Adelaide's decline

[Freomaniac]

Not many apologists left mate.

To be honest you can't blame the crows fans about the long and tough rebuild from round 1 in 2020.

Crows fans just rock up and supporting the club isn't a bad thing.

It had to be done.

As for Matthew Nicks, if he was gonna get sacked, it could of been at the end of 2021 or end of 2022 after 2 or 3 years.

Crows nearly made finals at the end of 2023. He was out of contract at the end of 2024.

Crows gave him a 2 year deal before round 1 of 2024.

Crows fans thought it was a mistake because of that 8 win season last year.

On current form, I can see crows get a finals spot and a finals win in 2025

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Would Hayden Young look good in the crows best 23?

Absolutely.

Can we have him...

 

[Freomaniac]

Absolutely.

Can we have him...

2 problems....

1. He is an important player in freos best 23.

2. If he is gonna be traded, well South Australia won't be his preferred destination. He is a country Victorian

 

[Freomaniac]

I've always been an admirer of the Crows. Up until 2017, they were always one of the few clubs who would give a good account of themselves every year. Regular finalists, competitive every year and even when they had bad years (e.g. 1996, 2004, 2010-2011), they would rebound very quickly to the top (e.g. 1997-1998, 2005, 2012).

Something has been amiss with them since the 2017 Grand Final. Hard to pinpoint what exactly has gone wrong, but it seems to be a perfect storm brewing with an ageing list requiring a rebuild which has now started and incompetence at board level.

It appears to me the biggest thing that needs changing is the culture of the place, and that will need to start at board level, as what happens from the top flows down to the rest of the club. The trend of seeing good players depart for consecutive years, the upheaval around the training camp in the 2017-2018 off season and the issues around Andrew McLeod recently are some examples of a deeply unhappy club.

Rob Chapman is the second longest president/chairman of an AFL club (10 years and counting) only behind Eddie McGuire, so I think renewal at board level is necessary to refresh the Crows and get them moving forward into the right direction.

The Crows are going through their biggest challenge as a club since their inception into the AFL, so the developments surrounding them will be closely observed by many.

Well the crows didn't rebound quickly like they did in previous years. Yeah as I stated had plug and fill rebuilds in 1994-6, 1999-2000, 2004, 2010-11, 2013-4.

But yeah I see the crows make finals after no finals from 2018 to 2024

 

[Mr Meow]

2 problems....

1. He is an important player in freos best 23.

2. If he is gonna be traded, well South Australia won't be his preferred destination. He is a country Victorian

That's hilarious, you asked him a question just to tease him with a "never going to happen". Do you antagonise the Crows because of your minor Port association?

 

[Freomaniac]

The symptoms can be described in just two words: Tyson Stengle.

He was a talented youngster at Punt Rd, now he's a talented youngster with a serious question mark hanging over his behaviour.

Part of the cure can also be described in two words as well, one of which is Ricciuto.

Tyson Stengle revived his AFL career. 1st in 2021 in the SANFL with Woodville west Torrens.

Then in 2022 at Geelong with that 2022 premiership medal

 

[Freomaniac]

That's hilarious, you asked him a question just to tease him with a "never going to happen". Do you antagonise the Crows because of your minor Port association?

Nope ...

Crows had to rebuild when the 2020 draft arrived.

I look at the Port fans opinion of Darcy Fogarty back in 2020. A lot has changed in 4 or 5 seasons

 

[Cleric]

While we were all trashing Adelaide for the last 3 years they were working away and now we look dumb.

Draft steal in Soligo, Thilthorpe the standout in the draft. Solid recruits, mature players like Laird, solid game plan and at this stage have the best spread of players stawise in the competition.

We didn't have much option.
The big turn around was getting Thilthorpe in the draft, and Rankine and Dawson back.

 

[Cleric]

Nope ...

Crows had to rebuild when the 2020 draft arrived.

I look at the Port fans opinion of Darcy Fogarty back in 2020. A lot has changed in 4 or 5 seasons

There are Port fans that think poorly of every Crows player. I swear half of them wouldn't rate Rankine or Thilthorpe.

 

[JHF1870]

There are Port fans that think poorly of every Crows player. I swear half of them wouldn't rate Rankine or Thilthorpe.

Not sure. Can only speak for myself. Both are high value

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

There are Port fans that think poorly of every Crows player. I swear half of them wouldn't rate Rankine or Thilthorpe.

True, but there are Crows fans that don't rate Butters... so there are one eyed fans from both supporters.

 

[JHF1870]

True, but there are Crows fans that don't rate Butters... so there are one eyed fans from both supporters.

Even when you present them with stats, they will still find some way to dispute them. for Daicos, it's always his 'lack of toughness'

Equally there are people within Port who want Rozee traded. I mean, he's been a little inconsistent since taking captaincy but he's a young 2nd year captain and in a bit of a slump but he's far from a bad player.

All clubs have supporters that trash on their own players. I remember going to a few Crows games back in the day and your guys piled it on Tippo and Brent Reilly like there was no tomorrow.

 

[Freomaniac]

Not a flag. That's a big call. This year might be a stretch but most of the Crow's improvement has come from its younger brigade and it could get even better in a year or 2.

Not a personal pot shot on the crows.

I can see the crows get 5th and an Elim final win this season.

One of the rare times you want 5th to get 8th placed opponent that's injury riddled and in bad form.

4th would be good but straight sets is possible.

But if crows get a finals win in 2025, well this sets up the crows for 2026-29.

I know as a crows fan you want that elusive flag but you know as well as I do certain factors will be important.

You don't want one of those MCG tenants like hawks or Collingwood as the grand final opponent.

You want Brisbane or GWS or swans as the grand final opponent.

 

[JHF1870]

Not a personal pot shot on the crows.

I can see the crows get 5th and an Elim final win this season.

One of the rare times you want 5th to get 8th placed opponent that's injury riddled and in bad form.

4th would be good but straight sets is possible.

But if crows get a finals win in 2025, well this sets up the crows for 2026-29.

I know as a crows fan you want that elusive flag but you know as well as I do certain factors will be important.

You don't want one of those MCG tenants like hawks or Collingwood as the grand final opponent.

You want Brisbane or GWS or swans as the grand final opponent.

It's going to be like Brisbane last year. Regular season is unimportant, it's how you finish in the finals.

I'm tipping GWS and Collingwood for a GF at this stage. Still a lot of time to go however.

 

[1990crow]

It's going to be like Brisbane last year. Regular season is unimportant, it's how you finish in the finals.

I'm tipping GWS and Collingwood for a GF at this stage. Still a lot of time to go however.

Yes it's harder to beat Vic sides in a GF, but it's possible. West Coast did it in 2018.
Brisbane did it twice early 2000s.

Ultimately your side just needs to be that good.
Is Adelaide capable? We shall see.

Adelaide's 97 and 98 flags were from a different era, and that team whilst full of stars was not a dominant side - just one with amazing spirit, and a genius coach.

 

[JHF1870]

Yes it's harder to beat Vic sides in a GF, but it's possible. West Coast did it in 2018.
Brisbane did it twice early 2000s.

Ultimately your side just needs to be that good.
Is Adelaide capable? We shall see.

The knock on Adelaide is that they've done this before. Bashed up on sides but failed to consistently win against the better sides.

 

[1990crow]

The knock on Adelaide is that they've done this before. Bashed up on sides but failed to consistently win against the better sides.

Agree, I think the talent is better this time though. Who knows if it results in a flag.

 

[JHF1870]

Agree, I think the talent is better this time though. Who knows if it results in a flag.

I've mentioned elsewhere that Adelaide have recruited well, have a sound game plan. Laird is being used very well.

 

[Freomaniac]

Yes it's harder to beat Vic sides in a GF, but it's possible. West Coast did it in 2018.
Brisbane did it twice early 2000s.

Ultimately your side just needs to be that good.
Is Adelaide capable? We shall see.

Adelaide's 97 and 98 flags were from a different era, and that team whilst full of stars was not a dominant side - just one with amazing spirit, and a genius coach.

If crows win a flag in 2027 or 2028 grand final beating a non Victorian side like Brisbane or GWS or Sydney, you would take that in an instant no questions asked

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If crows win a flag in 2027 or 2028 grand final beating a non Victorian side like Brisbane or GWS or Sydney, you would take that in an instant no questions asked

Of course... but won't happen under Nicks as he is not a very smart person.

We won't be successful til we her a coach who has a semblance of smarts.

 

[JHF1870]

Of course... but won't happen under Nicks as he is not a very smart person.

We won't be successful til we her a coach who has a semblance of smarts.

Decision by Hinge cost momentum

Minutes to go...Cant remember who it was but on the wing played on. Turned over. You guys panic too much in late games.

Werent far down enough to go all in.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Decision by Hinge cost momentum

Minutes to go...Cant remember who it was but on the wing played on. Turned over. You guys panic too much in late games.

Werent far down enough to go all in.

Yeah, Hinge cost us momentum with panic.

Nicks is costing AFC supporter sanity.

 

[JHF1870]

Yeah, Hinge cost us momentum with panic.

Nicks is costing AFC supporter sanity.

Cant say ypu dont have the team. So many good playrrs

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Talent means nothing if you don't have the mentality or coach to make the most of it.

 

[JHF1870]

Talent means nothing if you don't have the mentality or coach to make the most of it.

We understand each other