Review R4: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs. Fremantle

[Bovo]

He’ll be a much better player than Jones. That’s a given. I am very harsh on Draper. Just call it how I see it. But I’m going to take a breath and let him hopefully prove me wrong.

We all hope he does too

 

[CrowBloke]

He’ll be a much better player than Jones. That’s a given. I am very harsh on Draper. Just call it how I see it. But I’m going to take a breath and let him hopefully prove me wrong.

Very fair reply, thanks .
Draper needs to nugget up a little without too much weight taking away any of his dash.
From the little I've seen of him, I think he's got real potential. Here's hoping!!

Besides that, we have bigger problems, specifically Nicks and our last 5 losses.

 

[jirkago1975]

Very occasionally. Hinkley's record in finals..... won 6 and lost 9. Should have done better considering their premiership window was open. Lost in straight sets in 2023. Ask the Port board what they think of Hinkley.

They could have won a flag if not for free kick Hawks in his second year I think.

 

[Crow till I die]

They could have won a flag if not for free kick Hawks in his second year I think.

Thank christ for free kick hawks i say

 

[CrowBloke]

Coaches got scared of winning.

Coach, singular, got "scared of winning" --- Nicks!

The numbers you posted are damning evidence.

Question, to you and all in here:
We missed out on Serong, Reid and Butters and some others who are flying, now --- is that because we selected badly, or Nicks and VB are totally clueless about how to develop Mids??

It's only speculation, but I wonder what's happened to Gallucci, McHenry, Murphy, Sholl, and now Dowling, Jones and Pedlar is not that they were poor choices but that they've been Nicksed and VB-ed ...?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Thank christ for free kick hawks i say

Sanderson dislikes this.

 

[SellarStardom]

Watching again, we have somehow become a weaker side, just not strong over the ball.

Clear we are missing grunt in the centre alongside Berry, Edwards probably better option than Dowling.

Would look at Draper over Keays if the trend continues on Thursday with his poor form

 

[Bovo]

Watching again, we have somehow become a weaker side, just not strong over the ball.

Clear we are missing grunt in the centre alongside Berry, Edwards probably better option than Dowling.

Would look at Draper over Keays if the trend continues on Thursday with his poor form

Draper needs To be properly blooded. I used to say the same thing about Curtin. We need to invest in our future or we are at risk of rebuilding again. It can happen if you are negligent with list management

 

[CrowBloke]

The thing which is burning deep in my gut now is our last 5 losses.

OK, forget about the 2025 Finals and look at our last 3:
Start slowly.
Get 3/4/5 goals down.
Burst back into the game with 20-35 minutes of scintillating footy.
Get ahead.
Lose, anyway.
That's not coincidence. It's a pattern.
It happened at the start of and through 2024, it led to our deadshit, lose-every-quarter Finals in 2025, and cost us the last 3 (winnable) games.

I mean, why not get ahead then go ALL-OUT FANATICAL to increase that lead??

I can't imagine any AFL Coach coming up with a plan to create such a pattern of losses.
So, is it:
--- the Opposition and their Coach/es, who've twigged to the Crows, OR
--- the players not following instructions (as Nicks claimed clearly in his presser),
OR
--- Nicks lulling/mind-numbing the players into their slow starts, demanding that they play dour, unimaginative footy to prevent sides running well away from us, then sending out a signal to go hard, get ahead, then defend that lead ... ?
which has failed 3 games straight, now.

NO AFL Coach in his right mind would ...
...
oh wait; I nearly forgot ... it's Nicks .

 

[119others]

Watching again, we have somehow become a weaker side, just not strong over the ball.

Clear we are missing grunt in the centre alongside Berry, Edwards probably better option than Dowling.

Would look at Draper over Keays if the trend continues on Thursday with his poor form

agree keays has been totally insipid this year. after a very strong few years he just isnt up to the standard this year. not far off being dropped and could even be this week for a dowling, edwards or draper (in a few weeks). his hard running role, along with anb, is possibly hard to replace though but dowling has good endurance iirc.

just cant keep carrying so many passengers this year. first time for a while i remember so many good players being so down on form. surprised we have got so close the last 3 weeks actually

 

[119others]

They could have won a flag if not for free kick Hawks in his second year I think.

that last quarter umpiring in the 2014 PF was a disgrace - i enjoyed watching it though as a crows fan

almost as bad as "free kick bullies' in that horrific cheating in 2016

 

[119others]

Sanderson dislikes this.

You may recall Trigg mentioned we officially lodged a 'please explain' over a large number of very dodgy decisions in that prelim. The figure we asked the AFL to justify was either 22 or 28 (forget which one).

Hawks were the better team, had more scoring shots but there were some SHOCKING umpiring decisions (iirc a 50 metre penalty against Burton in the first qtr that was the softest ever 50 and brought the Hawks player to the goal line instead of being on the boundary 40-50 metres out)

 

[bigman]

Couldn’t believe it when I saw Jones in for Cumming. Nank was the exact like for like. Nicksy - why praise the bloke in pre season if you don’t rate him?

As for ROB, the only benefit was hopefully some management for McAndrew with a six day break looming. But 35% tog is barely anything so he was never going to have much of an impact anyway, and sadly the only real impact he did have was coughing up the winning goal.

Clearances were a huge issue early. Somehow we managed to break even by the end of the game but gee we were flat footed compared to them. Van Berlo cannot continue to escape criticism.

Still, there were some positives. We were considerably more daring with ball in hand and actually showed some dash at times. Our skill level continues to haunt us but at least we came with the right intent.

We also got our tackling and defensive pressure back to par which meant missing last week.

Individually not too many standouts though Milera played well. Peatling had a great second half. Worrell got caught out a few times but otherwise continued his form. McAndrew was solid against good opposition, good to see him take a couple of contested marks (shame he dropped a sitter). Daws was pretty good but we ask a lot of him in the air. Cook and Milk need to be used more as they make things happen.

We need a big win to get our confidence back but it feels like this year is getting away from us. Injuries have caused a lack of cohesion and unfortunately the tough opening month hasn’t given us much respite.

 

[CrowBloke]

ROB nothing but a big fking diplodocus

Loved that reference! Di-plod-ocus. Perfect.

with more sht on his boot than the Ganges.

2 for 2, I can't believe they bathe and wash clothes in that foetid sewer.

NEVER AGAIN NICKS!!!!

We wish!!
But Nicks will return to "experience" again and again.
Nicks is too lazy to develop youth and too dumb to see when a senior player is done.

 

[CrowBloke]

Yet to confirm how long it took Rob to realise he'd kicked it directly into the man on the mark's hands.

O'Reilly was still looking forward to see where his kick went when the Goal Umpire signalled goal down the other end.

 

[bigman]

You know what would fix that? Being a competent football club.
Having not continuously failed for the past 28 years.

Because Freo are the bastion of competency?

 

[Huang LoWel]

The Ugly: Coaching staff excluding Hombsch & Baulderstone. That ugly includes Davis, he is overseeing this shit show.
Davis gave an indication last year what this year was going to look like when he said we don't change but get better at doing what we do - that's what Brisbane did during his tenure. So we get better at working with a flawed game plan???? Any idea that he is the Crows next coach is wrong.

The Bad: Extending Nick's contract.

The good: Cook and McAndrew. It must be so hard for these guys to be get a chance, let alone an extended chance. Both showed enough last year to be played regularly and if that had happened, they would be even better this year than they are.

Hamish isn't good at identifying talent but doesn't help when everyone he recruits never get's played in their ideal position, isn't managed properly and is never given the opportunity to prove themselves. Edwards was a player in his draft year, if he doesn't become one, that is on the Crows and shame on them.

f.u.c.k.i.n.g flog coaches and the admin that support them - Olsen, Silvers, Kelly etc.

I am sick and tired of my expectation of losing a game is never proven wrong.

I refuse to attend games, even free drinks/meals corporate tickets, but half of all you haters continue to attend games filling ADL Oval keeping Nicks in a job. Until you stop attending and ADL Oval is half full at home games, Nicks will be coach forever.
So anyone that attended Friday, who also thinks Nick's is shit - shame on you, you should know better.

Talk is cheap.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Watching again, we have somehow become a weaker side, just not strong over the ball.

Clear we are missing grunt in the centre alongside Berry, Edwards probably better option than Dowling.

Would look at Draper over Keays if the trend continues on Thursday with his poor form

Nearly all our players have gone backwards, compared to their 2025 form.

We have some player who wouldn't have even had 4 decent quarters amongst their 4 games!

Time to reward sanfl form.

 

[CrowBloke]

Ahh.. GreyCrow it is then

Ahhhh, GreyCrow , gotcha!!

 

[GreyCrow]

Thank christ for free kick hawks i say

I disagree. We only seem to get serious when Port go large

2004 they flag 2005/06 we make Prelims

 

[GreyCrow]

You may recall Trigg mentioned we officially lodged a 'please explain' over a large number of very dodgy decisions in that prelim. The figure we asked the AFL to justify was either 22 or 28 (forget which one).

Hawks were the better team, had more scoring shots but there were some SHOCKING umpiring decisions (iirc a 50 metre penalty against Burton in the first qtr that was the softest ever 50 and brought the Hawks player to the goal line instead of being on the boundary 40-50 metres out)

You always remember the last ones

It was either Dangerfield or Mackay or both - Mackay absolutely dragged a player down in the tackle then Dangerfield ragdolled 45m from goal

 

[GreyCrow]

Draper needs To be properly blooded. I used to say the same thing about Curtin. We need to invest in our future or we are at risk of rebuilding again. It can happen if you are negligent with list management

You should be able to carry 1 or 2 developing players giving them enough time to find their feet. Who cares if they fumble or stumble. AFL is hard - let them work through it

 

[ams4crows]

Saw a new angle of the ROB kick, Dawson it literally right next to him asking for a handball and he still ****s up a kick, Dawson knew he's a shit kick made himself and option and the captain was ignored. Makes it even worse.

 

[GreyCrow]

I refuse to attend games,

Why would you go to Crows games when you support Port

 

[Brasher]

Ugly.....AFL scheduling. Swans playing for the first time since 19th March....we've played 3 times in that period with another short break coming.