Review Bad, Ugly, and Horrendous vs Hawks

[FR0GGY]

Dude.

91 is still relevant

 

[Elite Crow]

91 is still relevant

It’s the last time we beat them at home

 

[Tex200]

I think we do tend to overrate our players both as supporters, and it seems, the club overall.

The reputation of our forward line far exceeds actual output. We’ve not really seen a period of dominance from them since the end of 2017.

Of course it’s not just them. There are the usual suspects of course, but even a player like Brodie Smith has never really reached any great heights since his AA year followed by that series of concussions.

We’ve shown considerable loyalty and patience with the core of this playing group for a number of years and yet they routinely disappoint.

They are ageing and if we are being objective/realistic they haven’t really achieved that much.

It’s only R1 so lots to still play out - WCE lost its R1 match last year by 29 points, and I’m sure no one is writing them off after last night either.

But ours is not a list profile that can be happy with sneaking into the 8, it’s a profile that must be challenging for top 4. Anything less this year and surely the club must look to the future and rebuild a fresh core.

 

[Sanders]

It's so unlike you to jump on a bandwagon to sink the slipper . I thought you'd know better by now than to rattle my chain .
You're smart enough --- or you fake being smart enough, more likely --- to understand logic, so here's some just for you:
--- I explained several times why I watched Keath closely, looking for good things to happen. I repeat, I was happy he was selected and on reflection maybe my perception of his game was distorted by my high expectations of/for him. Reality is like that (see below).
--- I thought Keath had a poor game and said why, specifically, that his use of the ball was ineffective and he takes too long to dispose of it (and that was before I knew his DE was 50%). While Keath was thinking, Hawthorn were setting up.
--- while he had 20 possessions including 6 marks, he had only 2 tackles (the new kid, Jones, had 4!)
--- only 10 of those possessions were effective. By contrast, a week earlier Milera had 29 possessions @ 100% DE. Even you would agree that was a terrific effort.

1) everybody in here is allowed to voice an opinion and back it up with info to support that opinion. Thank you for verifying that, at least .
2) "So far from reality"?? You shouldn't have got me started.
"Reality" is subjective (look it up --- oh wait --- I just remember that you revile Googlers/Googling). One's perception is one's subjective reality, and mine was to be disappointed by Keath's game. You want to argue "reality" with me? Go for it!
Now, the weight of opinion in here is quite the opposite, so I've had to rethink my opinion (something you never do) which would probably change if I watched the game again out of respect for say Kane McGoodwin or jenny61_99, but
a) I don't have access or a copy to do that and
b) I never want to watch that game again. It was painful enough yesterday.
To all those who thought Keath played well, no worries. I won't be attacking you for being eg "silly" or out of touch with reality. He took a few good contested marks, stopping some Hawthorn advances, but 10 times out of 20 he disposed of the ball ineffectively. From maybe 5 of those the ball came back, quick-smart.

Now, off you go Sanders, to look for someone who'll tremble in your mighty shadow. Btw, loooove the new avatar which is big-headed (hence the mighty shadow, I suspect) and cringeworthy. So apt!

Cringe

 

[Elite Crow]

I think we do tend to overrate our players both as supporters, and it seems, the club overall.

The reputation of our forward line far exceeds actual output. We’ve not really seen a period of dominance from them since the end of 2017.

Of course it’s not just them. There are the usual suspects of course, but even a player like Brodie Smith has never really reached any great heights since his AA year followed by that series of concussions.

We’ve shown considerable loyalty and patience with the core of this playing group for a number of years and yet they routinely disappoint.

They are ageing and if we are being objective/realistic they haven’t really achieved that much.

It’s only R1 so lots to still play out - WCE lost its R1 match last year by 29 points, and I’m sure no one is writing them off after last night either.

But ours is not a list profile that can be happy with sneaking into the 8, it’s a profile that must be challenging for top 4. Anything less this year and surely the club must look to the future and rebuild a fresh core.

We never look to the future, we played Douglas and Mackay with Otten as the emergency. That says it all.

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

I’m not too fussed with the result. I kind of expected it to be honest. But some things need to change.

Mackay needs to be charged with fraud. He is and has not been an AFL footballer in 7+ years. How he gets selected is beyond me. We should start a poll on some website and send it to the coaches because clearly they have no clue.

Jacobs is like the old hound who can’t keep up anymore. Can’t jump, Mark, and is predictable.

Forward line isn’t working. Time to drop Jenkins, tex to FF and his job is just to lead and compete. Play as a forward, stop trying to do it all. Old fashioned lead up forward who provides blocks, sets up crumbing opportunities and takes his shots on goal. Fogarty to CHF, Lynch to the bench and play himmelberg as 2nd Ruck / forward. Betts plays, Jones and greenwood also forward.

Betts, tex, himmelberg
Jones, fog, Greenwood.

Jacobs out O’Brien in.

Geelong won with 4 first gamers. As did Port. We need some young fast legs. Even talia is close to being too slow Now.

 

[Elite Crow]

I’m not too fussed with the result. I kind of expected it to be honest. But some things need to change.

Mackay needs to be charged with fraud. He is and has not been an AFL footballer in 7+ years. How he gets selected is beyond me. We should start a poll on some website and send it to the coaches because clearly they have no clue.

Jacobs is like the old hound who can’t keep up anymore. Can’t jump, Mark, and is predictable.

Forward line isn’t working. Time to drop Jenkins, tex to FF and his job is just to lead and compete. Play as a forward, stop trying to do it all. Old fashioned lead up forward who provides blocks, sets up crumbing opportunities and takes his shots on goal. Fogarty to CHF, Lynch to the bench and play himmelberg as 2nd Ruck / forward. Betts plays, Jones and greenwood also forward.

Betts, tex, himmelberg
Jones, fog, Greenwood.

Jacobs out O’Brien in.

Geelong won with 4 first gamers. As did Port. We need some young fast legs. Even talia is close to being too slow Now.

Agree on Tex. His lack of mobility is telling, he needs to play as the traditional full forward which means Jenkins needs to move out of there.

 

[Scorpus]

I'd love to see our young guns like Jones given the same responsibility as Worpel was last night when everything is going to shit.

The other problem with our game plan is that when we DO win it under pressure, which we are capable of sometimes, we didn't have anyone that could read our rushed kicks in the air. And when we did read them, it was players like Murphy and Betts getting into position. We have so few genuine aerial threats, it's very worrying

 

[Sanders]

The ugly is really the fear, the what if time has come early on tex, JJ and Betts?

They’re not young and it will come soon, and often it comes falling off the table edge; seeing that performance makes you wonder what if?

It’s not pretty either to think about either

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I haven't watched the game (that treat awaits tomorrow) so can't comment on specifics

But as soon as Mackay was picked (even though we have a largely fit squad and rave about our drafting/development) we still rushed an underdone veteran back in.... and because of a one-week finger injury to Seedsman! Was enough for us to hit the panic button. No wonder our players show no composure.

Everyone would have felt the "Same old Adelaide" vibe emanating from the club as soon as that decision was made.

Contrast that with Port rolling out their draftees. Or even us having four kids on debut in Round 1 2009 at the MCG.

So what ...you wanted us to play every draftee too ....just to show you we were changing the guard ?

Those Port Draftees got up for R1 .....bloody tough ask to backup week after week .....plus what choices did Port actually have

I'm not even going to address the Mackay situation anymore .....it's gone beyond stupidity, the whole argument

 

[Scorpus]

Agree on Tex. His lack of mobility is telling, he needs to play as the traditional full forward which means Jenkins needs to move out of there.

I watched a number of our inside 50 replays last night and the number of times we had Jenkins, Walker and Lynch all doing the same thing was disgusting.

At times, all three would be within a 20m circle deep inside 50. None would lead. At other times, all three were outside 50 providing outlets to kick inside 50 to small guys outnumbered. There were times all three would lead into the pocket leaving space in the corridor for no one.

We have three supposedly versatile talls, why are they all copying each other?

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

When tex was dominating he was never as far up the ground. He was in the forward line, getting the ball 40-60m out, and was a selfish bastard taking every shot because he knew he could kick the goals. He had flair, a mullet, take no crap from anyone attitude and played like a player from the 80s.

He needs to go back to what he was doing before the knee.

 

[Bovo]

Good: it is only round 1. I thought I saw glimpses in Chayce Jones. I


Bad:malera. Although he worked himself
the game he still shows signs that he has not quite transitioned into the afl player we need.
Ugly: Not an acl.. noooooooo

THE CROWS HAVE TO STOP TALKING AND SHOW MORE. TALK IS CHEAP. SHOW US YOU MEAN IT. I THOUGHT WE WERE RIPE FOR THIS ONE BUT ONLY ONE CLUB SHOWED Desperation

 

[VSTone]

the good: The hat now fits.
the bad: Doedee injury.

 

[hey shorty]

Right so after a nights sleep I've collected my thoughts on yesterday.

I'm very grateful I've made changes to my life over the past 18 months or so that mean I don't hold onto the losses as much as I used to. It still hurts, but you get over it quicker. The one thing I am still flat about is Tom Doedee, gutted in fact. Even Richie Douglas, that should be his last AFL game, and no one deserves to go out injured.

Round 1 losses aren't the end of the world, indeed 5 of the 6 favourites have been done over. Difference with us though, is we shouldn't have been undercooked. Who is the one man you KNOW is going to have something up his sleeve ?? That's not an excuse for our coaches, rather an indictment.

I'm hesitant to chalk this one down as just a bad day, but when your 3 gun rebounding defenders fumble all day and miss targets, skilled players missing easy shots at goal (been a round wide trend), that's just what it was.

The issue we have isn't those players, they'll get better and probably won't all play that bad again. Even Mackay is unlikely to play this weekend. It's the captain, it's the ruckman and it's 2 small forwards who don't kick goals.

The midfield collective, they're all good players and they're all proactive.... issue is they can't be when they have a ruckman who taps 3 inches away from the contest. We have to have such a defensive setup up, so when we do actually win one we are on the back foot. It's at the point now where it doesn't matter how ROB plays, but he has to play...... but he won't.

The defence, 3 guys were worried about getting their own ball and not where their opponents are. Again, they won't fumble all day and miss targets again but they did us no favours. Keath was great and will only get better, Talia looked solid if a little underdone.

Forward line is our biggest issue. The mix is right, the players are wrong. Eddie still looked dangerous but delivery was poor. Lynch started brightly but needs to cut those dinky 15m passes to nowhere. Jenkins is in a tough spot, with Tex lumbering into what space he found he was never going to have a good day. Murphy is not a forward, nor is Knight. Pressure is one thing, but you actually need to have forward nous and be dangerous around goal. Time for Davis and Stengle.

The captain gets his own paragraph. It's time Tex, it's time. The injuries have taken their toll on the big fella and it's now not fair to have him out there. We didn't just give Sloane the captaincy to help out, we gave it so he could take over if this very situation arose. We have a 20yo Tex clone sitting in the 2s, he's big, he's aggressive, he kicks like a mule and he isn't afraid of the tough stuff..... just like Tex used to be like. We won't do it, but it's the biggest thing holding us back this year.

Our side is going to look so much better with Seedsman, Greenwood, Stengle/Davis and ROB in it..... So do it.

 

[hey shorty]

**** sorry that was a long rant.

 

[Scorpus]

So what ...you wanted us to play every draftee too ....just to show you we were changing the guard ?

Those Port Draftees got up for R1 .....bloody tough ask to backup week after week .....plus what choices did Port actually have

I'm not even going to address the Mackay situation anymore .....it's gone beyond stupidity, the whole argument

You obviously don't understand the point we're making which is why you defend the selection so easily

 

[hey shorty]

That may be the case. But we had plenty of players who sucked yesterday and Knight was ok.

If we want to keep him in, which it appears we do, then we actually have to find a role that suits him. He's not a forward, he's not a defender and he isn't an inside mid..... gotta be on a wing.

 

[Elite Crow]

The ugly is really the fear, the what if time has come early on tex, JJ and Betts?

They’re not young and it will come soon, and often it comes falling off the table edge; seeing that performance makes you wonder what if?

It’s not pretty either to think about either

I still think Betts has a role. He’s not going to dominate like the last but if he can get his couple of goals a game and still tackle inside 50 then he’s doing enough.

Jenkins and Tex are the worry. We can’t play both, you can’t have two immobile key forwards who don’t mark. We’ve got Himmelberg who has been on our list for a few years who needs to play. Also Fog.

Then because we can’t let go of our senior players we try to turn Douglas into a forward when we’ve got guys like Davis who should be tried.

Basically our forward line is old and stale. It needs rejuvenation.

 

[John Who]

Yes, it was a horrible game.

Can't be stuffed talking about the bad and the ugly. Rather I'll just focus on the positives:
- Keath had arguably his best game for us, his marking was a feature.
- Crouch bros were the better players and happy that Brad pulled up ok after 1st AFL match.

Everyone else looked fumbly and/or overcome by fear of making errors (which ironically caused more errors).

 

[Big Crow]

How you can pick out Milera from that debacle is a pretty special talent

You’re right, but everything else is like a broken record.

Bad: Atkins, Mackay, Jacobs, Walker. Tired and predictable, but yes true.

 

[Elite Crow]

If we want to keep him in, which it appears we do, then we actually have to find a role that suits him. He's not a forward, he's not a defender and he isn't an inside mid..... gotta be on a wing.

He played on the wing at times. We should never have brought in Mackay to play that role.

 

[Scorpus]

If we want to keep him in, which it appears we do, then we actually have to find a role that suits him. He's not a forward, he's not a defender and he isn't an inside mid..... gotta be on a wing.

There is no role for him. We've tried him everywhere over the years and there just isn't a position where he shines. It's a struggle forward, it's a struggle inside the contest and it's a struggle outside.

 

[Bernie L]

Don’t watch the game, I’ll summarise it for you:

Pressure applied
Failure to handle the pressure
Fumble
Bomb the ball
Turnover the ball
Don’t tackle
Don’t run
No movement
Lose bad

Oh and McEvoy smashed Jacobs despite Jacobs ineffectual 31 hit outs, so we are screwed in ruck this year

A couple of real valid points here EC.

We couldnt apply the same pressure that Hawthorn did and couldnt handle their pressure.
Farq we fumbled a lot.
Long bombs to Jenkins just dont work.
Disposal was very ordinary.
Hawthorns work rate was much higher.
Tex is better off at full forward.
Keath was very good.

Losing Doedee hurt, and will hurt for the rest of the year as it means Kelly will play.
McKay, Murphy, Jenkins, Kelly (even tho his stats say otherwise), Gibbs all poor.

Greenwood, Fog, and Gooch need to come in.

Oh, and by the way all you carrying on like chooks without a head, its a 23 round season.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

I’m not too fussed with the result. I kind of expected it to be honest. But some things need to change.

Mackay needs to be charged with fraud. He is and has not been an AFL footballer in 7+ years. How he gets selected is beyond me. We should start a poll on some website and send it to the coaches because clearly they have no clue.

Jacobs is like the old hound who can’t keep up anymore. Can’t jump, Mark, and is predictable.

Forward line isn’t working. Time to drop Jenkins, tex to FF and his job is just to lead and compete. Play as a forward, stop trying to do it all. Old fashioned lead up forward who provides blocks, sets up crumbing opportunities and takes his shots on goal. Fogarty to CHF, Lynch to the bench and play himmelberg as 2nd Ruck / forward. Betts plays, Jones and greenwood also forward.

Betts, tex, himmelberg
Jones, fog, Greenwood.

Jacobs out O’Brien in.

Geelong won with 4 first gamers. As did Port. We need some young fast legs. Even talia is close to being too slow Now.

As much as I agree with this post, I have no faith in the club actually making any of these changes. Sauce is more cooked than a Christmas turkey yet he will keep on getting games (not addressing the ruck situation is horrendous list management). ROB isn't a world beater and never will be but he has to be a better option than a dinosaur who can't cover any ground and routinely gets beaten in the air. Mackay is just another bog-average senior player that gets gifted games because of his age. In the mould of VB, Reilly and Doughty as players who played 200 games when they wouldn't even get close at most clubs. You can also guarantee that Douglas will be an automatic inclusion after he recovers from injury. There will be melts but I'm long accustomed to it.

So, unless the club can start to make any of these changes, then I have no faith in them challenging for the flag.