Adelaide's team.

[EagleEye]

Below is IMO the best outfit the crows can play with. I think the team i have done below is awesome, and i'm very excited with it! The best thing about it is that the majority of them still have years of footy left in them, makes for an exciting future!

b: Rutten Bassett Stiffy

hb:Mattner McGregor McLeod

c: Reilly Riccuto Torney

hf: Thompson Perrie Hentschel

f: Welsh M.Stevens Skipworth

Ruck: Clarke
RR: Goodwin
R: Edwards

INTERCHANGE
1. Doughty
2. Hudson
3. Shirley
4. Bode

 

[DaveW]

Ben Hart can't get a guernsey?

Brett Burton?

 

[snakebite01]

Ben Hart can't get a guernsey?

Brett Burton?

Matthew Smith?

 

[SBR_04]

This is what should make it even more scary for other teams... were not even at full strength

 

[relapse]

No way Bode would get a guernsey over Hart or Burton.

Even though I am far from Turdman's no 1 supporter, would rather him in our side burning the ball anyday over Bode. Bode is just another reminder of some of our poor recruiting over the years we swapped a first round pick for that dud and the club has remained insistant trying to prove that his recruiting wasnt a failure

 

[crowie]

Clarke in front of Hudson??? Not anymore.

Huddo has definatley made himself our main ruckman, He puts in a huge effort and does more than just tap the ball. He made that big goal that Mattner kicked yesterday.

He has really impressed me.

Biglands is in front of Clarke aswell, he makes a contest which is more than what Clarkey ever does. Plus he can be an extra tall when chucked in the forward line.

 

[zajicrow]

what is really making me excited is the fact that we can cop some injuries or out of form players this year and we shouldnt have any troubles replacing them.

Theres noone in the side now that should be dropped, and just think of who we have on the sidelines

Burton
Hart
Clarke
Stevens
Bode

+ others.

 

[arrowman]

This is what should make it even more scary for other teams... were not even at full strength

And neither has our depth been really tested yet. It could still be a rocky road.

Edited to add: But granted, we are getting more out of Doughty, Mattner, and Skipworth; Hentschel has improved, Thompson is a net improvement over Stenglien so far - some of those depth problems are less daunting than they were last year. God help us if Bode, Ladhams et al do the same as Mattner et al when their turn comes.

 

[Cap]

do people think Shirely has lifted his game to fill the position of stenglien ?

as kick a few goals and got a fair few stats himself while tagging other player - did we all underrate him as we seemed to have on doughty and Mattner ?

 

[arrowman]

do people think Shirely has lifted his game to fill the position of stenglien ?

as kick a few goals and got a fair few stats himself while tagging other player - did we all underrate him as we seemed to have on doughty and Mattner ?

I would say Shirley is close to a full replacement for Stenglein - if he plays the rest of the season the way he has to date, he will be the full replacement.

 

[snakebite01]

do people think Shirely has lifted his game to fill the position of stenglien ?

as kick a few goals and got a fair few stats himself while tagging other player - did we all underrate him as we seemed to have on doughty and Mattner ?

That's a good point, Shirley really has stepped up to take Stinger's place. Apart from round 1, he is picking up as many touches as Stinger did, kicking more goals and IMO is doing a better job at shutting players down than Stinger did in his last year at the club. So in essence, looking at it from this viewpoint, we have just been given Thompson for free.

 

[GrandfinalGurus]

I would say Shirley is close to a full replacement for Stenglein - if he plays the rest of the season the way he has to date, he will be the full replacement.

I have been giving some thought to this role, and I think the AFC should try and develop Schuback as a "tagger", try to increase his concentration and gives us a back up to Shirley. As I said, its just a thought...

 

[Alex99]

do people think Shirely has lifted his game to fill the position of stenglien ?

as kick a few goals and got a fair few stats himself while tagging other player - did we all underrate him as we seemed to have on doughty and Mattner ?

Never really underestimated matin Mattner quality as a player especially after the SANFL grand final for Sturt a few years ago (2002), Robert Shirley has hit a purple patch with form but still has a fair way to go before convincing me that he has a future as an AFL player and not just a flash in the pan run with player.

Michael Doughty has had one good game and for some reason everyone loves him as if he is going to win a Brownlow. Not me, I am a self confessed anti- Doughty fan and the sooner he is replaced with Van Berlo (or anyone of that ilk) on that half back flank the better. The problem I see with Mr Doughty is every single time he touches the ball the very next player who receives it is either under pressure or loses it because he makes a bad decision. Some people have the audacity to criticise Mathew Smiths lack of football smarts and football ability, quit possibly fair in every point they make but he doesn’t effect the teams form because he doesn’t play, Michael Doughty is in the side week in week out, with out fail and plays a pressure spot, half back flank. It is the start of each attack and the end of their attack. I am not being unfair as I feel he has been given ample opportunities but this problem constantly happens, over and over again and doesn’t seemed to have changed at all this season either.

Vote one Doughty for SANFL

 

[arrowman]

...Robert Shirley has hit a purple patch with form but still has a fair way to go before convincing me that he has a future as an AFL player and not just a flash in the pan run with player.

A fair call, but on the other hand that's what some said about Stenglein in the early days. (not me, I hasten to add). But frankly I don't think Shirley has to be as good as he has been this year, to be of value to the side. I think his "positive" possessions have been noticeable, but a bonus. If he continues to be a good stopper, with occasional games where he is seen as a positive contributor as well, that will be enough. Like Stenglein.

...The problem I see with Mr Doughty is every single time he touches the ball the very next player who receives it is either under pressure or loses it because he makes a bad decision...

I think that's a little unfair. Doughty is by definition often in the middle of a pressure situation, and the first handball/kick out of such a situation is not always perfect.

Along those lines, one of the things that has impressed me about the Crows this year is that they have numbers at the ball around half back in particular, and not just on the ball, and locking it up, but around the ball with a couple of players loose where they can use several handballs to work the ball to a better position. The impressive thing has been (a) that they run and work hard enough to make that position, and (b) they seem to know "who's going in and who's staying back" so we have the right numbers in the right positions.

Doughty - sometimes he's "in" and you can't be too harsh on disposal from that position; sometimes he's "out" and the first or second recipient, and yes, you can criticise his disposal then. I just think it would be harsh to lump all his possessions together when measuring his disposal.

 

[Alex99]

A fair call, but on the other hand that's what some said about Stenglein in the early days. (not me, I hasten to add). But frankly I don't think Shirley has to be as good as he has been this year, to be of value to the side. I think his "positive" possessions have been noticeable, but a bonus. If he continues to be a good stopper, with occasional games where he is seen as a positive contributor as well, that will be enough. Like Stenglein.


I think that's a little unfair. Doughty is by definition often in the middle of a pressure situation, and the first handball/kick out of such a situation is not always perfect.

Along those lines, one of the things that has impressed me about the Crows this year is that they have numbers at the ball around half back in particular, and not just on the ball, and locking it up, but around the ball with a couple of players loose where they can use several handballs to work the ball to a better position. The impressive thing has been (a) that they run and work hard enough to make that position, and (b) they seem to know "who's going in and who's staying back" so we have the right numbers in the right positions.

Doughty - sometimes he's "in" and you can't be too harsh on disposal from that position; sometimes he's "out" and the first or second recipient, and yes, you can criticise his disposal then. I just think it would be harsh to lump all his possessions together when measuring his disposal.

I appreciate the odd 'reaction possession' that he gets in the middle of a pack situation could go astray and when he receives the ball, when numbers are round that ball but it is the possessions he gets when he is wide open and starts to run before stopping and the he props and waits ignores the first and second option before getting tackled or moving it on and getting that player into trouble simply because he didn’t move the ball quickly onto the first option irritate the heck out of me.

 

[Cap]

See I completely disagree - Doughty seems ot have become the go to man coming out of defence (usually when we go through the guts) some of the disposal to him has been ordianry putting him under pressure - Yes he makes the odd stuff up but generally his disposal and decision making seems fine - I think a few people here just don't wont to be proved wrong on this matter,

Doughty will play every game, He wont win a brownlow and he probably wont even win a B&F but he wont be the first player to go through their career without these honours ( Mr Edwards is a prime example - however Mr Edwards is generally a much better player)

 

[AlwaysCrows]

I think the AFC are playing better as a whole team so it is significantly easier to pinpoint and attack an individual. The difference between last year and this year I feel is that each player are contributing a lot more and helping each other in pressure situations where we are able to kick the ball out to our advantage. Last year we lacked many involvement from several players and depended far too much on our senior players. Despite having seen some bad decisions made by certain players, I think there have been several occasions where players have backed up to amend those situations and not allowing them to cost us the game as much compared to last year where one pivotal moment would change the momentum of a game. This is probably one of the best years where I've seen the crows play 4 quality quarters of football and that is due to the whole team's involvement and not just certain individuals.

 

[missionpossible]

b: Rutten Bassett Stiffy

hb:Mattner McGregor McLeod

c: Reilly Riccuto Torney

hf: Thompson Perrie Hentschel

f: Welsh M.Stevens Skipworth

Ruck: Clarke
RR: Goodwin
R: Edwards

INTERCHANGE
1. Doughty
2. Hudson
3. Shirley
4. Bode

Comments from over the border.

At this stage one would have to say you are exceeding all expectations.

Some big differences between 2005 and 2004.

1 - Hudson - a ruckman who can get the ball and have an impact at ground level concepts. You can now banish clarke to retirement at the end of the season and should only play if bigland or hudson get injured

2 - Injuries - you have very few, this helps any team and to see this you just have to look at richmond. Last year players got exposure due to your injury list which has helped fast track some of them.

3 - Strong key defenders - no longer does bassett have to fight out of his weight division anymore, which has the flow on effect of not needing a flanker to stand the third tall.

4 - Thompson - a midfielder to be worried about by the opposition, as much as stenglien was hard as an opposition supporter one didnt fear him in that he would beat you.

5 - Third year players - The players that you needed to stand up (reilley, mattner, hentshell, skipworth) have done so so far.

6 - not as predictable - not relly on roo and mcloed.

Questions that remain

1 - injuries - will they come and can they be covered, I guess every club is in this boat.

2 - young guns - can their bodies still be going come september or will they be running on empty.

 

[Stiffy_18]

This is what should make it even more scary for other teams... were not even at full strength

Teams hardly are at full strength that often in this day and age.

Despite that injury list, I still thanks we are having a very good run with injuries to date.

 

[Stiffy_18]

do people think Shirely has lifted his game to fill the position of stenglien ?

as kick a few goals and got a fair few stats himself while tagging other player - did we all underrate him as we seemed to have on doughty and Mattner ?

I think Shirley is enjoying more responsibility and has been doing a great job so far. Not only is he shutting down opponents but he is starting to pick up possesions himself and be more attacking.

I am not sure if others noticed but Kirk had a pearler of a first half yesterday. In the second half Shirley was given a tagging job on Kirk and he hardly had a touch.

 

[AJ_No.4]

I think Shirley is enjoying more responsibility and has been doing a great job so far. Not only is he shutting down opponents but he is starting to pick up possesions himself and be more attacking.

I am not sure if others noticed but Kirk had a pearler of a first half yesterday. In the second half Shirley was given a tagging job on Kirk and he hardly had a touch.

Yes, I noticed that as well. Kirk was killing us from his clearances. Shirley did a fantastic job.

 

[Hasus]

Crows have got an awesome lineup this year, all the best..