Adelaide Season 2011

[JK]

As opposed to the Crows sub-forum, supporters of ANY club can discuss the Crows here.

[Rik E Boy]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

[Gingernuts]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

I'll shelf that under NFI with your top 4 prediction from last season.

[CoverKing]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

Stop trolling, the crows fans will get this topic to a crows only section

[Rik E Boy]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

I'll shelf that under NFI with your top 4 prediction from last season.

You won't be bringing this one back matey. Unless that shiela Vince learnt how to shake a tag or that dumb **** Tippett worked out where the big sticks are.....

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

Stop trolling, the crows fans will get this topic to a crows only section

Um...no! You reckon they'll make the eight? Who do they pass this year?

regards,

REB

[Gingernuts]

Well I guess they've had a lot of controversy over the last couple of weeks.

I mean the captain was photographed in the paper wearing a t shirt with naked boobs on it and he was also spotted having a vodka at the Big Day Out.

That's the sort of stuff that derails seasons.

[CoverKing]

No finals for you.

regards,

REB

Stop trolling, the crows fans will get this topic to a crows only section

Um...no! You reckon they'll make the eight? Who do they pass this year?

regards,

REB

Where did i disagree with you? Those crows fans will have a crackat you for suggesting anything less than a flag.

For what i think, Christ Knights is a massive inclusion for them this year. I think his performances in 2009 were severly missed last year. This bloke is a gun (im still spewing Richmond didnt trade for him). Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia couldnt possibly have that slow of a start again as they did last year.

Who will they jump in front of? Im not sold on Sydney with the injuries they have at the moment and under a new coach it will be interesting. I dont think the crows will make the 8, but it wouldnt suprise me if they do at the same time if Knights, Porplyzia and Tippett have big years

[Footy Smart]

between 7-10 for me

Last year was a write off from the pre season due to the injury list we had through out it which meant we had many under conditioned players.... Porps, Vince, Tippett, Knights, Van berlo as well as the retired players who were injured meant we could never get out season going.

The Positives from last season was the signs shown by Henderson, Sloane, Martin, Davis, Douglas inparticular.
Hopefully a fit list, game time into our younger players last year and the addition of Tambling to add the pace we need off HB or a wing and Jacobs some depth in the ruck will see us more competative from round 1 and you never know

[Rik E Boy]

Where did i disagree with you? Those crows fans will have a crackat you for suggesting anything less than a flag.

For what i think, Christ Knights is a massive inclusion for them this year. I think his performances in 2009 were severly missed last year. This bloke is a gun (im still spewing Richmond didnt trade for him). Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia couldnt possibly have that slow of a start again as they did last year.

Who will they jump in front of? Im not sold on Sydney with the injuries they have at the moment and under a new coach it will be interesting. I dont think the crows will make the 8, but it wouldnt suprise me if they do at the same time if Knights, Porplyzia and Tippett have big years

Just asking mate just asking. Knights a massive inclusion? Maybe. Porplyzia to have a big year? A bigger maybe. Tippett should go well agree there but for me a lot will depend on the young blokes who got a start last year and it's not so easy to do it for a full season now that the experienced blokes have left the building. Sydney are being underrated pre-season yet again and I'd have them in the eight before the Crowies. Just outside the eight for the Blackbirds I reckon in a part of the ladder that is going to get very tight.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

between 7-10 for me

Last year was a write off from the pre season due to the injury list we had through out it which meant we had many under conditioned players.... Porps, Vince, Tippett, Knights, Van berlo as well as the retired players who were injured meant we could never get out season going.

The Positives from last season was the signs shown by Henderson, Sloane, Martin, Davis, Douglas inparticular.
Hopefully a fit list, game time into our younger players last year and the addition of Tambling to add the pace we need off HB or a wing and Jacobs some depth in the ruck will see us more competative from round 1 and you never know

You kept all the old blokes instead of moving a couple of them on. That was a mistake as Geelong will find out this year.

regards,

REB

[Grahaml]

Crows and Power will always be a chance of finals simply because of home ground advantage. And the travel distance isn't so great to any other game. West Coast and Fremantle though will always be a chance of falling apart with the huge travel load they have.

But with the players the Crows have, top 6 is a real goal. Have a really good year and top 4 might just be attainable. I just like the look of the forward line. Walker, Tippett and Henderson are all capable of 50 goal seasons IMHO. Add Dangerfield, Knights, Porplyzia and Callinan (3 of those would be up there most of the year you would expect) and suddenly there's some serious versatility and balance up there. The midfield is good enough, Vince and Thompson are obviously the blue chip mids they'll need to play well but McKay, Van Berlo and Douglas are now fairly experienced and reliable players. The defense again should be strong, even without Bock. Rutten is still one of the best full backs around, Stevens is a vital player for us so if those two can combine with Otten and Davis we should have enough talls around there. What might hurt is a lack of run from the back, a role I think Tambling will have to excel in. If we get that run from behind, stay healthy enough then we might go okay.

[CoverKing]

Where did i disagree with you? Those crows fans will have a crackat you for suggesting anything less than a flag.

For what i think, Christ Knights is a massive inclusion for them this year. I think his performances in 2009 were severly missed last year. This bloke is a gun (im still spewing Richmond didnt trade for him). Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia couldnt possibly have that slow of a start again as they did last year.

Who will they jump in front of? Im not sold on Sydney with the injuries they have at the moment and under a new coach it will be interesting. I dont think the crows will make the 8, but it wouldnt suprise me if they do at the same time if Knights, Porplyzia and Tippett have big years

Just asking mate just asking. Knights a massive inclusion? Maybe. Porplyzia to have a big year? A bigger maybe. Tippett should go well agree there but for me a lot will depend on the young blokes who got a start last year and it's not so easy to do it for a full season now that the experienced blokes have left the building. Sydney are being underrated pre-season yet again and I'd have them in the eight before the Crowies. Just outside the eight for the Blackbirds I reckon in a part of the ladder that is going to get very tight.

regards,

REB

Yeah im not under rating the Swans so much, im just hearing alot of their injuries. Kennelly, Bradshaw, Bolton (all missed a lot of last year i know but Bradshaw and Kennelly were very important to them). Kieran Jack will be very important this year IMO. Will Hannebery be as good as this year? Guess we will wait and see.
The crows will be one of the sides in the middle of the table, along with North Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton and Melbourne IMO.

[CoverKing]

Crows and Power will always be a chance of finals simply because of home ground advantage. And the travel distance isn't so great to any other game. West Coast and Fremantle though will always be a chance of falling apart with the huge travel load they have.

But with the players the Crows have, top 6 is a real goal. Have a really good year and top 4 might just be attainable. I just like the look of the forward line. Walker, Tippett and Henderson are all capable of 50 goal seasons IMHO. Add Dangerfield, Knights, Porplyzia and Callinan (3 of those would be up there most of the year you would expect) and suddenly there's some serious versatility and balance up there. The midfield is good enough, Vince and Thompson are obviously the blue chip mids they'll need to play well but McKay, Van Berlo and Douglas are now fairly experienced and reliable players. The defense again should be strong, even without Bock. Rutten is still one of the best full backs around, Stevens is a vital player for us so if those two can combine with Otten and Davis we should have enough talls around there. What might hurt is a lack of run from the back, a role I think Tambling will have to excel in. If we get that run from behind, stay healthy enough then we might go okay.

Henderson 50+ goals? kidding yeah?

This kid is one of my most hated after seeing his weak one handed attempt in last years Showdown. He has to grow some balls before he succeeds at AFL level first. Wont gain any respect from his team mates if he continues with the soft efforts. Talented - yes. Long way to go though in all areas and not close to a 50 goal year IMO

[Rik E Boy]

Crows and Power will always be a chance of finals simply because of home ground advantage. And the travel distance isn't so great to any other game. West Coast and Fremantle though will always be a chance of falling apart with the huge travel load they have.

But with the players the Crows have, top 6 is a real goal. Have a really good year and top 4 might just be attainable. I just like the look of the forward line. Walker, Tippett and Henderson are all capable of 50 goal seasons IMHO. Add Dangerfield, Knights, Porplyzia and Callinan (3 of those would be up there most of the year you would expect) and suddenly there's some serious versatility and balance up there. The midfield is good enough, Vince and Thompson are obviously the blue chip mids they'll need to play well but McKay, Van Berlo and Douglas are now fairly experienced and reliable players. The defense again should be strong, even without Bock. Rutten is still one of the best full backs around, Stevens is a vital player for us so if those two can combine with Otten and Davis we should have enough talls around there. What might hurt is a lack of run from the back, a role I think Tambling will have to excel in. If we get that run from behind, stay healthy enough then we might go okay.

The Crows are always a chance to miss the finals because the away ground disadvantage. You reckon that midfield is good enough? Good luck with that. A lot of these blokes you are rating have shown potential and in a few cases a bit more but who is going to step up to that McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards level. I don't see 150 goals out of those three forwards you have mentioned either. What will hurt is the lack of run out of the back there are some serious plodders back there.

regards,

REB

[Footy Smart]

Crows and Power will always be a chance of finals simply because of home ground advantage. And the travel distance isn't so great to any other game. West Coast and Fremantle though will always be a chance of falling apart with the huge travel load they have.

But with the players the Crows have, top 6 is a real goal. Have a really good year and top 4 might just be attainable. I just like the look of the forward line. Walker, Tippett and Henderson are all capable of 50 goal seasons IMHO. Add Dangerfield, Knights, Porplyzia and Callinan (3 of those would be up there most of the year you would expect) and suddenly there's some serious versatility and balance up there. The midfield is good enough, Vince and Thompson are obviously the blue chip mids they'll need to play well but McKay, Van Berlo and Douglas are now fairly experienced and reliable players. The defense again should be strong, even without Bock. Rutten is still one of the best full backs around, Stevens is a vital player for us so if those two can combine with Otten and Davis we should have enough talls around there. What might hurt is a lack of run from the back, a role I think Tambling will have to excel in. If we get that run from behind, stay healthy enough then we might go okay.

Henderson 50+ goals? kidding yeah?

This kid is one of my most hated after seeing his weak one handed attempt in last years Showdown. He has to grow some balls before he succeeds at AFL level first. Wont gain any respect from his team mates if he continues with the soft efforts. Talented - yes. Long way to go though in all areas and not close to a 50 goal year IMO

Dont worry about Henderson, he can hold his own and had a pretty good first AFL season after only picking up the game a few years before being drafted

[CoverKing]

Crows and Power will always be a chance of finals simply because of home ground advantage. And the travel distance isn't so great to any other game. West Coast and Fremantle though will always be a chance of falling apart with the huge travel load they have.

But with the players the Crows have, top 6 is a real goal. Have a really good year and top 4 might just be attainable. I just like the look of the forward line. Walker, Tippett and Henderson are all capable of 50 goal seasons IMHO. Add Dangerfield, Knights, Porplyzia and Callinan (3 of those would be up there most of the year you would expect) and suddenly there's some serious versatility and balance up there. The midfield is good enough, Vince and Thompson are obviously the blue chip mids they'll need to play well but McKay, Van Berlo and Douglas are now fairly experienced and reliable players. The defense again should be strong, even without Bock. Rutten is still one of the best full backs around, Stevens is a vital player for us so if those two can combine with Otten and Davis we should have enough talls around there. What might hurt is a lack of run from the back, a role I think Tambling will have to excel in. If we get that run from behind, stay healthy enough then we might go okay.

Henderson 50+ goals? kidding yeah?

This kid is one of my most hated after seeing his weak one handed attempt in last years Showdown. He has to grow some balls before he succeeds at AFL level first. Wont gain any respect from his team mates if he continues with the soft efforts. Talented - yes. Long way to go though in all areas and not close to a 50 goal year IMO

Dont worry about Henderson, he can hold his own and had a pretty good first AFL season after only picking up the game a few years before being drafted

Needs to get a hard ball before i give him credit. Just thinking of the one handed attempt in the Showdown gets me fired up

[Gingernuts]

Good to see this thread firing up already. Always a long line posters delivering 'reality' to us Crows fans who quite obviously have NFI.

A few points:

- Forward line is the best part of the team lineup by far. All members of this group primed for a big one IMO.
- Midfield needs 2 or 3 to step up to be competitive. Can have the best forwards in the comp, it won't help if it never gets down there.
- I don't think run out of defence will be a problem. I reckon cool heads under pressure will be. The absence of a 300+ gamer to marshall defence could be bad, turnovers a plenty the result. I am hoping Johncock, Stevens, Otten & Van Berlo will find enough between them to remedy this.
- I see the absence of veterans as a reason we will improve rather than a reason we won't. Those players were absent from the team in the last 6 weeks or so of last season and the younger players held their own against the best.

I am quitely optimistic about our chances this year, & I don't think the players would mind being written off by the 'experts'. In fact, I reckon they would prefer it to the top 4 predictions of last year.

Regardless of results, I am really looking forward to watching who will take the next step to form the new 'elite' players in the side.

[CoverKing]

Good to see this thread firing up already. Always a long line posters delivering 'reality' to us Crows fans who quite obviously have NFI.

A few points:

- Forward line is the best part of the team lineup by far. All members of this group primed for a big one IMO.
- Midfield needs 2 or 3 to step up to be competitive. Can have the best forwards in the comp, it won't help if it never gets down there.
- I don't think run out of defence will be a problem. I reckon cool heads under pressure will be. The absence of a 300+ gamer to marshall defence could be bad, turnovers a plenty the result. I am hoping Johncock, Stevens, Otten & Van Berlo will find enough between them to remedy this.
- I see the absence of veterans as a reason we will improve rather than a reason we won't. Those players were absent from the team in the last 6 weeks or so of last season and the younger players held their own against the best.

I am quitely optimistic about our chances this year, & I don't think the players would mind being written off by the 'experts'. In fact, I reckon they would prefer it to the top 4 predictions of last year.

Regardless of results, I am really looking forward to watching who will take the next step to form the new 'elite' players in the side.

Doing it for 6 weeks is a lot different to a whole year though.

[CK]

May just sneak in, but some real weaknesses around the ground, and a heck of a lot of "ifs". One thing that does stand out though, and yes, this one may bite me by round 22 - but don't reckon Central will see much of Ian Callinan. He's the one sort of player Adelaide have lacked - a genuine, small forward that can also have a run around the middle (I know Chris Knights will be get mentioned here by some, but he's more a traditional half forward), and really think he will seize the chance.

Will need Taylor Walker to shake his inconsistency and get some more around Tippett's feet. Not really sure about the back six, that's a lot of experience gone in the offseason. Scott Stevens, Phil Davis and to an extent, James Sellar will find themselves thrown in the key positions back there, but will need support. Andy Otten is a massive bonus, if he stands up.

The guys like Tony Armstrong (when available), Myke Cook, Rory Sloane and Brodie Martin are the keys in some ways. We know players like Van Berlo, Thompson and Porplyzia will get their hands on it, but they will need help in the rotations, all getting even more attention this year.

Too many "ifs" and "buts" for me, suspect them sneaking to sixth or seventh, unless someone can boot 80+ in attack and Maric can step up to be one of the elite ruckmen.