Review R20: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs. Port: Like taking candy from a baby

[Golumless]

A big tick for Nicks is that we kept pressing.

Percentage might be important.

But I wonder if that was done to stick the knife into Port further. Especially being Ken's last Showdown.


Think we saw a ruthless element in our coaches box last night.

Considering we're >135%, and that we put our foot off the pedal against thr Suns, percentage probably wasn't a concern here.

We did that purely to humiliate our rival.

 

[OldCrowBloke]

That one from McEntee was a pretty good kick. That’s there whipping boy kicking two

Interesting about McEntee - he had just 4 touches for the game

 

[Dirty Bird]

Still blown away by Tex having 3 goals and 4 goal assists in that weather.

Moves him up to #13 all time for goal assists.
Probably reach #12 by years end.
And if he plays one more year probably get to #10 (unless Bontempelli jumps him in the process)

 

[Hobbes]

Would love to see if there is a stat around the highest ever score in the wet

This won’t be it, but the margin might be. Scores in the 80s-90s were just bigger.

 

[matt1202]

I love how everyones so quick to write him off. The dude has been off for half a season with an injury. Needs to find his legs. 36 disposals while probably protecting his work rate is a solid effort. He is AFL quality and its amazing to me how people want him gone... for no other reason than to suit their narrative.

He will be selected. Get used it!

Unfortunately Crouch's career being 'done' is a bit of an obsession for certain posters on here. They can't just enjoy Sam Berry having a very good game without sinking the knife in.

Let's look at the facts with Crouch - he came back in from the cold at the back-end of 2023 and was superb. Based on the BnF voting in 2024, he would have been right up there with Keays and Dawson for the yellow jacket if he hadn't had that shoulder injury.

He then had a strong first few games this year before the hip slowed him down. Since coming back in at SANFL level, he's averaging 32 touches, 6.5 clearances, 15 contested possessions, 6 score involvements, 4 tackles, 80% disposal efficiency. All that while playing restricted minutes last week and clearly still working his way back to full fitness.

Berry has come on leaps and bounds this year - the fumbles have gone, he seems to have gained an extra burst of speed, his defensive pressure has always been there and he seems to now be finding a bit more of the ball.

My question mark is still how much he can impact the game against top-quality opposition - 3 of his bigger games have come against West Coast, Richmond and a Port side that basically waved the white flag. He can often struggle to impact the game the same way against the best teams, hopefully this is the next step he can take.

Listening to Nicks in his presser last week, when questioned about whether Crouch was still best 23 he twice described him as "at his best, one of the best mids in the comp", but that he needs a little more footy before being considered.

Judging by those words, I think he will come back in once they're confident on his fitness, but I think they will keep Berry in as well and switch things around slightly. I think they will want to keep the defensive pressure that has been a hallmark this year, whilst also solidifying our work around contest and stoppage. It was great last night, but sterner tests will come.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Unfortunately Crouch's career being 'done' is a bit of an obsession for certain posters on here. They can't just enjoy Sam Berry having a very good game without sinking the knife in.

Let's look at the facts with Crouch - he came back in from the cold at the back-end of 2023 and was superb. Based on the BnF voting in 2024, he would have been right up there with Keays and Dawson for the yellow jacket if he hadn't had that shoulder injury.

He then had a strong first few games this year before the hip slowed him down. Since coming back in at SANFL level, he's averaging 32 touches, 6.5 clearances, 15 contested possessions, 6 score involvements, 4 tackles, 80% disposal efficiency. All that while playing restricted minutes last week and clearly still working his way back to full fitness.

Berry has come on leaps and bounds this year - the fumbles have gone, he seems to have gained an extra burst of speed, his defensive pressure has always been there and he seems to now be finding a bit more of the ball.

My question mark is still how much he can impact the game against top-quality opposition - 3 of his bigger games have come against West Coast, Richmond and a Port side that basically waved the white flag. He can often struggle to impact the game the same way against the best teams, hopefully this is the next step he can take.

Listening to Nicks in his presser last week, when questioned about whether Crouch was still best 23 he twice described him as "at his best, one of the best mids in the comp", but that he needs a little more footy before being considered.

Judging by those words, I think he will come back in once they're confident on his fitness, but I think they will keep Berry in as well and switch things around slightly. I think they will want to keep the defensive pressure that has been a hallmark this year, whilst also solidifying our work around contest and stoppage. It was great last night, but sterner tests will come.

Messing with the team structure and chemistry for no other reason than to get Crouch back in would be insane.

 

[pjcrows]

Considering we're >135%, and that we put our foot off the pedal against thr Suns, percentage probably wasn't a concern here.

We did that purely to humiliate our rival.

With Geelong's run home, our percentage will remain important.

 

[Bay62]

Can't wait for the delicious tears of Kornes saying our tall forward line doesn't work again.

Hey on this, just saw him on one of the footy shows talking about the forward line and saying that “perhaps” he “didn’t really appreciate” earlier in the year that we often play two talls at a time, rotating the third off the bench

So you’re saying Kane that YOU NEVER ACTUALLY WATCHED ONE OF OUR GAMES, WHERE THIS IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS! Sometimes we play all three but not always

And by the way “didn’t really appreciate” isn’t the correct pronunciation for “sorry I was wrong”

He’s such a… and lets himself off the hook when he wouldn’t do that for anyone else

 

[Scorpus]

Messing with the team structure and chemistry for no other reason than to get Crouch back in would be insane.

He is the easiest delist we have at the end of this season

 

[spenze]

Indeed. He is a classic winger, moving from the defensive square to the attacking one, easily. Apart from his excellent goal-assist kicking, he also displayed a fierce tackling desire last night that was not so noticeable in his previous games.

That was what stood out to me, he has really ramped that up in his two games

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Listening to Nicks in his presser last week, when questioned about whether Crouch was still best 23 he twice described him as "at his best, one of the best mids in the comp", but that he needs a little more footy before being considered.

You have to be careful of any coach's public utterances ....he's not going to publicly assassinate Crouch

Nicks also said how great Smith was in each game ....but Smith is still in the SANFL

Question is, will Crouch get a new Contract at the end of the year ....I highly doubt it, as it'll impact Draper's development...and what about Edwards, Nank, and Taylor ....they, IMO are our future, not Crouch ....I've been on that train though for 3 years

 

[spenze]

He is the easiest delist we have at the end of this season

Second

 

[WaynesWorld19]

He is the easiest delist we have at the end of this season

Easiest ....probably Burgess

 

[matt1202]

Messing with the team structure and chemistry for no other reason than to get Crouch back in would be insane.

At the moment I'd agree, but I think they will want Crouch back in the 23 for finals. However, if we continue this form up against Hawthorn and Collingwood, then he might not get back in unless we have an injury.

My point is more about what I think they might do (based on Nicks and his very positive comments on Crouch, and Berry's improvement this year).

The games against Hawthorn and Collingwood will tell us so much. We are flying, but I think there's a few caveats with the 2 contenders we have played recently. The Bulldogs turned the ball over for fun against us (some through good pressure, but lots through their own errors) and we bulldozed them on transition because they can't defend. GC don't travel well and were missing some v. important players.

Don't get me wrong, we were great in both games and the signs look so promising - but the acid tests will be Hawthorn and definitely the Pies.

 

[Scorpus]

Easiest ....probably Burgess

Burgess is not AFL standard but he is a backup role player like McAndrew. I'd retain him on a nothing contract

Second

Murphy is the second easiest. Only because he's younger and can play multiple positions

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Burgess is not AFL standard but he is a backup role player like McAndrew. I'd retain him on a nothing contract



Murphy is the second easiest. Only because he's younger and can play multiple positions

2026 is time for Toby Murray as the backup, replacing Burgess ......then we need to see how Tyler Welsh progresses in year 2

Retaining Burgess will mean delisting a player we ought not delist

 

[matt1202]

You have to be careful of any coach's public utterances ....he's not going to publicly assassinate Crouch

Nicks also said how great Smith was in each game ....but Smith is still in the SANFL

Question is, will Crouch get a new Contract at the end of the year ....I highly doubt it, as it'll impact Draper's development...and what about Edwards, Nank, and Taylor ....they, IMO are our future, not Crouch ....I've been on that train though for 3 years

Agreed but Nicks has been glowing of Crouch in his pressers throughout the year - I get the impression (might be wrong) that he really rates what he can bring with our current mix in there.

For me, I think Crouch will crack the best 23 providing he gets to full fitness and is playing at his best, but obviously they have to decide if that will upset or (hopefully) further supplement the balance they have found. How we go against Hawthorn and Pies will tell us loads, as well as obviously how Crouch goes in the next 1-2 SANFL games.

I can totally see the argument that Berry suits the mix better and we are in cracking form. No problems with people thinking Crouch is no longer in our best team, but some of the comments on here are incredible. I read someone writing Crouch off as nothing more than a "good, honest SANFL player" the other day - wild.

 

[spenze]

Burgess is not AFL standard but he is a backup role player like McAndrew. I'd retain him on a nothing contract



Murphy is the second easiest. Only because he's younger and can play multiple positions

True, he was playing KPF a couple of weeks back with the way he was flying for I50 enteries

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Agreed but Nicks has been glowing of Crouch in his pressers throughout the year - I get the impression (might be wrong) that he really rates what he can bring with our current mix in there.

For me, I think Crouch will crack the best 23 providing he gets to full fitness and is playing at his best, but obviously they have to decide if that will upset or (hopefully) further supplement the balance they have found. How we go against Hawthorn and Pies will tell us loads, as well as obviously how Crouch goes in the next 1-2 SANFL games.

I can totally see the argument that Berry suits the mix better and we are in cracking form. No problems with people thinking Crouch is no longer in our best team, but some of the comments on here are incredible. I read someone writing Crouch off as nothing more than a "good, honest SANFL player" the other day - wild.

It's more about how the game has changed with an emphasis on scoring off turnover, than it is about Crouch as a footballer .....Crouch simply isn't suited to the transition game, he's a clearance beast .....and most sides have moved on from that emphasis, particularly as ball-up numbers are decreasing, and the 6 x 6 x 6 means speed off the mark by your mids is critical

 

[Scorpus]

2026 is time for Toby Murray as the backup, replacing Burgess ......then we need to see how Tyler Welsh progresses in year 2

Retaining Burgess will mean delisting a player we ought not delist

I can't see us making many changes. Burgess is also rookie listed so doesn't impact our minimum senior list changes.

It should be Crouch, Murphy gone and either one or both of Walker and Smith retired

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I can't see us making many changes. Burgess is also rookie listed so doesn't impact our minimum senior list changes.

It should be Crouch, Murphy gone and either one or both of Walker and Smith retired

Schoenberg must also be on shaky ground .....that said I'm not sure of the contractural status of Murphy and Schoenberg

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Good players always seem to have plenty of time & space .....Curtin knows what's around him at all times & never seems flustered or rushed .....he's a beauty

 

[pjcrows]

https://fiveaa.com.au/podcast/fiveaa-football/42bae08c-7992-46ed-b610-d78924100173/2025-07-26/post-match-calls-showdown-58-round-20-2025

 

[matt1202]

It's more about how the game has changed with an emphasis on scoring off turnover, than it is about Crouch as a footballer .....Crouch simply isn't suited to the transition game, he's a clearance beast .....and most sides have moved on from that emphasis, particularly as ball-up numbers are decreasing, and the 6 x 6 x 6 means speed off the mark by your mids is critical

I guess the coaches will have to weigh up whether what you might lose with Crouch in transition can be covered with the right mix around him - and whether his value in clearances, the contest and clean ball handling have more up-side, particularly in finals footy when I don't think we will be able to rely quite so heavily on scores from turnover against the best sides.

Of course, it will still be a big weapon for us - but the best teams turn it over less and will defend those turnovers better than some of the teams we have beaten up recently.

 

[Cromulant]

I love how everyones so quick to write him off. The dude has been off for half a season with an injury. Needs to find his legs. 36 disposals while probably protecting his work rate is a solid effort. He is AFL quality and its amazing to me how people want him gone... for no other reason than to suit their narrative.

He will be selected. Get used it!

Why should he be ??

Our side has CLEARLY performed better without him in it. Thats not to say Matt isn't an AFL quality player, he just doesn't have a place in our side, while Berry is doing his bit.