Crows v Demons

[Psyber]

McGregor is very very very average and isn't good enough to play AFL

I'm not so sure about that... he did a fairly good job at CHB for a while, got moved up forward when we were struggling there, and seemed to get "lost" as a forward. I would be inclined to look at him again at CHB or FB and experiment with Bock in the other position so Rutten could be tried up forward. Until the kids develop a bit more the Crows can't really afford to discard a big man. I did wonder if Perrie were worth a look at as a backman too, leaving Bock and Stevens still available for forward roles.

[sydney-dog]

I am a bit confused about the Kenny situation

Looking from a distance and not knowing how he has come back from his injury in regards to form and fitness, I am a bit puzzled.

I am mindful that plenty of people do not rate Kenny but I still believe he is important to Adelaide's structure.

Craigy last year identified Flexibility as a key for this year, Kenny's inclusion at CHB would allow Steven's to play more as a utility, HF, Wing or HB, it would also allow Bassett to play as the third Tall defender, in the same role that enable him to win All Australian selection, Kenny can also pitch hit up forward or in the ruck. Most importantly he gives us a stonger body at CHB.

With Perrie likely to miss this week, selection will be interesting, you would think if Kenny misses selection this week, he is definitely struggling

I am not convinced that Craigy has the right players in the right positions at the moment

[Hasbeen]

If Perrie misses next week and Kenny doesn't play he may as well Quit the Crows, play out the year with WWT and go in the draft.

[SCD]

Flexibility is one thing at a football club and I know it's the big thing for Craigy at the end of last year - but have a look at the midfield we currently have.
Having 10 rounds down and being the 14th ranked team in scoring, the answer is in a lack of forward line options & midfield creativity...

My view is our midfield is off the pace - with both leg speed and ability to create enough quality oportunities to win against quality opposition.

Goodwin - gets plenty of the ball and hurts the opposition, definately our best midfielder
Thompson - gets the in and under ball and does a lot of hard work at clearances, not a polished finisher, but a proven ball winner in a tight contest.
Reilly - hard working player who gets the best out of his ability - has very good foot skills and while a better "receiver" then ball winner - can hurt a team when going forward (and losing him early Saturday hurt the crows)
Shirley - has improved as a tagger and usually does a good job. Every club needs a good run with player - I believe Shirley is our best, although not being damaging with the footy going the other way
Van Berlo - Not sure what to make of him... His workrate has been a little suspect at times this year and doesn't use the footy well. Can be a good in and under player - but I wonder about his ability to run with the best players at times...
Doughty - another tagging midfielder. Wastes the ball and too many fumbles and poor decision making when under pressure, doesn't hurt teams in an attacking sense. Definate Trade Bait at the end of the year.

The crows have an abundance of tagging midfielders - none of which hurt the opposition going the other way.... There is a lack of creativity and at times a lack of being prepared to take the other team on through the corridor - meaning our shots on goal are from poor angles.

They need to look at flexibility in the team and how they can get more damaging players into the midfield.. it lacks the quality and flair of 1997 and 1998 premiership midfield with Goodwin / McLeod / Ricciuto / Edwards who were hard workers and good ball users - and while those 4 are still playing and are all class, we haven't developed the younger breed through the last couple of years who can win the ball and get the oportunities for us to kick a winning score..

I maintain the big thing hurting the crows is the injuries, especially Biglands / Hentschel / Burton but they are very much struggling with creativity and quality ball winners in the midfield also is hurting the crows this season. They are winning by basically strangling games through the back half and winning by 82 points to 75 on average - which is not good for a team wanting to be a top 4 team...

[NFC]

If Perrie misses next week and Kenny doesn't play he may as well Quit the Crows, play out the year with WWT and go in the draft.

Isn't Perrie out for 8 weeks? How then is he an "if"?

[NFC]

Reilly - hard working player who gets the best out of his ability - has very good foot skills and while a better "receiver" then ball winner - can hurt a team when going forward (and losing him early Saturday hurt the crows)

RUBBISH!

Reilly has a ton of natural ability and we haven't come close to seeing it all yet.

That description belongs to someone like Doughty or Shirley, not Reilly!

[scoob]

I wouldnt call shirley a receiver NFC, he is the crows best at getting his hands on the ball in a contest, alot of his hard work doesnt get seen, he is the bloke that make the likes of goodwin look good... just a ashame he cannot kick.

[Blue Boy]

I am a bit confused about the Kenny situation

Looking from a distance and not knowing how he has come back from his injury in regards to form and fitness, I am a bit puzzled.

I am mindful that plenty of people do not rate Kenny but I still believe he is important to Adelaide's structure.

Craigy last year identified Flexibility as a key for this year, Kenny's inclusion at CHB would allow Steven's to play more as a utility, HF, Wing or HB, it would also allow Bassett to play as the third Tall defender, in the same role that enable him to win All Australian selection, Kenny can also pitch hit up forward or in the ruck. Most importantly he gives us a stonger body at CHB.

With Perrie likely to miss this week, selection will be interesting, you would think if Kenny misses selection this week, he is definitely struggling

I am not convinced that Craigy has the right players in the right positions at the moment

Syd

Kenny had his best year with the Crows @ CHB - with Stevens showing some reasonable form up forward it seems to be the obvious inclusion against Geelong.

[Blue Boy]

I wouldnt call shirley a receiver NFC, he is the crows best at getting his hands on the ball in a contest, alot of his hard work doesnt get seen, he is the bloke that make the likes of goodwin look good... just a ashame he cannot kick.

Spot on - Shirley leads the hard ball gets !!!

[JK]

Whichever way you look at it the Crows are going to have do something with their list at seasons end ... Players like Massie, Shirley, Doughty, Torney, Bassett (plenty more you can add here) are all useful types and have been great servants, but haven't been good enough in the past and with each year that passes are unlikely to be good enough in the future.

Not trying to say this year's a lost cause or be kneejerk about Saturdays loss (which I didn't even see) or anything, just think the pace and ability of that group is lacking and needs a bit of an improve, and I'm not sure if they currently possess the cattle to do that.

[Blue Boy]

Whichever way you look at it the Crows are going to have do something with their list at seasons end ... Players like Massie, Shirley, Doughty, Torney, Bassett (plenty more you can add here) are all useful types and have been great servants, but haven't been good enough in the past and with each year that passes are unlikely to be good enough in the future.

Not trying to say this year's a lost cause or be kneejerk about Saturdays loss (which I didn't even see) or anything, just think the pace and ability of that group is lacking and needs a bit of an improve, and I'm not sure if they currently possess the cattle to do that.

Its not lost and we will play finals again this year - yet we wont make an indent in to that series. But if i hear mummbles say elite athletes and science once more Im gonna go write off !!!

How many Elite Ahtletes have made Elite Footballers ??? Mummbles I am frustrated !!!

[NFC]

Whichever way you look at it the Crows are going to have do something with their list at seasons end ... Players like Massie, Shirley, Doughty, Torney, Bassett (plenty more you can add here) are all useful types and have been great servants, but haven't been good enough in the past and with each year that passes are unlikely to be good enough in the future.

Not trying to say this year's a lost cause or be kneejerk about Saturdays loss (which I didn't even see) or anything, just think the pace and ability of that group is lacking and needs a bit of an improve, and I'm not sure if they currently possess the cattle to do that.

Bassett was AA just last year.

[Hondo]

Let's wait and see how things pan out ..... we aren't playing to our best level, in fact we played terribly on Sat. That can just mean simply that .... we played badly rather than it being sympomatic of long-term structural problems with the list. What I am saying is, round 22 is the time to judge the list as will all teams.

I think the structure on the field is a bit off and the movement through the middle and to the forwards is not right ATM. We aren't kicking enough goals and as SD and SCD said, it feels like some pacy spark through the midfield is missing. We are still holding teams to 10-12 goals most weeks so the defence is holding up OK. So a couple of tweaks and who knows ...?

Big test with weekend ... BIG test

[JK]

Bassett was AA just last year.

Indeed he was, I think Craigy was most responsible for that ... I don't rate him when he can't play loose (personal opinion only).

[scoob]

Let's wait and see how things pan out ..... we aren't playing to our best level, in fact we played terribly on Sat. That can just mean simply that .... we played badly rather than it being sympomatic of long-term structural problems with the list. What I am saying is, round 22 is the time to judge the list as will all teams.

I think the structure on the field is a bit off and the movement through the middle and to the forwards is not right ATM. We aren't kicking enough goals and as SD and SCD said, it feels like some pacy spark through the midfield is missing. We are still holding teams to 10-12 goals most weeks so the defence is holding up OK. So a couple of tweaks and who knows ...?

Big test with weekend ... BIG test

I can see you point hondo, but if we wait til round 22 what are we gonna talk shit about til then???

[Hondo]

Let's wait and see how things pan out ..... we aren't playing to our best level, in fact we played terribly on Sat. That can just mean simply that .... we played badly rather than it being sympomatic of long-term structural problems with the list. What I am saying is, round 22 is the time to judge the list as will all teams.

I think the structure on the field is a bit off and the movement through the middle and to the forwards is not right ATM. We aren't kicking enough goals and as SD and SCD said, it feels like some pacy spark through the midfield is missing. We are still holding teams to 10-12 goals most weeks so the defence is holding up OK. So a couple of tweaks and who knows ...?

Big test with weekend ... BIG test

I can see you point hondo, but if we wait til round 22 what are we gonna talk shit about til then???

I dunno ... Big Brother?