View Full Version : Our chances against Adelaide?
Does anyone give us a realistic chance this week against Adelaide? I think Essendon are slowly improving and are a decent chance this week even given our overall ordinary record in Adelaide. I am pleased with the improvement and and enthusiam that the younger players have brought to the side.
I have correctly tipped Essendon 10 /10 times this year most unusual for me so I am seriously considering tipping us this weekend.
What is everone else's opinion?
I guess we need to win this week as next week we havent a hope in hell.
TheReason
3 Jun 2005, 10:28
I guess we need to win this week as next week we havent a hope in hell.
You are probably right...
Unless Hird turns in a blinder (like he almost always does against WCE) and nails us.
Geez he's given WCE a lot of pain over the years.
Still, at Subi, its unlikely.
Longy413
3 Jun 2005, 10:32
You are probably right...
Unless Hird turns in a blinder (like he almost always does against WCE) and nails us.
Geez he's given WCE a lot of pain over the years.
Still, at Subi, its unlikely.
Um.........a week to early buddy.
Longy413
3 Jun 2005, 10:41
Once again we come up a team with a dominant midfield and this is where we could struggle.
We have had success against teams with strong midfields, by shutting it down and playing man on man. This worked against the Dockers, but that's harder to do at AAMI Stadium.
Adelaide's defense has been rock solid all season, but as we have seen in the last couple of weeks we now have a lot of options up forward. The key is supply, if we get enough ball down there we will win the game.
Our defense has been our shining light, Adelaide have some handy forwards but no A Grade superstars up there. Fletcher is in career best form, so I'm confident we can hold him, but once again the midfield has to limit quality supply.
I think we need to push our Half-Forwards high, including Lovett and try and choke up the midfield as much as possible.
I reckon we have every chance, but have to do everything right. Our second tier mids have a lot to do, but we have seen steady improvement from them in recent weeks.
Must start well, can't play catch up footy interstate.
I'm going to tip us.
TheReason
3 Jun 2005, 10:57
Um.........a week to early buddy.
Yes, I know its a wekk early.... but
guess we need to win this week as next week we havent a hope in hell.
I was commenting on this part.
Longy413
3 Jun 2005, 11:06
Yes, I know its a wekk early.... but
I was commenting on this part.
Fair enough.
Lets just take it a week at a time though hey? ;)
I think the game will be won and lost for us at centre half forward.
So many times when you play on the larger grounds we get found out as there isn't enough quality supply deep inside 50.
If Lucas has a blinder and gets plenty of the ball in the 50-70m from goal range, the delivery will be to the dangerous spots. Plus with Lovett, Cupido and Lovett-Murray we will have the crumbing options.
Once again we come up a team with a dominant midfield and this is where we could struggle.
I keep reading that the Crows have a dominant midfield, but all the stats seem to suggest we break about even with them..
We get about the same amount of both contested and uncontested possesion.. we bring the ball inside 50 about the same as them.. the only area they have an edge is in clearances - the crows averaging 34 to the opposition's 32, and essendon 31 to the oppositions 35..
Is this due to the superior midfield of the crows, or the fact they've been working with ruckmen that are winning taps? We've been getting murdered in the ruck, averaging only 22 hitouts a game (the crows 35). Hille's been back for a few weeks, and the team's form has seemed on the improve. Coincidence?
Defensivley Adelaide have the edge. Offensivley we have the edge. It may come down to a battle of the midfields, but that doesn't mean we will automatically lose. If its a nice night, and we back ourselves, I think we CAN win. That's not to say we WILL win. The crows have played top footy in 2005, as reflected in their position on the ladder. It will be a fight. A challenge. I hope the boys are up to it.
Daytripper
3 Jun 2005, 12:03
I keep reading that the Crows have a dominant midfield, but all the stats seem to suggest we break about even with them..
Riccuito, McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards - then Reilly, Doughty, Shirley, Thompson, Mattner.
Normally I'm confident but any time we play against a side with a decent midfield (and importantly good depth for rotations), we get belted.
Melbourne & Geelong this year are prime examples.
eastaugh36
3 Jun 2005, 12:11
[QUOTE=Daytripper]Doherty,QUOTE]
Who's that? It's Doughty.
Longy413
3 Jun 2005, 12:20
I keep reading that the Crows have a dominant midfield, but all the stats seem to suggest we break about even with them..
We get about the same amount of both contested and uncontested possesion.. we bring the ball inside 50 about the same as them.. the only area they have an edge is in clearances - the crows averaging 34 to the opposition's 32, and essendon 31 to the oppositions 35..
I wasn't aware of the stats, but what the stats don't tell us is the quality of stoppages and entries. I haven't seen a lot of Adelaide, so I can't really answer that, but certainly on paper Adelaide have a lot better midfield.
Is this due to the superior midfield of the crows, or the fact they've been working with ruckmen that are winning taps? We've been getting murdered in the ruck, averaging only 22 hitouts a game (the crows 35). Hille's been back for a few weeks, and the team's form has seemed on the improve. Coincidence?
Absolutely no coincidence. David Hille has been a massive inclusion. It was evident to all watching that we were missing him. We would be in the 8 right now if Hille had played all season. Hille's inclusion, coupled with the improved match fitness of Laycock has been paramount in us playing better football.
Defensivley Adelaide have the edge. Offensivley we have the edge. It may come down to a battle of the midfields, but that doesn't mean we will automatically lose. If its a nice night, and we back ourselves, I think we CAN win. That's not to say we WILL win. The crows have played top footy in 2005, as reflected in their position on the ladder. It will be a fight. A challenge. I hope the boys are up to it.
Agree. Think we are a big shot. Our top midfield rotation can match it with Adelaide's. It's whether our next lot, Alvey, Winderlich, Thomas, McVeigh etc can make an impact on the match.
rule of four
3 Jun 2005, 13:34
the one area we can really dominate is if we convert more than 80% of our scoring shots. With a slightly qweak forward line consisting of the likes of Ian Perrie and Hayden Skipworth if Lloy, Lucas and Hird are on fire we can really inflict a fair amouint of damge. We also need Lovett to c\overcome some close taggin and really run through the lines and give us a bit of pace
I would have thought your best chance would be to shut the game down and make it a down and dirty scrap.
Then it will come down to whose froward line uses the chances better and for me Essendon has the much better forward line. If the game is open adn free flowing I think we will win easily.
celtic_pride
3 Jun 2005, 14:54
Crows will win by about 48 points I reckon.
Lance Uppercut
3 Jun 2005, 14:56
haha Celtic I have to admire the passion with which you hate Essendon. It's a huge compliment :)
eastaugh36
3 Jun 2005, 17:37
haha Celtic I have to admire the passion with which you hate Essendon. It's a huge compliment :)
He has little to be excited about. They are a rabble with a terribly negative game plan.
I would have thought your best chance would be to shut the game down and make it a down and dirty scrap.
Then it will come down to whose froward line uses the chances better and for me Essendon has the much better forward line. If the game is open adn free flowing I think we will win easily.
I disagree.
Your mob get the ball inside fifty more than most but you fail to capitalise. Adelaide is one team where you can afford to role the dice and play open football. If we can get some quick clean ball into an open forward line then we're a show.
If it becomes congested and becomes bang, crash, clearance footy then adelaide have more guys who can win it from a stoppage and we will pay on the scoreboard.
Crows will win by about 48 points I reckon.
Is that you karl?
Riddell_Bombers
3 Jun 2005, 20:09
About as high as Karl Norman on match day. :D
I disagree.
Your mob get the ball inside fifty more than most but you fail to capitalise. Adelaide is one team where you can afford to role the dice and play open football. If we can get some quick clean ball into an open forward line then we're a show.
If it becomes congested and becomes bang, crash, clearance footy then adelaide have more guys who can win it from a stoppage and we will pay on the scoreboard.
You make sense, but conversely, since we don't have a forward line that can take contested grabs, we need an open attacking 50 where we can utilize our midfield dominance with marks on the lead.
A nice, free-flowing game brings Welsh into play, Perrie can actually have an influence and our forward line can look a little dangerous.
Clog it up, slow the game down, and we will struggle to kick goals. With your forward line, I'd back you to outscore us in that situation.
Having said that, I'm expecting Sheeds to go on the attack. You have the guns, they're playing well and you'll take it right up to us.
Should be a good one.
Darealrath
4 Jun 2005, 13:17
Really looking forward to the match tonight to see where we're at. You don't get soft wins vs this Crows team at AAMI.
I have no feeling at all of how we'll go though...
;) if Sir James is on song we are in for a big chance!!!
EssendonPride
4 Jun 2005, 20:02
No Scott Welsh but we're still having trouble capitalizing
I rate Essendon a 0% chance of beating Adelaide
Seems i was 100% right :D
Seems i was 100% right :D
lol looks that way , i didnt tip us but i thought we would show a little more fight. :(
Stealth bomber
5 Jun 2005, 01:52
I don't see how so many people were so confident (not necessarily here but other places).
Adelaide's just about the worst kind of matchup for us. Big bodies who thrive on stoppages and clearances against a bunch of ********weak kids and stupid, undisciplined senior players.
Doesn't really help when everybody forgets to play defense.