Review 2013 Where its all gone wrong

[Skippy231]

I have been having a look over our list, I think this is the real issue:

Players that have shown improvement:
Crouch, Lynch, Jenkins, Kerridge, Talia, Smack, Laird, Lyons, Brown, Douglas, Sloane, Rutten,
All younger players that we expect to have some natural improvement (except for Rutten and Douglas)

Players that have stagnated:
Danger, Smith, Henderson, Tex, Otten, Callinan, Jaensch, Shaw

Players that have gone backwards:
Reilly, VB, Jacobs, Thompson, Porplyzia, Wright, Johncock, Tambling, Mackay Martin, Petrenko, Vince

This is by far the biggest issue all the players that have gone backwards are senior players. Whilst out youngsters have steadily improved and we have found a few gems (Kerridge, Lyons, Laird) our senior players have been the main issue for our steady decline.

Many of our players have been playing with niggles and look like they are generally struggling (Thompson, VB, Jacobs). Also we are playing many players out of positon (Jaensch, Wright, Mackay) Our coaches seem to be partially to blame as we looked to cruise through the pre season on the assumption that we could replicate last years form by simply turning up. We have changed our game style in the off season but so has every other team and we are now susceptible to the slingshot and it is hurting us badly.

We need a better output from some of our senior players and there should be at least 3-4 dropped for next weeks game. Too many players are out of form and its showing, time to pick a team on form not on reputations.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Vince's form since return should at least put him up into stagnated. I'd even consider saying he's improved. But the shithouse form pre-dropped to Eagles does count against him.

 

[mcday]

Otten has improved. His form barring the previous 2 weeks has been exceptional, especially since spme thought he was delist material. Bit harsh to label Shaw as stagnated, given he's been injured, same with Smith and Tex

 

[Skippy231]

I'm trying to make the point that our main improvement has come from our younger players. What I am trying to illustrate is that we have had many more injuries / interrupted pre season in comparison to 2012 and that our depth is good but the kids can only take us so far. I personally like vince but his consistency has been an issue this year. Otten has looked good this year but has stagnated if you compare him to the 2009 Otten (obviously this is due to injury). But he has improved compared to his output last year

 

[Crow-eater]

I have been having a look over our list, I think this is the real issue:

Players that have shown improvement:
Crouch, Lynch, Jenkins, Kerridge, Talia, Smack, Laird, Lyons, Brown, Douglas, Sloane, Rutten,
All younger players that we expect to have some natural improvement (except for Rutten and Douglas)

Players that have stagnated:
Danger, Smith, Henderson, Tex, Otten, Callinan, Jaensch, Shaw

Players that have gone backwards:
Reilly, VB, Jacobs, Thompson, Porplyzia, Wright, Johncock, Tambling, Mackay Martin, Petrenko, Vince

This is by far the biggest issue all the players that have gone backwards are senior players. Whilst out youngsters have steadily improved and we have found a few gems (Kerridge, Lyons, Laird) our senior players have been the main issue for our steady decline.

Many of our players have been playing with niggles and look like they are generally struggling (Thompson, VB, Jacobs). Also we are playing many players out of positon (Jaensch, Wright, Mackay) Our coaches seem to be partially to blame as we looked to cruise through the pre season on the assumption that we could replicate last years form by simply turning up. We have changed our game style in the off season but so has every other team and we are now susceptible to the slingshot and it is hurting us badly.

We need a better output from some of our senior players and there should be at least 3-4 dropped for next weeks game. Too many players are out of form and its showing, time to pick a team on form not on reputations.

Agree with the bolded, BUT look at the players who missed last week that can be considered options for selection on Thursday (in red). Half of them make up your "gone backwards" group. Also some not named like Grigg and Riley so they are unknowns for this year at this stage.

Lyons/Brown (pending injury) should come straight back in. But where do you draw the line? You can't have your cake of dropping out of form players, if those coming in are just as out of form. (Mackay,Wright etc)

I haven't been able to put my finger on what's gone wrong this season. Is it form? Coaching? Injuries? Off-season issues? A mixture of anything and everything?

 

[Skippy231]

Agree with the bolded, BUT look at the players who missed last week that can be considered options for selection on Thursday (in red). Half of them make up your "gone backwards" group. Also some not named like Grigg and Riley so they are unknowns for this year at this stage.

Lyons/Brown (pending injury) should come straight back in. But where do you draw the line? You can't have your cake of dropping out of form players, if those coming in are just as out of form. (Mackay,Wright etc)

I haven't been able to put my finger on what's gone wrong this season. Is it form? Coaching? Injuries? Off-season issues? A mixture of anything and everything?

Hit the nail on the head, form, injuries, coaching strategies, players missing large chunks of pre season, the perfect s**t storm. We look like a team that will dominate the teams around or below us on the table but the teams in the top 4-8 we are going to struggle against. We can't deal with heightened pressure and Sydney exposed that

 

[Vader]

I personally think that Sando took the wrong approach to our pre-season training - and we've been paying for it ever since. We took the MMC way too easily, perhaps arrogantly resting half our team in the first 2 weeks of the competition. Instead of treating those game as a chance to fine tune things ahead of the H&A season, we used them as little more than training drills.

There's no doubt that things have not been helped by the losses of Tiprat and Walker. We just don't have replacements for those players, though I don't want to be too tough on JJ who has shown plenty when playing at FF (though he had a stinker against Sydney). Things haven't been helped by the rapid decline of Porplyzia, which has happened much faster than most of us expected (with the sole exception of Jack is Back/A FEW GOOD MEN). This has robbed our forward line of potency and system.

I simply don't think Adelaide are anywhere near as fit or mentally switched on as they were last year. Maybe some of them have been resting on their laurels. I suspect that it starts with the coach and has filtered down from there. I suspect that he took the foot off the pedal slightly in the pre-season, hoping that we wouldn't burn out before September (as we did last year), but he took it too far off and now we're competitive against most teams but lacking the killer edge required to get over the line against the better ones. Forget about last Saturday - Sydney played out of their skins, to the point that their spuds looked amazing - they won't play that well again against any opponent for the rest of the year. We've been competitive against every other team we've played so far, which is the real measure of where we're at. Competitive.. but just slightly off the pace.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Agree with Vader about the pre-season.

Sando overestimated his list and used the MMC as a chance to blood young players when he should have been scrutinizing our best 22. This wreaks of over confidence and I'll bet you he won't do the same again next year.

That's not to say we shouldn't play young guys in the pre-season. Just not so many that your best 22 comes into the H&A season flat as a tack.

Our entire club deserves a failing grade for the 2012/13 pre-season. It was bad enough that our inept administration cost us draft picks but the form of our best 22 coming into the season was completely unacceptable.

 

[King Elvis]

Agree with you guys.

We got ahead of ourselves.

I'd describe this year as us being too cute.

Too cute in preseason.

Too cute in selection (repeatedly).

Too cute in structure.


We've gotten ahead of ourselves, and we think we're better than we are.

 

[Smoooothy]

Agree with you guys.

We got ahead of ourselves.

I'd describe this year as us being too cute.

Too cute in preseason.

Too cute in selection (repeatedly).

Too cute in structure.


We've gotten ahead of ourselves, and we think we're better than we are.

This says it all. Playing like millionaires

I think losing Stephen Schwerdt has been a big loss too

 

[Big Gazoongas]

I personally think that Sando took the wrong approach to our pre-season training - and we've been paying for it ever since. We took the MMC way too easily, perhaps arrogantly resting half our team in the first 2 weeks of the competition. Instead of treating those game as a chance to fine tune things ahead of the H&A season, we used them as little more than training drills.

There's no doubt that things have not been helped by the losses of Tiprat and Walker. We just don't have replacements for those players, though I don't want to be too tough on JJ who has shown plenty when playing at FF (though he had a stinker against Sydney). Things haven't been helped by the rapid decline of Porplyzia, which has happened much faster than most of us expected (with the sole exception of Jack is Back/A FEW GOOD MEN). This has robbed our forward line of potency and system.

I simply don't think Adelaide are anywhere near as fit or mentally switched on as they were last year. Maybe some of them have been resting on their laurels. I suspect that it starts with the coach and has filtered down from there. I suspect that he took the foot off the pedal slightly in the pre-season, hoping that we wouldn't burn out before September (as we did last year), but he took it too far off and now we're competitive against most teams but lacking the killer edge required to get over the line against the better ones. Forget about last Saturday - Sydney played out of their skins, to the point that their spuds looked amazing - they won't play that well again against any opponent for the rest of the year. We've been competitive against every other team we've played so far, which is the real measure of where we're at. Competitive.. but just slightly off the pace.

Agree with all of this Vader.

I also believe that our change in game style/plan, particularly early on, together with Sando's pre-season approach has made things even worse. I am of the belief these 2 things go a long way to explaining why some of our experienced players are struggling. Many of them are struggling with the change and possibly the change in their match day role.

I am at a loss to understand why he has gone down this path. I also believe a great deal of our current predicament lays squarely at his feet.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

^^^^^^agree with this ^^^^^^^^^

In 2012 contested ball was the clear focus and platform to our success

In 2013 Sando has tried to add more run, spread and attack to the game plan however the team have struggle to build on the basic contested ball long kicking game plan and as a result we are not only getting smashed on the outside we have also lost our strength

We need to play th right players in the right roles which pkayers to their strengths and weed out those players who can't find the right balance between attack and defend

 

[Wood_Duck]

I wonder how much they had to change the game plan when we lost Tex. The pre season is all about learning the game plan, hence the closed sessions. Would love to know to what extent it all went out the window in round 5.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

I wonder how much they had to change the game plan when we lost Tex. The pre season is all about learning the game plan, hence the closed sessions. Would love to know to what extent it all went out the window in round 5.

Even prior to round 5 it looked disjointed

 

[Mattrox]

Even prior to round 5 it looked disjointed

Early rounds often do. We were all over the place at the beginning of last year too... GWS and Doggies were too close for much of the match and vs Hawthorn we looked pretty poor.

 

[jenny61_99]

^^^^^^agree with this ^^^^^^^^^

In 2012 contested ball was the clear focus and platform to our success

In 2013 Sando has tried to add more run, spread and attack to the game plan however the team have struggle to build on the basic contested ball long kicking game plan and as a result we are not only getting smashed on the outside we have also lost our strength

We need to play th right players in the right roles which pkayers to their strengths and weed out those players who can't find the right balance between attack and defend

One of our biggest weaknesses against quality opponents last year was our inability to cope with THEIR run and spread. I think he eventually realised this and has modified the game plan with poor success at this stage, certainly against quality. I too agree with vader that the approach to the nab cup is what set us up poorly in the season proper.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

One of our biggest weaknesses against quality opponents last year was our inability to cope with THEIR run and spread. I think he eventually realised this and has modified the game plan with poor success at this stage, certainly against quality. I too agree with vader that the approach to the nab cup is what set us up poorly in the season proper.

IMO we are also not playing the right players in the right roles, players need to play to their strengths

Dmac as a defender has failed and needs to play wing
Wright as a defensive mid has failed and needs to play forward ith burst in the midfield
VB on the wing has failed and needs to tag
Martin and Janesch as defenders has failed
Truck, Otto, Radar and Talia as a quartet down back has exposed us for pace
Stiffy as a forward when he remains our best small defender is puzzling
Smith is needed down back due to a lack of quality defenders however would be more damaging in the midfield or on a wing

 

[Skippy231]

IMO we are also not playing the right players in the right roles, players need to play to their strengths

Dmac as a defender has failed and needs to play wing
Wright as a defensive mid has failed and needs to play forward ith burst in the midfield
VB on the wing has failed and needs to tag
Martin and Janesch as defenders has failed
Truck, Otto, Radar and Talia as a quartet down back has exposed us for pace
Stiffy as a forward when he remains our best small defender is puzzling
Smith is needed down back due to a lack of quality defenders however would be more damaging in the midfield or on a wing

Hit the nail on the head, that is our biggest issue on field. Play players in positions that work to their strengths. We have been trying this slow ball movement and it doesn't work. Also you missed one player being played out of position, Danger needs to play in the midfield, too much talent to be stuck in the goal square twiddling his thumbs like last week

 

[skoobydoo]

Hit the nail on the head, that is our biggest issue on field. Play players in positions that work to their strengths. We have been trying this slow ball movement and it doesn't work. Also you missed one player being played out of position, Danger needs to play in the midfield, too much talent to be stuck in the goal square twiddling his thumbs like last week

I suspect Danger is not only being used to spark some opportunism in the forward line but primarily to try and save him from becoming a paraplegic by the end of the season. Full time mid with his crash bang style and the attention he now cops and he wont last long term as an AFL player.

 

[Rear Admiral]

Very, very good question. Where did it all go wrong? The Midfield. Or more specifically, contested ball in the Midfield.

In 2012, Sando had the players winning most clearances and stoppages, where we scored quickly from those stoppages. Our chasing and tackling was lousy, where we could hardly force turnovers , but we were getting first hands on the footy so often, it didn't really matter. But this year, we're getting smashed in all the contested inside-ball at stoppages and clearances, and since our chasing and tackling hasn't improved, we're now getting thumped. There are all sorts of stats that get talked about, but I only wish there were stats on successful ground-level crumbing from dropped marks.....this is where we're getting smashed to pieces more than anywhere else. Whenever we kick long to a contest, anywhere on the ground - if we don't take a catch, the ball comes back twice as fast....with interest. You could place a bet on it, as safe as houses.

The following players have done fairy well -

• The Sloane Ranger
• Dangermouse
• Richard Douglas - about the only Crow who can chase and tackle.
• Truck - last year I thought he was done and dusted, but he's playing out of his skin this year.
• Talia - not as good a last year, but still standing tall.

Our main ball movers are The Sloane Ranger and Dangermouse, but the opposition have long since worked this out, and tag the hell out of them. If both Rory and Dangermouse have a quiet day, the whole team may as well head to the change rooms for early showers. The rest of our ground-level players have been a disgrace, and just aren't helping Rory and Dangermouse. That's a bit simplistic, but pretty much the core of the issue. Losing Tippett - what that's done is allow the opposition's biggest Defender take on our lesser Forwards....and now Jacobs has a bigger workload in the Ruck.

I reckon Sando is doing the best he can with the players he's got, but I think they've had a shocking preseason, compared to when he first took the helm. And whenever we're about to do well in the Draft or Trading, we seem to get stung by the AFL. That's what's hurting us off the field.

 

[Rear Admiral]

Truck, Otto, Radar and Talia as a quartet down back has exposed us for pace

Very well said. We need someone small and agile down back that can stop small Forwards. At the moment, as soon as the ball hits the ground in our Defence....opposition goal. BIG problem.

 

[Macjoe]

I have been having a look over our list, I think this is the real issue:

Players that have shown improvement:
Crouch, Lynch, Jenkins, Kerridge, Talia, Smack, Laird, Lyons, Brown, Douglas, Sloane, Rutten,
All younger players that we expect to have some natural improvement (except for Rutten and Douglas)

Players that have stagnated:
Danger, Smith, Henderson, Tex, Otten, Callinan, Jaensch, Shaw

Players that have gone backwards:
Reilly, VB, Jacobs, Thompson, Porplyzia, Wright, Johncock, Tambling, Mackay Martin, Petrenko, Vince

This is by far the biggest issue all the players that have gone backwards are senior players. Whilst out youngsters have steadily improved and we have found a few gems (Kerridge, Lyons, Laird) our senior players have been the main issue for our steady decline.

Many of our players have been playing with niggles and look like they are generally struggling (Thompson, VB, Jacobs). Also we are playing many players out of positon (Jaensch, Wright, Mackay) Our coaches seem to be partially to blame as we looked to cruise through the pre season on the assumption that we could replicate last years form by simply turning up. We have changed our game style in the off season but so has every other team and we are now susceptible to the slingshot and it is hurting us badly.

We need a better output from some of our senior players and there should be at least 3-4 dropped for next weeks game. Too many players are out of form and its showing, time to pick a team on form not on reputations.

Oh dear, I've been sucked in
I'm disappointed 2013 hasn't gone as well as we hoped, but I'm willing to wait. Not much point getting into arguments about it - after all we wouldn't be posting on an internet forum if we were balanced, rational people.
But this post just takes the cake!
Danger stagnated? The number 3 rated player in the AFL, a genuine Brownlow favourite, STAGNATED????

 

[WeeBlake]

My guess is that last year we were killing it in contested ball and kicking it long. That was fine while we had tex and Tippett in the forward line. Losing both our best key forwards means that we need to find other ways to score. Unfortunately we lack skilful outside players and do not have even one reliable small forward. So we're stuck with a gameplan which no longer works.

That's the main problem, compounded by key players (thommo, sauce among others) being down on form, and further compounded by a loss of confidence.

I also suspect the players, just like all of us on here, are also really worried about whether the Tippet debacle will cost them a shot at a flag. Especially now, given how things are going.

 

[Skippy231]

Oh dear, I've been sucked in
I'm disappointed 2013 hasn't gone as well as we hoped, but I'm willing to wait. Not much point getting into arguments about it - after all we wouldn't be posting on an internet forum if we were balanced, rational people.
But this post just takes the cake!
Danger stagnated? The number 3 rated player in the AFL, a genuine Brownlow favourite, STAGNATED????

By stagnated I mean he has not shown the level of improvement that we experienced last year. He is getting the No 1 opposition tagger every week and isn't getting much help from the midfield brigade. He is also being played forward which is good for a few easy goals but we need him in the guts doing all the things that he does best like winning the contested ball. Danger has dominated against lower teams like Brisbane, Bulldogs, GWS and Hawks (who didnt tag him). He has struggled to make an impact in games against Ess, Carl & Sydney who not only put a decent tagger on him but also crunch him every time he goes near the ball.

Tell me how he has improved on his output from last year?

Also if the player ratings say it, well then it must be true, Reilly was rated as the No 3 defender a few weeks ago

 

[crowsarethebest]

I personally think that Sando took the wrong approach to our pre-season training - and we've been paying for it ever since. We took the MMC way too easily, perhaps arrogantly resting half our team in the first 2 weeks of the competition. Instead of treating those game as a chance to fine tune things ahead of the H&A season, we used them as little more than training drills.

There's no doubt that things have not been helped by the losses of Tiprat and Walker. We just don't have replacements for those players, though I don't want to be too tough on JJ who has shown plenty when playing at FF (though he had a stinker against Sydney). Things haven't been helped by the rapid decline of Porplyzia, which has happened much faster than most of us expected (with the sole exception of Jack is Back/A FEW GOOD MEN). This has robbed our forward line of potency and system.

I simply don't think Adelaide are anywhere near as fit or mentally switched on as they were last year. Maybe some of them have been resting on their laurels. I suspect that it starts with the coach and has filtered down from there. I suspect that he took the foot off the pedal slightly in the pre-season, hoping that we wouldn't burn out before September (as we did last year), but he took it too far off and now we're competitive against most teams but lacking the killer edge required to get over the line against the better ones. Forget about last Saturday - Sydney played out of their skins, to the point that their spuds looked amazing - they won't play that well again against any opponent for the rest of the year. We've been competitive against every other team we've played so far, which is the real measure of where we're at. Competitive.. but just slightly off the pace.

Yeah 100% this. I believe Sando was trying to go the Geelong pre-season route, take it easy and hope that the players peak for the 2nd half of the year. Unfortunately with our younger, more inexperienced list who don't have as many seasoned veterans with finals experience it's backfired. We took it too easy in pre-season and we're paying for it. You can tell we're not as fit as last year. Our midfield gets run over and the amount of goals that come from the opposition midfielders overrunning and overlapping our midfield is a tell-tale sign. It's either the midfielders are all running one way aka. being lazy (which some are) or we're not fit enough. I just don't think as a whole team we're covering the ground that well.