Mid-season Review

[pjcrows]

This thread is for discussions about the season on the whole so far, and how we are shaping up for September. Feel free to contribute!

Adelaide - 7W 5L - 111.8%

[jo172]

With the injuries we've had i think you have to be pretty happy with that midway in the season as we get players back it should improve:thumbsu:

Also impressive if you consider that we've lost games particularly against Freo, Collingwood and Geelong which were very close and winnable games meaning with some different umpiring/goal kicking/luck we might have been 9 or 10 wins right now.

I think we're set up as well now as we have been in the last two years particularly when the eveness of the 2007 league is considered. The race for the premiership is wide open with up to 5 or 6 sides imho having at least a chance to take home the flag

[relapse]

Our next four games are

WCE (AAMI)
Haw (AAMI)
StK (TD)
Freo (AAMI)

we have to win at least 3 out of those 4 games to have a chance at top 4.

[- PC -]

Lost games we should have won and lost players regularly.

Makes it tough but the players should be satisfied with the position

Griffin has stood up

Jericho still polarises views

Thompson AFC gun 2007

Reilly started to show his value

McLeod has played some great games and some solid ones

Edwards up and down

Goodwin has had his moments

Van Berlo developing nicely

The back 6 :thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu: Rolls Royce class

Hudson going well after injury

Knights has found his mojo

[CrowMagnum]

Lambs at home

Lions away

[Stiffy_18]

Considering everything thats been going on so far this year, I am very happy to be 7-5 at the break. More pleasing is the fact that some younger players have really stepped up a notch or two (Thommo, Reilly, VB, Knights) and we have also found a gem in Griffin. Most of our big guns have had quiter year by their standards.

Overall, very happy thank you very much :thumbsu:

[Dandy_GO]

Looking at last years ladder, Sydney were sitting on 7/5 at this stage, and Freo were 6/6, and our percentage is a hell of a lot better than either of theirs were, so top 4 isn't out of the question.
Taking into account that there's some inexperienced sides in the 8 who will probably drop off as the year progresses (Hawthorn, Collingwood, possibly Essendon), and we're every chance to grab 3rd or 4th.
If we win our next two games, we might even be a show for second, and we're every chance with some of our quality players set to return (Burton, Reilly, Goodwin). If we can keep a strong side on the park for the rest of the year, I'm confident we can go somewhere, but a lot depends on our next few weeks.
Have not had the best first half of the season, but there's no reason to write off the year.

[Kickin_Goals]

Won't be worrying about percentage, we don't lose by much and can win by a fair margin getting the wins will have percentage doing fine.
These other teams that are getting big wins other then Geelong seemingly have the ability to be beat convincingly as well.

[kimirocks]

I'm very happy with where we are at at the moment, given the injuries and what not. At the beginning of the season I though that we would have 1 from our first 4, and then building from there. As it happens we are now 7-5. We lost by a point to Fremantle and by 7 to Geelong. I will say that we deserved to lose to Essendon, Collingwood and Melbourne, even though we shouldn't have lost those games, so with a little bit of luck 9-3 and flying in 1st, but it's not to be, and we only have ourselves to blame.

Many players have stepped up this season, Scott Thompson, Chris Knights and Nathan van Berlo have taken over the midfield. Brent Reilly was really showing something, but has been injured for the last month or so, he was really in the stepping up category. Our midfield has seen a regeneration, and partially due to Huddo's injection, but the young ones have grown into their roles magnificently.

The injuries, well with 4 of our highest goal kickers (meaning Roo, Birdman/Birdbrain, Biggles, Rowdy) from last year all out for a majority of this season there has been a lot of makeshift decisions up forward. Hopefully Burton will be back fit soon and firing with Roo. The rucks have been well and truly ****ed all season for choice. Biglands, Meesen and Maric all out up until recently, leaving the 2nd ruck on Griffin, but boy has he stepped up. I think we can all see now what the club saw a few years ago when they took the little weed in the rookie draft. He never showed anything, but boy the kid has some skills. We all realise the boy needs some body, but he's shown a lot in the last 12 rounds, and has contributed well to all 7 of our wins. What Meesen and Maric do to get back in the team, time will tell, but for now Griffo has them covered.

I must point out as fd88 noted upon, Scott Welsh. Now I was only thinking about this a few hours when I was checking the teams stats, that gee, he's kicked 29 already, and most would agree he was out of form except a few matches. If he can string the final 10 games together without getting injured or having his 2nd half brain fades, there is no reason why he can't end up with 65-70 goals, and really contributing to our claim for premiership glory.

Looking at the run home, 7 more wins would be my prediction, so 14-8. It is quite a comfortable fixture, 3 of the next 4 at home (and 6 of the final 10 games). If we beat West Coast, of which for once I am extremely confident of, then we should make the Top 4, no problems, providing we don't walk under any more ladders or break any more mirrors.

[*PAF]

World according to *PAF (Part 2,475,351 Version 3.7)
WARNING, WARNING, WARNING.
AR-HOO-OO, AR-HOO-OO
Sensitive souls such as Springy should skip this post as they may find it disturbing. :)


Here's a few observations and must admit I have not seen all of your games this year but enough to make an opinion that is not based on regurgitating commentator's opinions nor formed from reading other posts. Purely my own, don't like them? Well Johncock to you. ;)
PS That now includes the replay of nearly all of the last quarter from last night.

The game plan has supposedly changed. This was said by Walls on TV and in a few posts I read on here last night.
My opinion is Nyet, Nada, No, Bull, etc etc.
No change to gameplan whatsoever. If anything the Roos failed to look at "older" Crows tapes and viewed only the reduced players stock gap one.
It was your standard gameplan. The gameplan you have been implementing when you have enough of the right players on the park. It relies on fast smart rebound and with a fit Johncock and McLeod, plus assists from a few other players, it is deadly. Nothing new to see there, move along please.
Get Birdman back on the wing and it will be even better. Anyone that says you are not one of the main premiership chances (with fit players to choose from) has rocks in their head.
By fit players I do not mean every player to choose from, just the main ones and IMO they are the rebounding ones much more so than your forwards.
Get all of your "non long term injury listed" players back (fit and firing) and ...

Development of younger players so far is very good. No top shelf skills and speed type players but genuinely good solid ones and bit more than that with a couple of them.
Before the start of the year I posted that the player to watch with interest this year was Knight, from a perspective of taking the SANFL form to AFL level with improved foot skills etc, well IMO he is still not quite there but is obviously working very hard at doing just that, 10/10 to the lad for effort and not much more can be asked.
VB, well I’ve said enough about him in the past and has done nothing to say he will not live up to the high expectations.
Griffin, :thumbsu: one of those promising players with a capital P. For some reason I get the impression that his potential is not rated on this board as high as it should be. If he develops accordingly he could end up being seriously good.

Your 50 -100 game players are now showing the consistency that comes with them and some of the posters (quite a few actually) that judged them too harshly prior to this milestone should start cooking some alphabet soup.
Plenty more soup to come to these very same posters (and a few more down the road) when some Port players get to the same milestone but hey, that's another story.
Back to topic.


Overall

Backline _ Solid and smart. Top shelf.
Players knowing their roles 10/10.
Ability of all players to carry out those roles 9/10.
Ability to alter gameplan to suit 6/10 (not sure if they are allowed to think too much)
Rebounding ability Vs other teams in both quality and speed whilst not losing focus on their primary jobs 8/10



Midfield_ Solid, tough big bodied 7/10
Lacks players with genuine speed and genuine foot skills, all other areas just about 9 to 10/10.



Forwards 6-7/10
Sure, there is no outright champion but Bock, McGregor, Perrie and Walsh all contribute if given a chance. All work hard and make their presence felt.
This means opposition's backline must be accountable or pay the price. Missing a genuine crumber and a genuine defensive mid sized forward, however the way your youngsters have been brainwashed to play they make up for some of these shortfalls.


Ruck 6.5/10
You all know I rate Hudson very highly but you are one ruckman short till the youngsters come up to AFL speed.


Overall still one of the primary premiership chances.

[jo172]

Forwards 6-7/10
Sure, there is no outright champion but Bock, McGregor, Perrie and Walsh all contribute if given a chance. All work hard and make their presence felt.


Brilliantly put *PAF. For all the bagging of especially Welsh and Bock the last couple of weeks people have been ignoring just how long it has taken to get the ball into the forward line. Every forward line in the competition is ten times as effective when the ball is put in there long and quickly!

[Kane McGoodwin]

Some good posts by kimirocks & PAF.

The key to our 2nd half of the season & our premiership chances will be getting back our injured players & settling the team down (& hopefully having a better run with injuries than the 1st half of the season).

I was surprised to hear that Perrie & Burton should return along with Goodwin for the the next game. Who will be the 3 players to make way? Some hard choices. Perhaps Jericho, Torney & Porplyzia? Wouldn't want to be the selectors.

[Markthirtytwo]

Our next four games are

WCE (AAMI)
Haw (AAMI)
StK (TD)
Freo (AAMI)

we have to win at least 3 out of those 4 games to have a chance at top 4.

WCE (AAMI) Not playing well away, but we aren't at home either. Could go either way.
Haw (AAMI) We play well and shut down running sides and this could be the breaking game
StK (TD) Don't take things too lightly but we should beat them; Melbourne anyone? :rolleyes:
Freo (AAMI) Just show Pav where his future lies.


Very happy where we are sitting allowing for our inconsistancy and injuries. I know we can get better but we can't afford to carry more injuries into the 2nd half without it costing us dearly.

[crowman_23]

Happy with where we are sitting considering the things that have gone against us. The win against the Roos was a very important one going into the break.

Some big games coming up which could truly make or break our season. We must do everything we can to make that top 4. I believe that since the new final 8 system was brought in no side outside the top 4 has gone on to win the flag.

I quite like where we are sitting in comparison to the last two years. In those years we were dominant and things could only go wrong. This year we may play it a little like Sydney. Don't do a heap throughout the year but sneak up on sides and finish in the top four.

We need to find our form at the right time of the season and this year we may be priming at the right time. We have been playing well against the better sides in the comp and hopefully we can sneak in the top four and really do some damage this year.

I still hold that outside hope of a premiership. It's a long shot but you just never know. We still have the list, we just need to find our peak performance at the right time and really make it count. We owe it to ourselves after throwing away two brilliant opportunities in the last two season.

Come on you Crowies. Lets come home hard in the second half of the season and get our great unit firing. We can do it.

[flackjack]

Forwards 6-7/10
Sure, there is no outright champion but Bock, McGregor, Perrie and Walsh all contribute if given a chance. All work hard and make their presence felt.




Scott Walsh :D

Good post though, very rare to find such posts from opposition fans.

[SpringChoke]

Player Highlights:

Knights - Is coming along nicely. Could possibly develop into a top tier midfielder. Doing more of the 1%.

VB - See Knights.

Reilly - Before injury, he really impressed. His hardball get is now a strength. Beautiful disposal. On the verge of something special.

Thommo - Has become the player we hoped he could be. Brilliant in close, hard at it, future captain. I always thought he was the most likely to replace Roo long term, this year he has shown he deserves it. More than adequate captain in the same vain as Bicks, Roo, McDermott. Thanks Chocco.

Hudson - Wow what a return. He shouldn't be playing as good as he has. 4th in hardball gets, say no more. Love his aggression.

Griff - Developing nicely.

Rutten - Back to 2005 form.

Shirls - A very important component of our midfield.

Macca/Goody

Bassett - As reliable as ever.

Doughty - After a slow start to the year, has been good the last couple of weeks. Actually, he's been very good.

Players Low lights:

Injuries/illness to Pfeiffer/Maric/Gill and Meesen. I was really looking forward to watching the development of these guys and was hoping they would see some AFL footy.

Jericho - Nothings changed.

Bock - One good game every two months doesn't make a player. Needs to find consistency. I don't believe he's a forward.

Vince - Tries his heart out but I doubt he has enough tricks to make it at this level.

[topjars]

Knights just needs to learn how to kick...not kick straight. Why does he lean back when he kicks it?...he looks so off balance and its costing him goals.

[topjars]

Im reasonably happy where we are at at the half way mark considering the injuries, team changes, umpiring and mental aptitude in games we shouldve won.

Our 4 quarter consistency has got better in the last few games and for us to improve it will need to be sustained.

If we can get a stable lineup before august and keep it we will be a chance.

How the hell we are gonna fit Goodwin, Burton, Reilly and maybe Bode in the side escapes me.

I'm sick of the insinuation that the Crows play too much tempo football...hell, the other teams do it to.

Im not gonna rate all players but there are a few that need special mention for getting us to where we are.

1. Thompson - Would win the Yellow Jacket now if the votes were counted.
2. Hudson - If he wins AA selection I wont be surprised.
3. McLeod - Say no more:D

[writeoff]

I'm happy with where we're at right now. 7-5 is acceptable given the injuries sustained and that we haven't been playing at our best. Opposition sides still respect us but are not gunning for us like last year. Positives have been Hudson's form since returning from a knee reconstruction, Van Berlo, Thompson and Reilly's improvement in the midfield. Knights has contributed but still needs to improve his disposals but looks like being a great player by the time he has played 50-65 games. The back six have been solid again and the rebound has improved with Johncock's return. The forwards have all contributed with no-one standing out. It has been good to see McGregor return as he is probably the best player in the team for contested marks. We miss Bode's desperation and defensive skills. Encouraging signs from Griffin and Porps who will both improve considerably more with another 40 games and 2 more preseasons. We are a definate shot at the top 4 and that puts us in a position to win the premiership.

[kimirocks]

1. Thompson - Would win the Yellow Jacket now if the votes were counted.

He would have to be so far in front now that nobody could catch him in the second half, surely, maybe Macca, I don't know, but by far this seasons stand out player.

[jenny61_99]

He would have to be so far in front now that nobody could catch him in the second half, surely, maybe Macca, I don't know, but by far this seasons stand out player.

I would think Knights might even be in there with a chance!

[kulak]

Form seems disappointing so far, probably due to:
-- injuries; and
-- the emphasis on defence, hence wins not seeming convincing.

If we put together a good run, I reckon we are an excellent chance for Top 4, because I don't hugely really rate some of the teams above us.

[Crow-mo]

I would think Knights might even be in there with a chance!

er. no. :eek:

he's not going to be winning this year.

[*PAF]

Scott Walsh :D

Good post though, very rare to find such posts from opposition fans.
Missed this one.
From experience (reading posts both on this board and other ones) a lot people that post these sorts of replies are also the ones that get all huffed up when an opposition supporter posts even mildly negative thoughts.

Hope you're not going to be one of them hey? ;) :)

[birdmanptr]

Forwards 6-7/10
Sure, there is no outright champion but Bock, McGregor, Perrie and Walsh all contribute if given a chance. All work hard and make their presence felt.
This means opposition's backline must be accountable or pay the price. Missing a genuine crumber


Overall still one of the primary premiership chances.

What a excellent post :thumbsu:

2 key points for me is the forward line crumber really stood out against the Roos if we did not mark it and the ball hit the ground it was gone.

Have to disagree about a premiership chance unless every thing goes or way for a long time