Review Semi final vs Hawthorn - Ugly, Historically Embarrassing and Pathetic

[GreyCrow]

I don't get the Draper hate in here.
He will be fine and the more games we can get into him the quicker he will get there. He is exactly the type of midfielder we need.

Same people who hated Curtin - that are now in love with him

 

[1970crow]

Not sure what you dont agree with? That nicks was outcoached or Crows lack of finals experience showed? They were like a deer in headlights against Collingwood, while continuing to kick down the line and straight to Moore.

That’s not deer in headlights, that’s Nicks’ strategy being deployed.

 

[1970crow]

I put a post up warning about the glaring issues in our game and midfield. Many on here dismissed it with things like "we dont need to win the midfield to win" and "our gameplan doesnt revolve around clearances and winning in the middle".

Well, it looks like they were wrong.
None are so blind than those who choose not to see.

What are you talking about, we didn’t even play last night, we won stoppages against Pies and went straight to the prelim.

 

[dogs105]

I don't get the Draper hate in here.
He will be fine and the more games we can get into him the quicker he will get there. He is exactly the type of midfielder we need.

Every player drafted before him (bar injured Smith) and 18+ players drafted later played more games than him this year. Not even considering the amount of times he was sub/subbed.

 

[CrowBloke]

I don't think it's all the coaching I think alot of the blame has to also be with the players.

It's on them to start the game well, it's on them to be prepared to bring pressure and execute. It's on them to take ownership of their own performances individually in which only about 4 players can say they played well in both finals.

This is going to sound corny but I think it's got to do with inspiration, which is as intangible a quality as whatever the malaise was that produced our Finals' failures this year.
Inspirational Coaches win Flags. Inspirational players lift their teammates.

I looked around at stirring Finals wins and read a few articles on the 1997 PF (and that Liberatore "goal", ha!) which we won after being 22 points down at 3/4 time.

After Blight had a go at him at 1/2 time, Rehn removed his knee brace and threw it away in the Locker Room.
Goodwin had a tight shot for goal from the forward pocket when they were 10 points down and slotted it, nervelessly.
Jarman went forward and kicked 3 in the last.
McLeod was moved onto the ball at 1/2 time.
Blighty had told the players: "Relax; it'll be all right".

Players noticed and were inspired.

Nicks doesn't inspire me by anything that he says or has done.
Nice bloke, he's an honest trier, and that's about as much as you can say for most of the side he's assembled, apart from stars like RT, Rankine, Dawson, nearly-Rachele and nearly-Milera at their best and never-give-up, loss-hating competitors like Worrell and MM.
Tex was a star but is fading. Smithers and Laird, too, former stars to whom Nicks has returned again and again in the hope that they will star again; but they don't.
Curtin's stardom is like a full moon rising over Mt. Lofty, big and bright, but it'll be a season or two before we see all of him.
Then there are the could-be-stars: Fogarty, Soligo, Draper (?), Pedlar (?), Taylor (?), Dowling (?).

What's missing? Laugh at me if you like, but I think it's inspiration.
Players who are inspired do things beyond what they normally do like an extra effort or a piece of Blighty-inspired team magic that lifts them to an improbable comeback and win.

Nicks does not inspire and whatever energising spirit the Crows had before Round 22 was sucked out of them by the Rankine slur and suspension.
What was missing from the NM game, the QF and SF last night was the spirit, fight and energy that took them to the top of the Table.

Even worse, we finished this year playing like we played in 2024.
Looking to 2026, where's the spark/inspiration going to come from?
I'm eff'ed if I k .

 

[The Karma Bus]

I wouldn't overestimate Balme's role. He's not in there as some king calling shots. He's not being paid.

The way he spoke about it, sounds more like someone they can bounce ideas off etc, just a bit of an advisor helping on some things. Those "running the show" days are behind him. While handy to have him, we were a day late again.

 

[1970crow]

To be fair he’s right about Drapers disposal and calmness with the ball, it was and is still is his knock.

On what basis does he go at 4? His use isn’t elite and if he has no composure, his decision making will be questionable.

 

[Syd Crow]

I wouldn't overestimate Balme's role. He's not in there as some king calling shots. He's not being paid.

The way he spoke about it, sounds more like someone they can bounce ideas off etc, just a bit of an advisor helping on some things. Those "running the show" days are behind him. While handy to have him, we were a day late again.

That's what I fear will be the case.

 

[Syd Crow]

This is going to sound corny but I think it's got to do with inspiration, which is as intangible a quality as whatever the malaise was that produced our Finals' failures this year.
Inspirational Coaches win Flags. Inspirational players lift their teammates.

I looked around at stirring Finals wins and read a few articles on the 1997 PF (and that Liberatore "goal", ha!) which we won after being 22 points down at 3/4 time.

After Blight had a go at him at 1/2 time, Rehn removed his knee brace and threw it away in the Locker Room.
Goodwin had a tight shot for goal from the forward pocket when they were 10 points down and slotted it, nervelessly.
Jarman went forward and kicked 3 in the last.
McLeod was moved onto the ball at 1/2 time.
Blighty had told the players: "Relax; it'll be all right".

Players noticed and were inspired.

Nicks doesn't inspire me by anything that he says or has done.
Nice bloke, he's an honest trier, and that's about as much as you can say for most of the side he's assembled, apart from stars like RT, Rankine, Dawson, nearly-Rachele and nearly-Milera at their best and never-give-up, loss-hating competitors like Worrell and MM.
Tex was a star but is fading. Smithers and Laird, too, former stars to whom Nicks has returned again and again in the hope that they will star again; but they don't.
Curtin's stardom is like a full moon rising over Mt. Lofty, big and bright, but it'll be a season or two before we see all of him.
Then there are the could-be-stars: Fogarty, Soligo, Draper (?), Pedlar (?), Taylor (?), Dowling (?).

What's missing? Laugh at me if you like, but I think it's inspiration.
Players who are inspired do things beyond what they normally do like an extra effort or a piece of Blighty-inspired team magic that lifts them to an improbable comeback and win.

Nicks does not inspire and whatever energising spirit the Crows had before Round 22 was sucked out of them by the Rankine slur and suspension.
What was missing from the NM game, the QF and SF last night was the spirit, fight and energy that took them to the top of the Table.

Even worse, we finished this year playing like we played in 2024.
Looking to 2026, where's the spark/inspiration going to come from?
I'm eff'ed if I k .

Not sure if inspiration explains everything, but I do know that listening to Nicks puts me in a coma.

 

[1970crow]

I wouldn't overestimate Balme's role. He's not in there as some king calling shots. He's not being paid.

The way he spoke about it, sounds more like someone they can bounce ideas off etc, just a bit of an advisor helping on some things. Those "running the show" days are behind him. While handy to have him, we were a day late again.

He provides the board his opinion on the performance of the program and the key employees. Prior to him the only expert on matters football was Roo, and his experience is extremely limited. He knows nothing outside of what we’d always done.

 

[Freomaniac]

Not sure what you dont agree with? That nicks was outcoached or Crows lack of finals experience showed? They were like a deer in headlights against Collingwood, while continuing to kick down the line and straight to Moore.

Not gonna sink the boots on the crows.

I don't think Nicks is a bad coach. Although I see similar vibes when the crows had Brenton Sanderson from 2012 to 2014.

Crows didn't play finals from 2018 to 2024.

But saying that, Richmond had a similar situation at one point too.

Tigers didn't make finals from 2002 to 2012. Tigers made 3 Elim finals from 2013 to 2015 before that 2017 flag.

I still think Richmond should of won at least 1 Elim final from 2013 to 2015. Should of been 2013 Elim final vs Carlton or 2015 Elim final vs North Melbourne.

 

[Freomaniac]

Years of top 5 picks and what do we have to show for it in our midfield? We could have had Serong and Butters. Let that sink in.

Hate to sink the boots in....

2016 crows could of got Sam Powell Pepper over Jordan Galluci.

2018 , Zak Butters or even Xavier Duursma was available.

2019, crows used that cursed pick 6 on Caleb Serong or Hayden Young. Crows chose Fisher Mcasey

 

[The Karma Bus]

He provides the board his opinion on the performance of the program and the key employees. Prior to him the only expert on matters football was Roo, and his experience is extremely limited. He knows nothing outside of what we’d always done.

That's pretty well what I mean. Handy but not in the positions he was previously where he had control and could do what needs to be done.

 

[Trigger13]

You'll get smashed.... and rightly so.

There's been some dumb things posted on this board, this is up there.

I’m not alone here. His disposal is a real concern

 

[Trigger13]

You'll get smashed.... and rightly so.

There's been some dumb things posted on this board, this is up there.

To say that a first round player won’t make it due to his disposal is not dumb. You’re assuming he fixes it. He might. But he might not. I’ve watched him closely.

 

[Trigger13]

I don't get the Draper hate in here.
He will be fine and the more games we can get into him the quicker he will get there. He is exactly the type of midfielder we need.

There’s no hate for Christ sake. It’s an observation of his obvious — and concerning — flaws in his game. He panics so much. I don’t hate him as a player though. But it’s not out of this world to suggest he’s not good to be the player we’d hoped for. And of course it’s early days and things can change. I hope they do.

 

[Fuddnuddler]

IF reputations are made in finals…
THEN only two players enhanced theirs: Worrell and Laird.
2 outta 24 players…can’t pin this on Nicks, despite his faults, this is a playing group failure

 

[footy4ever]

Great idea, lets get Ken or Goodwin

 

[GreyCrow]

IF reputations are made in finals…
THEN only two players enhanced theirs: Worrell and Laird.
2 outta 24 players…can’t pin this on Nicks, despite his faults, this is a playing group failure

Logically this means our drafting/trading was poor

I do agree reputations are made in finals - but it doesnt mean that coaching wasnt an issue

 

[MRB37]

Is it Nicks who's telling the players to kick long down the line?

Nicks who trademark when he started - aside from his defensive pressure non-negotiable - was his dynamic ball movement.

Is it not the players choking under pressure and just bombing it long rather than taking the 45 degree options?

That is Nicks conservative style to the letter. We have played this way plenty of times before, especially in '24 and we sucked so much when it's how we played.

And that's part of the problem, that's how Nicks thinks you need to play to win finals, which is bizarre because we barely win in the actual season when we play that way.

 

[Billy Cart]

Pretty much. We learnt finishing top means nothing.
We did beat them in the minor round though, that's what hurts the most.

Again I'll say it, we shouldn't have as well as Brisbane and Collingwood. Loose those and we don't make the top 4.

 

[Fuddnuddler]

Logically this means our drafting/trading was poor

I do agree reputations are made in finals - but it doesnt mean that coaching wasnt an issue

Agreed- sorta. Coaching/development an obvious issue but on field actions (or non actions) are on the players for mine…

 

[George CantStandYa]

I don't get the Draper hate in here.
He will be fine and the more games we can get into him the quicker he will get there. He is exactly the type of midfielder we need.

Hate? It’s mere pointing out his deficiencies which exist

 

[gillon]

Every player drafted before him (bar injured Smith) and 18+ players drafted later played more games than him this year. Not even considering the amount of times he was sub/subbed.

Chiming in re: Sid, he probably plays 23 games in a shit team like ours this year. You were minor premiers after all.

Although surely it’s hard for him to get consistency when he’s coming on as sub 6/10 games at this level. I’m obviously not a SANFL watcher so maybe there’s a reason for his lack of game time this year.

 

[Cromulant]

To say that a first round player won’t make it due to his disposal is not dumb. You’re assuming he fixes it. He might. But he might not. I’ve watched him closely.

He didnt get picked at 4 because of his disposal, plenty of Brownlow medallists havent got great disposal.

You saying hes not gonna make it is dumb