do more than splutter their way through a lack lustre season. Soft tissue injuries put paid to Mackay's year, whilst Vince failed to cope with his own hype after winning the 2009 club champion and suffered a quite severe and disappointing reversal in form.

3. Forwards couldn't cash in

The much lauded forward line combo of Tippett and Walker failed to deliver. Tippett's game significantly improved again this year, particularly in contested possession. However he consistently failed to cash in on his hard work, and it will go down as a year of missed opportunity for the big fella. Walker was a similar story, his game did improve but his radar didn't.

4. Confidence (and coping with expectation) is key

Confidence. It makes a good side a great one. Unfortunately the AFC was a confidence vacuum for the first half of the year and for a team full of youngsters, nothing is more important to form than confidence. 2 losses became 4, 4 became 6, and 6 became bye bye 2010. It was also clear that the younger players struggled with external and self expectation - firstly being touted as a top 4 side - and secondly on a weekly basis with beating the teams they were expected to.


THE UPS:

1. The young and the restless

Circumstance provided the opportunity for the next generation to put their hand up, and put their hand up they did - but not the ones we expected. While everyone was watching Walker, Tippett, Dangerfield & Mackay struggle with the weight of expectation - along came Jaensch, Schmidt, Davis, Henderson and Young, providing us with more than we could ever have expected when surveying the list at the start of the year. Throw in a late cameo from Brodie Martin and 2010 gave us plenty of reasons to be excited 'after the fall' that was the first half of the year.

2. The form against the top 4

In a weird turn of events, despite languishing at the bottom of the table for the majority of the season, our form against the top 4 sides improved remarkably. Wins over Geelong and St Kilda and close run affairs with Collingwood and the Bulldogs gave supporters plenty to cheer about in the second half of the year.

3. ROUND 22

The game against the Saints would have to be one of the most remarkable football experiences I have ever had. Not just because of the game itself, but also what followed it. Not a soul left AAMI after the final siren and the cheers and chants that went around the ground as the motorcade circled sent a tingle down the spine. It really did feel like a moment in time where the old passed to the new - the end of 'the foundation years' and the start of the next chapter. I think every supporter headed home proud to be an Adelaide supporter, and knowing that they were part of a great club with a great past, and an even greater future. Hopefully the young players followed McLeod and Goody down the race with that feeling too.


All in all it was a season to remember, but not for the reasons we thought. Sure their was plenty of disappointment, but also plenty of upside. As always I will front up again for Round 1 2011, as excited as I always am to see what the season will deliver. That's the great thing about this game - there's always next year! :D


Great post GN

few points:

Vince: injury didnt help him beating the tag and IMO i dont think he got caught up in his own hype.

Add Sloane to the 'young and the restless'

Maric improved considerably for me also

And your summary of 'Round 22' is exactly what i felt while standing watching the events after the game. A changing of the guard and new era of AFC was born. And like you, I will be watching Round 1, 2011 full of hope and expectation of continued improvement. Success will come with continued improvement of the young team.
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Re: End of season report: Adelaide

Postby Hondo » Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:45 am

In hindsight the 2009 final loss to Collingwood, while unlucky, was the last roll of the dice for that sqaud and trying to squeeze one more year out of it was too optimistic.

Yes, we were playing well at the time but I think we would have lost the next week anyway and as it's turned out the top 3 teams this year are a class above wherever the club hoped we would be at anyway.

I was supportive of the decision to have one last crack at it while the veterans were still there and, other than the fans suffering a reality check, I don't think we will pay a price for that decision beyond this year.

Gingernuts, your season review is spot on.
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