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[ruscy002]

We all have very short memories (myself included) at times and forget that Neil Craig took us from 12th in 2004 to Minor Premiers in 2005, with the most minor of list changes we became a force to be reckoned with for two years. We didn't get a flag, that's fair enough, and we had some poor luck at bad times.

Now we've finished 8th in 2007 and a dark cloud circles over West Lakes, we're obviously in for another poor year and we'll be condemned to a lifetime of football obscurity.

WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!

Neil Craig, as always, his sights firmly placed on a top 4 position. He and the club have been stung by this bad (but not even that bad all things considered) year, will take all valid criticism on board and come out firing next year.

And we as supporters have no reason to believe that they can't.

Go your hardest, I don't care. Just thought we really needed a showing of faith on here.

 

[jo172]

I completely agree. If Port and the Kangaroos have taught us anything this year it's how fundamentally even the AFL actually is. Unless your a basket case club such as Carlton or Richmond the top 4 is an ascertainable goal every season.

So much in the AFL fundamentally comes down to luck. Namely injuries. Does anyone really think that with a fit Hentshel, Biglands, Ricciuto etc. that the Crows would not have gone a lot further this year? Hence why we went so far in 2005.

The only way to ensure you have no chance of finishing top 4 in an AFL season is to say at the start of the season that you have no chance of finishing in the top 4, namely like Richmond and Carlton do with their '5 year plans'. If the dominoes fall Adelaide's way in 2008 there is no reason why we can't again contest for a flag.

 

[mymansyd]

I've got the faith.

There is nothing much between the 2nd-place teams and us. If lady luck had gone our way, and if our coaching box was a little bit more proactive in 07, it would of been us playing off in the GF.

We just need to fine-tune here and there with our playing list, and match-day strategies and we should be around the mark again. My major concern is with the standard of our rucks, but that can be overcome if our stoppage-play is smart and works around that short-coming. I think our forward line will be more competitive next year, and our defence is fine.

The doomsdayers will say otherwise, but there is no need for high drama at West Lakes, just yet.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Bloody well said!!! Couldnt agree with you more. If we had half the luck Port had this year, we would of won at least another flag. Craigy has done bloody well with our list and people who bag him either have limited football knowledge or are just very unreasonable. Its nice too read something positive on this site. Sure Craigy might have a few faults, but often peoples faults are also there strengths

 

[ruscy002]

Two years in a row, we copped probably the best side over that period in both prelims. Port make it to one prelim from the exact same position as us going from 2004-2005 and end up playing a bunch of finals hacks like the Kangaroos. Yeah, port got in and were flogged, we all know that, but they made it.

Luck is huge and we're due for some of the good stuff I hope.

 

[BunjiMac]

Two years in a row, we copped probably the best side over that period in both prelims. Port make it to one prelim from the exact same position as us going from 2004-2005 and end up playing a bunch of finals hacks like the Kangaroos. Yeah, port got in and were flogged, we all know that, but they made it.

Luck is huge and we're due for some of the good stuff I hope.

I agree, its not all doom and gloom, but we still have to stay on the ball and adapt to the changing ways of the game and continue to try and improve.

Ultimately we need to strive to be the greatest team in the land, and that needs to be the ambition that drives the team and players.

 

[ruscy002]

I agree, its not all doom and gloom, but we still have to stay on the ball and adapt to the changing ways of the game and continue to try and improve.

Ultimately we need to strive to be the greatest team in the land, and that needs to be the ambition that drives the team and players.

In 2006, Collingwood was the only team that was more attacking than us by a grand total of 14 points. I'd like to see us return to that sort of mindset.

Its one thing that really p!ssed me off about so many people in the media this year, particularly the vics like Robert Walls. They kept on towing the line that Adelaide is and always was a crappy defensive team with no scoring ability. When everybody was up and running that was far from the case in 2006, which overall was a better year than 2005 (apart from the late drop-off) when we were a mad crazy defensive unit but still had reasonable scoring ability.

 

[Stiffy_18]

In 2006, Collingwood was the only team that was more attacking than us by a grand total of 14 points. I'd like to see us return to that sort of mindset.

Its one thing that really p!ssed me off about so many people in the media this year, particularly the vics like Robert Walls. They kept on towing the line that Adelaide is and always was a crappy defensive team with no scoring ability. When everybody was up and running that was far from the case in 2006, which overall was a better year than 2005 (apart from the late drop-off) when we were a mad crazy defensive unit but still had reasonable scoring ability.

The reason for being that attacking was due to 3 players kicking 40+ goals in the year (Roo, Burton and Hentschel) plus you had the likes of Bode and Biglands pinch in with 30 odd each.

In 2006, pre all the injuries, we had the best, most balanced forward line structure in years. This year we didn't have any of our top 5 goal kickers from previous year on a regular basis. Thats a HUGE scoring power missing.

Potentially we could regain that because Welsh is capable of replacing Roo's goal kicking in the above scenario. Welsh, Burton, a fully fit and recovered Hentschel, Bode, Gill, Porplyzia and a resting Biglands, Thompson etc... make for a pretty potent forward line.

 

[ruscy002]

Potentially we could regain that because Welsh is capable of replacing Roo's goal kicking in the above scenario. Welsh, Burton, a fully fit and recovered Hentschel, Bode, Gill, Porplyzia and a resting Biglands, Thompson etc... make for a pretty potent forward line.

I'm getting a little bit firm stiffy...

 

[jenny61_99]

Great post! Some of us have been saying it for four weeks now, but nobody was listening - too busy doing a Chicken Little!

 

[ams4crows]

well said mate! totally agree! we will be fine!

 

[- PC -]

Been saying it all along... though mr conservative inside me suggests that 2008 will be the year that shows where NC is as a coach of the AFC

 

[BunjiMac]

Been saying it all along... though mr conservative inside me suggests that 2008 will be the year that shows where NC is as a coach of the AFC

I hope so.

 

[crowsarethebest]

It's a new season, anything can happen. Port got a nice run with injuries and they made it to the granny from no where. We need some luck to go our way for once. Hopefully an injury free season next year.