List Mgmt. Adelaide Crows 2021 List Management thread

[70lethal]

As we (supporters) collectively think, write and pass judgement about our list in general and our midfield in particular one thing that I think gets lost somewhat is that we focus too much on individual players and not enough on the right combination(s) that we need.

For instance in the midfield I think the criticism of us is that we're too 'same, same' and lack the right blend of players. I think the optimal combination for the centre square midfield (aside from the ruck) is:

• The Bull
  • Damaging, breakaway speed mid who is unstoppable 1-on-1 and who can go forward with great effect and ideally is strong in the air.
  • Not always getting 30+ but has high impact for touches.
  • Prototypes from the last decade are Dangerfield, Dusty, Petracca and Fyfe
• The All-Rounder
  • The highly reliable guy who can play inside and out, runs hard both ways (and ideally big-bodied strong tacklers to boot) and then in the best of this genre are damaging with their possessions.
  • I think this is guys in the mould of Oliver, Jack Steele, Cripps, and so on.
• The Accumulator
  • The guy who knows exactly where to run and gets his hands on the ball at the source and all over the ground to set up scoring chains. Strong over the ball and hard to tag and makes those around him a better player.
  • This is guys like Lochie Neale, Boak, Tom Mitchell, Merrett, et al.

The very best midfields not only have a frontline that cover each of these types but they've got depth across the board as well.

For us we've clearly got Laird and Crouch (for now) who can fill that Accumulator role but we've never covered the loss of Danger as the midfield Bull. Our other current mids in Sloane, Keays and Schoenberg for me are all of that All-Rounder type but Schoenberg is the only one who can damage the opposition and Sloane sadly just doesn't contribute enough across all areas to warrant his level of midfield time (or salary).

That's why I think our drafting and trading needs to focus on this glaring gap (unless I'm selling Pedlar short and he is potentially this player) and why Horne-Francis was so appealing as he seems tailor-made to fill this hole. It even makes the short-lived experiment with Fog to see if he could turn into a Stringer-type bull slightly more understandable but it seems that he doesn't have that capacity in him. Going back further it also perhaps justifies the decision to let Lyons go as we already had (in Matt Crouch) our preferred Accumulator and maybe that's why the Lions midfield mix (2x Accumulators - Neale & Lyons) doesn't seem to stand up in big games.

I think they have on paper what your saying but need to get games into them. Ideally another bull over the next 2 drafts.
Pedlar the Bull
Berry the All Rounder
McHenry with another preseason I feel will be a big improver. His last 2 games of 22 and 24 disposals with 6 & 8 marks, give him a license to use his tank.
Hately I feel is far from a write off and maybe the big benefactor from Burgess appointment.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

If we haven't announced it?

Because I'm sure EVERY club sounds out players that they don't get.

You've posted some weird trolly sh*t over the last few weeks, but c'mon ...

If we haven't done it

 

[whattagun07]

You would think so. I guess we could be there as an 'in case' situation, but I doubt we are interested in any sort of bidding war.

Haven't heard news, what's happened?

 

[spenze]

Haven't heard news, what's happened?

We just realised that the million dollar a year offer from the Roos was for Josh Kelly, not Jake so we aren't getting pick 5 by the looks of it

 

[Mego Red]

If we haven't done it

Okay, well every club sounds out players and every club would have a bunch they don't get.

North Melbourne, for better or worse, constantly end up in the media as the club with stacks of money who finish second-best in very public pursuit of stars.

 

[Mego Red]

Haven't heard news, what's happened?

Facebook rumour he wants to go to Collingwood.

 

[Vader]

If we haven't that would be much worse

Why? The club has consistently said that it's rebuilding via the draft. We're years off contending for a flag, so what's the point in getting a highly paid recruit now? That kind of player is the cream on the cake. We're still mixing the batter.

 

[Drewie11]

Look at the comment at the bottom. Fake news Stephen’s to Collingwood

 

[Drewie11]

Got to love this group, Stauchne plays a couple of good games and now we are throwing out trading ROB ideas

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Why? The club has consistently said that it's rebuilding via the draft. We're years off contending for a flag, so what's the point in getting a highly paid recruit now? That kind of player is the cream on the cake. We're still mixing the batter.

The cap doesn't go up and down depending on where we're at in our cycle. The money is there to be spent.

Heck, we've seen enough of our good young players walk out the door for extra $$$. Time to flip the tables

 

[WeeBlake]

Why? The club has consistently said that it's rebuilding via the draft. We're years off contending for a flag, so what's the point in getting a highly paid recruit now? That kind of player is the cream on the cake. We're still mixing the batter.

We don’t want good players now?

 

[Soggy2112]

Got to love this group, Stauchne plays a couple of good games and now we are throwing out trading ROB ideas

I wouldn’t be actively looking for a trade but if the right offer came I think Strachan has shown that it would be worth the risk, I.e. if we can turn ROB into a pick that helps get us Dawson/Rankine.

Although personally I don’t see the rush to get Rankine this year, if he wants to come pick him up cheaper when he’s out of contract, it’s not like we’re contending and he’s the missing piece.

 

[Vader]

We don’t want good players now?

No point spending big bucks & draft capital on a marquee player, when we don't know what we have on our list already.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Unsure why some are keen to trade Strachan. Need 2 genuine ruckman on the list, particularly if one gets hurt.

Offers will come for him and every chance clubs pay up for him, e.g. Geelong or Dogs.

 

[dogs105]

View attachment 1221666
Look at the comment at the bottom. Fake news Stephen’s to Collingwood

No, those Facebook and Twitter trade accounts are always right and never just make shit up...

 

[kick it to me_]

View attachment 1221666
Look at the comment at the bottom. Fake news Stephen’s to Collingwood

Good find, the same page has Dawson to sign with Sydney..hopefully that's fake news!

On SM-G988B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[DJ75]

Got to love this group, Stauchne plays a couple of good games and now we are throwing out trading ROB ideas

It's the offseason. What else are we going to do?

 

[WeeBlake]

No point spending big bucks & draft capital on a marquee player, when we don't know what we have on our list already.

I am pretty sure we don’t have more marquee players than we need

 

[GROTTO]

I am pretty sure we don’t have more marquee players than we need

Losing Mackay is going to change Thursday Night Selection Nights forever.

 

[Bearded Clam]

Losing Mackay is going to change Thursday Night Selection Nights forever.

murphy would wanna pull his finger out.. he’s next in the crosshairs.. the next whipping boy to melt over on selection night.

murphy actually had a half decent start to the season but was complete an utter dogshit after he came back from injury in the second half of the season. really showed why he originally went un-drafted..

 

[Anzacpaul]

Losing Mackay is going to change Thursday Night Selection Nights forever.

Replacement whipping boy's name starts with M, ends in y and has the same amount of letters as Mackay...

:Think:

 

[GreyCrow]

Replacement whipping boy's name starts with M, ends in y and has the same amount of letters as Mackay...

:Think:

Mkelly ?

 

[Mutineer]

Replacement whipping boy's name starts with M, ends in y and has the same amount of letters as Mackay...

:Think:

Mfogarty?

 

[Gtowncrow]

As we (supporters) collectively think, write and pass judgement about our list in general and our midfield in particular one thing that I think gets lost somewhat is that we focus too much on individual players and not enough on the right combination(s) that we need.

For instance in the midfield I think the criticism of us is that we're too 'same, same' and lack the right blend of players. I think the optimal combination for the centre square midfield (aside from the ruck) is:

• The Bull
  • Damaging, breakaway speed mid who is unstoppable 1-on-1 and who can go forward with great effect and ideally is strong in the air.
  • Not always getting 30+ but has high impact for touches.
  • Prototypes from the last decade are Dangerfield, Dusty, Petracca and Fyfe
• The All-Rounder
  • The highly reliable guy who can play inside and out, runs hard both ways (and ideally big-bodied strong tacklers to boot) and then in the best of this genre are damaging with their possessions.
  • I think this is guys in the mould of Oliver, Jack Steele, Cripps, and so on.
• The Accumulator
  • The guy who knows exactly where to run and gets his hands on the ball at the source and all over the ground to set up scoring chains. Strong over the ball and hard to tag and makes those around him a better player.
  • This is guys like Lochie Neale, Boak, Tom Mitchell, Merrett, et al.

The very best midfields not only have a frontline that cover each of these types but they've got depth across the board as well.

For us we've clearly got Laird and Crouch (for now) who can fill that Accumulator role but we've never covered the loss of Danger as the midfield Bull. Our other current mids in Sloane, Keays and Schoenberg for me are all of that All-Rounder type but Schoenberg is the only one who can damage the opposition and Sloane sadly just doesn't contribute enough across all areas to warrant his level of midfield time (or salary).

That's why I think our drafting and trading needs to focus on this glaring gap (unless I'm selling Pedlar short and he is potentially this player) and why Horne-Francis was so appealing as he seems tailor-made to fill this hole. It even makes the short-lived experiment with Fog to see if he could turn into a Stringer-type bull slightly more understandable but it seems that he doesn't have that capacity in him. Going back further it also perhaps justifies the decision to let Lyons go as we already had (in Matt Crouch) our preferred Accumulator and maybe that's why the Lions midfield mix (2x Accumulators - Neale & Lyons) doesn't seem to stand up in big games.

What an awesome post. Top notch!
But...
Please be careful with post's of this standard in future as most of us may give up when the bar is set so high.
Enjoyable reading and laid out clearly enough for a nuffy like me to follow.
Oh, and I think you're quite right in your observations. Cheers

 

[Scorpus]

Replacement whipping boy's name starts with M, ends in y and has the same amount of letters as Mackay...

:Think:

Mframptony?