Preview R8: Changes vs. Carlton - Nicks Sucks and Must be Sacked

[Doctor B]

We already have a very young and inexperienced side

The last five weeks Adelaide
92.3 games experience and 25.6 average age.

For comparison the last five weeks Fremantle
79.3 games and 24.7 age

Gold Coast
86.8 games and 24.9 age


Players under 50 games this week, two have been automatic selections this year, Worrell & Keane.
Curtin 14
Taylor 12
Nank 28
Worrell 37
Keane 38

 

[SugarShane]

What's Rankine being paid? His best is amazing, but how often are we getting his best? Though possibly more to do with how we are using him, poorly.

You kind of have to pay someone like Rankine or Dawson a bit more though to shake them out of the tree.

 

[Cromulant]

You kind of have to pay someone like Rankine or Dawson a bit more though to shake them out of the tree.

With Rankine, and to a lesser extent Dawson... we've moved him too much towards the midfield. We need his brilliance forward of the ball.

He's been perfectly fine in the middle, but we need more.

 

[Doctor B]

With Rankine, and to a lesser extent Dawson... we've moved him too much towards the midfield. We need his brilliance forward of the ball.

He's been perfectly fine in the middle, but we need more.

I know we can't ace every draft pick, but McAsey instead of Young or Serong hurts.

 

[GROTTO]

Maccas?

Sitting outside at a cafe.

I wouldnt rule out him ordering the fried chicken panini from there.

 

[Cromulant]

I know we can't ace every draft pick, but McAsey instead of Young or Serong hurts.

Yep it certainly does.

I mean Young played his first few years as a half back, much like Dawson.

 

[Interloperer]

With Rankine, and to a lesser extent Dawson... we've moved him too much towards the midfield. We need his brilliance forward of the ball.

He's been perfectly fine in the middle, but we need more.

Given the current situation it's the rational and correct decision to play Rankine in the middle.

I don't know if Nicks/The rest of the club have fully internalised that this is a compromise for the good of the team. Or if they've dreamed up some fiction where he's tearing it up as much as ever due to the intrinsic superiority of midfield minutes

 

[Cromulant]

Given the current situation it's the rational and correct decision to play Rankine in the middle.

I don't know if Nicks/The rest of the club have fully internalised that this is a compromise for the good of the team. Or if they've dreamed up some fiction where he's tearing it up as much as ever due to the intrinsic superiority of midfield minutes

He's a few better shots at goal away from having a ridiculous season so far.

My theory is those shots are being taken under greater fatigue so he's not as accurate, likewise field kicking. Now this will improve the more he plays in there.

We are certainly missing his presence i50 though, even if i expect Rachele to be better this week.

 

[adelaidecrows]

And let's be honest here, do we really think a 33 year old Brodie will be immediately up for the pace/intensity of AFL after not having played at this level since July of 2024?

Obviously that's Nicks fear, a junior won't be ready to play so Smith with experience will be.

But will he?

its a fair point, if he isnt then yet another bit of evidence against Nicks. But is his output even if he is up to it, going to be far superior to one of the rookies.

 

[Scorpus]

Some really interesting stats on the effectiveness of our midfield



While we win clearances, we are in the quadrant that scores a below average amount from clearance.



We also score the third least points per clearance according to this chart. And while we love to burst out of stoppage with first possession that's not translating into scoring.

The data at first glance also suggests that teams that don't immediately burst from stoppages at first possession typically score at a higher rate from each stoppage. Is that a suggestion of more system at work?

 

[1990crow]

Some really interesting stats on the effectiveness of our midfield

View attachment 2302374

While we win clearances, we are in the quadrant that scores a below average amount from clearance.

View attachment 2302376

We also score the third least points per clearance according to this chart. And while we love to burst out of stoppage with first possession that's not translating into scoring.

The data at first glance also suggests that teams that don't immediately burst from stoppages at first possession typically score at a higher rate from each stoppage. Is that a suggestion of more system at work?

These stats alone should suggest the personnel is wrong.

 

[Golumless]

I’m surprised Murphy and somehow McHenry isn’t included in the squad. Absolutely sickening how Draper is omitted in the squad when it’s the perfect time for him to replace Crouch.

Don’t get me started with Brodie Smith and Berry. Edwards or Dowling deserve the nod

We've already mucked around with Draper replacing Crouch, and it didn't go that well (picked up 50% CBA against Gold Coast).

It's likely the lack of preseason has knocked that out as an option at this point.

 

[Cromulant]

We've already mucked around with Draper replacing Crouch, and it didn't go that well (picked up 50% CBA against Gold Coast).

It's likely the lack of preseason has knocked that out as an option at this point.

He's mentioned it himself in recent weeks.

It's why they need not play him in Pt Lincoln tomorrow. Give him a spell for a week

 

[CrowBloke]

Not that I've thought about it that much but who on our list would you currently say is "theoretically overpriced"?

NICKS.

SACK HIM.

 

[Interloperer]

My theory is those shots are being taken under greater fatigue so he's not as accurate, likewise field kicking. Now this will improve the more he plays in there.

He also has to make more consistently "sensible" decisions in midfield. Particularly since oppositions have kind of worked out Adelaide's system. It's hard to flick a switch back to high risk-high reward mindset.

The data at first glance also suggests that teams that don't immediately burst from stoppages at first possession typically score at a higher rate from each stoppage. Is that a suggestion of more system at work?

Early in the season they were breaking even on scoring from stoppage, but making more meterage. Indicating that the typical stoppage was in the Adelaide defensive half, but they were using it to score from counterattack. Adelaide weren't really needing to pin it in to get forward half stoppages, because they'd already scored by that point.

On the flipside, because stoppages were generally in the defensive half, opponents scored more often from them.

The attacking part of that equation has dried up as the season has progressed due to complications like "the other team". But not much has been done to stop the opposition

 

[CrowBloke]

Like a vampire sucking the life out of AFC..

What really concerns me:
1) where we would be if we'd sacked him at the end of 2023, or mid-2024?
2) the negative impact he has on younger players' form and general aspirations courtesy of his selection policies and uninspiring Game Day plans/changes etc
3) every day we keep him on is a day lost/wasted.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Think people are overreacting to selection this week. Had Crouch, Murray and Hinge been available there would only have been one change and that was resting Draper after his introduction to AFL as an 18 year old.

 

[Huang LoWel]

Think people are overreacting to selection this week. Had Crouch, Murray and Hinge been available there would only have been one change and that was resting Draper after his introduction to AFL as an 18 year old.

That still would have been a fail by Nicks and the selection committee. Crouch had to be dropped even if fit and ROB should be too.

 

[CrowBloke]

Think people are overreacting to selection this week.

People are reacting badly with good reason to Smith's recall.
He's done and dusted.
Nicks could have brought in a player worth developing, exposed them to the furnace of a Home Game <== all good for their future and that of the AFC.
But, NO, not good-old-Nicksy ...

Had Crouch, Murray and Hinge been available there would only have been one change

Yeah, but the reality is they are NOT. Yours is a pointless hypothetical.
I've got a hypothetical for you --- "If we had a better Coach ... etc etc", but we don't.

and that was resting Draper after his introduction to AFL as an 18 year old.

NOT "rested" by the Club's own admission/wording.
"OMITTED" and we are right to wonder why.

("OUT: Crouch (hip), Murray (knee), Hinge (suspension), Draper (omitted). ")

SACK NICKS, asap.

 

[rocket18]

The last five weeks Adelaide
92.3 games experience and 25.6 average age.

For comparison the last five weeks Fremantle
79.3 games and 24.7 age

Gold Coast
86.8 games and 24.9 age


Players under 50 games this week, two have been automatic selections this year, Worrell & Keane.
Curtin 14
Taylor 12
Nank 28
Worrell 37
Keane 38

Its bizarre there are people that still think we are a young inexperienced side, I thought the only person that stupid to believe that was Nicks - hence rushing back an injured Crouch, selecting Murphy and Smith with minimal injuries.

 

[aabp1978]

Is this his quote from a press conference?

Adam Kelly…

 

[Doctor B]

Burns talking about dropping Draper

 

[MRB37]

Burns talking about dropping Draper

"We've got some AFL mids that are playing some reasonable footy..."

Wow, don't even need to play good footy to keep your spot. Unless you're named Sid Draper.

 

[thebirdman 24]

The sooner we move on Nicks, Burns and Van Berlo the better.

They have proven time and time again they cannot develop midfielders and if they stay, they will ruin Dawson, Draper and another generation of talent.

The only player that has been a success that we have recruited and developed as a pure midfielder is Soligo and even he is regressing now because he is bearing the brunt of all the defensive work. Look at Berry, Shoenberg, Jones, Mchenry. All in the bin (or close to). Dowling will join them under this coaching regime.

I still think Dawson will be be an elite midfielder rather than half back we just have no idea how to use him and free him up.

It doesn't help we have the worst first ruck going around who can't find our midfielders but that is a list management problem.

 

[Cromulant]

Burns is even more uninspiring than Nicks, if that's possible