Preview R4: Changes vs. Gold Coast Suns (Match of the Round!!!)

[skam85]

It’s a long postoff!

119 and Crowbloke's phones

 

[Geoffa32]

It seems the stats say if we dont get a turnover we dont score

Worrell, Michalanney and even Laird are a big reason for our good start.

May not have direct turnovers. But their work in creating team turnovers has been pretty good.

 

[SLOWNE]

Jesus, what a tirade of abuse seemingly all over Milera being chosen above Nank THIS year? That can’t be all you have - surely?

What part of it is wrong?

We have got a young, tightknit group of talented youngsters. If they begin to feel like there is no reward for effort re selection integrity, it only can lead to bad things. Nank was the encumbent in the position, had a better preseason, performed better in the preseason games and was best on in our first SANFL game.

 

[119others]

It’s a long postoff!

Yes very true and won’t bore anyone - mainly myself - with continuing in this vein.

 

[FR0GGY]

Yes very true and won’t bore anyone - mainly myself - with continuing in this vein.

People don’t have to read it if they don’t want to.

 

[OzSparrow]

Were a bottom 4 club from 2024.... I get your point and more data is more evidence. I think its the way were winning which isn't being taken seriously yet.

I got the chance to watch a game from last year against Melbourne and my god it was infuriating to watch us stand there and switch the ball then bomb the ball to nobody.

Not as bad as the Round 2 match against Freo where we scored a grand total of 34 points and stumbled around like witches hats all game. Excruciating to watch.

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Tonight will be a BIG test for the Vaderlist.

Rule One; Always replace like for like*.

Based on the preseason and first three matches the list is as follows;

Tall Defenders
Murray, Worrell, Keane ……next in line Borlase, Butts
Is Borlase permanently in front of Butts or is it a temporary fitness thing?

Medium/Small Defenders
Michalanney, Laird, Hinge, Milera …..then Nankervis, Bond, Ryan/Edwards, Smith
Nankervis has been played at both half back and wing this year. Cumming can also move to half back. I think we have a greater need for a wingmen but time will tell

Ruck
O’Brien………….then McAndrew………………break glass option Turray.
Would we use Thilthorpe if ROB is not available (refer to rule one)?

Inside Midfielders
Dawson, Rankine, Soligo, Crouch……..then Peatling, Draper, Berry, Schoenberg, Murphy.
Currently Peatling and Draper are playing as Inside Mids/Forwards, will we move to a 5 player rotation (refer to rule 1).

Outside Midfielders
Cumming, Sholl, Curtin………..then Nankervis, Dowling, Jones
Not our strongest group hence we are playing Cumming on the wing.

Tall Forwards
Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Walker ……..then Curtin, Turray, Burgess.
If Tex is rested does Curtin take the third tall role and we bring in another small (my preference).

Medium/Small Forwards
Rachele, Keays, ANB………then Pedlar/Taylor/Murphy, Cook, Gallagher, Welsh
The BIG question is who is next in line, Pedlar, Taylor or Murphy. Playing Taylor as a forward so far this season gives me hope but we might find out tonight. Will we play Draper as a small forward while Rachele is missing?

Forward/Ruck
Thilthorpe……… Turray………………………………….……….Burgess

Midfield/Forwards
Peatling, Curtin, Draper then………Taylor/Murphy, Berry, Schoenberg

*Rule One; Always replace like-for-like UNLESS you can find a spot for Andy Otten….whoops I mean David Mackay..whoops again I mean Lachie Murphy.

 

[skam85]

People don’t have to read it if they don’t want to.

This guy, always playing the calm Switzerland role.
Someone make him a mod

 

[Geoffa32]

I agree with Fagan's recent comments re fixturing in Queensland.
Why is this being played in the middle of the day at this time of the year and not a night game?
Stupid fixture even acknowledging how shit both sides were last year.
Then we have a 5 day break after flying to and from Gold Coast after this? Ridiculous.
But hey it's the VFL after all.

TV

AFL is a theatre league.


Not that the Saturday night game is a blockbuster....

 

[119others]

Not feeling like it’s going to be that hot and humid on Saturday at this stage. Last night was first doona night since last year. Hopefully the more moderate weather continues as the Lions game at the Gabba the other week was a shocker for heat and humidity and players the following week stated they felt ill effects

 

[OzSparrow]

Fixed that for you

Seriously folks:
If this idiot is picked tonight on the team list in the starting 22 you will hear my scream all the way in Adelaide from Melbourne.
He should NEVER again play AFL football for the AFC. Never.
He seriously struggles to meet SANFL standard let alone AFL.
End of rant.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Seriously folks:
If this idiot is picked tonight on the team list in the starting 22 you will hear my scream all the way in Adelaide from Melbourne.
He should NEVER again play AFL football for the AFC. Never.
He seriously struggles to meet SANFL standard let alone AFL.
End of rant.

I agree he shouldn't be picked but calling a Crows player that is not being a good supporter.

 

[GreyCrow]

Cant wait for the 10 page explosion at 5.55

 

[Cromulant]

Seriously folks:
If this idiot is picked tonight on the team list in the starting 22 you will hear my scream all the way in Adelaide from Melbourne.
He should NEVER again play AFL football for the AFC. Never.
He seriously struggles to meet SANFL standard let alone AFL.
End of rant.

I mean he shouldnt be in the AFL side, but hes a more than handy SANFL player

 

[Coopers]

Out of interest I checked out the team stats on Wheelo rating and there's some interesting categories that we are high up on to start the season.
#1 Disposals per opposition tackle
Bottom 4 for turnovers
#2 of Total possessions
#1 for Post clanger ground ball gets
#2 for center clearances (behind the Suns)
#1 for score off turnover
#2 score from stoppage (behind the Suns)
#1 for scores from defensive half
#2 for defensive 1 on 1 contests

This one is just cos we kick so many goals so there are more centre clearances.

The eye test says our % of winning centre clearances wouldn't be very good.

 

[Jinglebells32]

Yeah, but I LOVED those long bikerides (about 50 minutes to an hour or so), the solitude, the freedom. Home was not a happy place.
School was my Oasis/sanctuary.

We used to live at Edwardstown, near the Rubber Factory/Mill. From Colonel Light Gardens Primary, I started at DRHS, loved it.
Then my mother shacked up with a bloke (a truckie) who had a better house in Windsor Gardens, so we moved in with him. I got dragged along. I did not want to leave DRHS.
On wet days, I got the Buses across town.
If the weather was bike-ride-able, I did.

Didn't.
No time. Schoolwork at night. Worked on his trucks on weekends and when I wagged school. Hard yakka, but helped muscle and build development aged 14-15. Holidays ==> Interstate trucking trips.

See above.
Played for Camden post-Year 12, couple seasons, then drifted away from footy ==> Uni, Squash/Cricket, girls .

I went to Daws Rd high in year 8 in 1984 and hated it. Changed to Marion high after that. What years were you at Daws rd?

 

[Cromulant]

This one is just cos we kick so many goals so there are more centre clearances.

The eye test says our % of winning centre clearances wouldn't be very good.

I reckon we'd be 50% at best

 

[Vader]

This one is just cos we kick so many goals so there are more centre clearances.

The eye test says our % of winning centre clearances wouldn't be very good.

According to Wheelo we are averaging 16.0 centre clearances + 26.3 stoppage clearances per game. Those figures are equal 1st and equal 8th across the AFL respectively. Unfortunately, Wheelo doesn't give this stat in %, only in absolute numbers won.

Adelaide's games have been high scoring, resulting in a greater than average number of centre clearances. Even so, we'd still be in the upper half of the ladder on a percentage basis.

For what it's worth, our opponents to date have won:
StK: 11.7 CtrClr + 29.7 StopClr
Ess: 13.7 CtrClr + 26.7 StopClr
Norf: 16.0 CtrClr + 25.3 StopClr

Here's our record for total clearances for the first 3 rounds:
StK: 46 (Adel) - 42 (StK)
Ess: 38-39
Norf: 43-40

I'm not seeing any evidence here that our clearances "wouldn't be very good" - centre or stoppage.

 

[croweater 41]

Rowell to go mental

 

[Cromulant]

Rowell to go mental

He wouldnt have been playing on Crouch anyway, but yes

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

5th on differential.

Were can we check these stats?

 

[croweater 41]

He wouldnt have been playing on Crouch anyway, but yes

Crouch is our extractor which when Suns are winning the clearances by the length of Flemington straight against their opposition in the first 3 weeks it is not ideal.

 

[Cromulant]

Crouch is our extractor which when Suns are winning the clearances by the length of Flemington straight against their opposition in the first 3 weeks it is not ideal.

2 weeks, one against the Eagles.

Its not ideal I agree, thankfully we have some in form depth.

 

[George CantStandYa]

This guy, always playing the calm Switzerland role.
Someone make him a mod

Does that mean he could reverse other Mods infractions? If so Vote Froggy

 

[Sizzlepack]

Were can we check these stats?

Wheelo Ratings, the footy stats bible: https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats_team.html?comp=afl&season=2025