Can the Adelaide Crows go all the way?

[Osho]

I was initially thinking that with Izak out, they can't. On reflection, I think they can. The issue is not so much finding a fill in for him, but finding better and swifter ball movement from defence. I reckon that's their biggest challenge. Once that is improved with more risk taking, better ball i50, then it will open up opps for their 3 talls and Izaks replacement, and others. Those 3 tall forwards will be key. So, they can do it.

As a back up plan and for certain phases of the game when oppo is getting hot, Crows have a fabulous defensive crew and method. The trick will be switching phases between running hot and cooling off.

As they have shown a better learning curve than any other club the last year, I say yes, they can do it! And imagine how good a win that would be without Rankine.

 

[deck]

I remember the Eagles defeated us in 2018 without Gaff, Sheppard and Naitanui in their premiership side

They didn't have a soft underbelly like the Crows.

 

[deck]

Pies are clearly a threat. Do anyone not think they have not been doing heavy training load past 6 weeks?

That theory died about 3 weeks ago. 6 weeks I don't think so.

 

[Cyclops]

No, a long suspension just made it harder, however, it is no different to an injury.

The thing that determines how far Adelaide goes is our defensive unit and if they can keep teams to low scores/be hard to transition against. However, we aren't devoid of matchwinners at this point, though if Thilthorpe or Dawson going down would probably spell the end to those chances.

Have to agree. That defence was awesome, completely paralysed our pretty experienced forwards despite our midfield dominance.

I had thought the Crows were a nice looking forward line blowing small clubs away in the h&a but there's a strong case to be made they have the best defence on form, and a fairly unflappable coaching group.

Beating us puts them above us as a chance despite the VicBias of the MCG GF. Quite a real chance.

If Rankine goes down for 5 it's a test: if losing him breaks the will of the playing group then they were probably too mentally weak to win with him.

I think they're strong enough, with or without. By the same token, breaking a Collingwood hoodoo isn't proof of some new spiritual triumph, but its very nice to get the monkey off the back, and I think I will buoy them up.

 

[Seeds]

That theory died about 3 weeks ago. 6 weeks I don't think so.

There have just been too many times when collingwood looked awful in the second half of the home and away only to fire up in the finals. They are going in massively underrated. I rate them as big a threat as brisbane.

 

[Hobbes]

Have to agree. That defence was awesome, completely paralysed our pretty experienced forwards despite our midfield dominance.

I had thought the Crows were a nice looking forward line blowing small clubs away in the h&a but there's a strong case to be made they have the best defence on form, and a fairly unflappable coaching group.

Beating us puts them above us as a chance despite the VicBias of the MCG GF. Quite a real chance.

If Rankine goes down for 5 it's a test: if losing him breaks the will of the playing group then they were probably too mentally weak to win with him.

I think they're strong enough, with or without. By the same token, breaking a Collingwood hoodoo isn't proof of some new spiritual triumph, but its very nice to get the monkey off the back, and I think I will buoy them up.

It's quite pleasing the way that this year's Crows have been dispensing with hoodoos - Collingwood, the MCG, the SCG, winning close matches.

 

[Cyclops]

It's quite pleasing the way that this year's Crows have been dispensing with hoodoos - Collingwood, the MCG, the SCG, winning close matches.

They're sort of nonsense and sort of real. In 2022 we won all those close games...then lost two finals under a goal.

In 2023 we won less close ones but all three finals were under a goal.

I said if you beat us you might catch fire with self belief. It does happen, best time of year to kick into form

Still sticking with Lions then Cats over in the flag favourites thread, but the Crows have "moved their needle" if thats the right expression.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Rankine just cost the crows the flag.

Geelong to lose now

It's not ideal, but if the Eagles could do it without Nic Nat, Gaff and Shep, which is indisputably a bigger impact than one player in Rankine, good as he is, I'm sure the Crows can, if at their best.

 

[PerthBoy86]

I was initially thinking that with Izak out, they can't. On reflection, I think they can. The issue is not so much finding a fill in for him, but finding better and swifter ball movement from defence. I reckon that's their biggest challenge. Once that is improved with more risk taking, better ball i50, then it will open up opps for their 3 talls and Izaks replacement, and others. Those 3 tall forwards will be key. So, they can do it.

As a back up plan and for certain phases of the game when oppo is getting hot, Crows have a fabulous defensive crew and method. The trick will be switching phases between running hot and cooling off.

As they have shown a better learning curve than any other club the last year, I say yes, they can do it! And imagine how good a win that would be without Rankine.

Yeah I've noticed they have had trouble transitioning the last few weeks, so wasn't surprised when they said they were 17th. Defence rather than offence made the main different vs the Pies, Rankine was just okay, wasn't the difference. Rachele might be the key if he comes in, but they have enough firepower out. Now if say any of Keane, Worrall, Dawson, Thilthorpe also went out it'd be very hard.

 

[Osho]

Yeah I've noticed they have had trouble transitioning the last few weeks, so wasn't surprised when they said they were 17th. Defence rather than offence made the main different vs the Pies, Rankine was just okay, wasn't the difference. Rachele might be the key if he comes in, but they have enough firepower out. Now if say any of Keane, Worrall, Dawson, Thilthorpe also went out it'd be very hard.

Injuries can affect everyone.

Crows need to be able to score more. They got lucky with the Pies forward disfunction. They can score more if they want to. They'll need to.

 

[PCORF]

This year = no chance. Next year, not sure. 2027 and 2028 will be interesting though.

A lot of inexperience, Rankine out. Not a huge fan of the coach when it comes to making team selections (playing Murphy when he could play others, etc). Slow starts are not ideal, you cannot afford that next month. The pressure is really mounting big time.

If Adelaide play Gold Coast in the QF they will probably win. But they are no chance against Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood regardless of venue plus Hawthorn and GWS will not be easy to beat either. The regular season wins were great but finals is different.

Could be the first minor premier (assuring they beat North this weekend) in 40 years with a straight sets exit. Esp if they have Collingwood and Hawthorn in their first 2 games.

As a long time supporter, prove me wrong.

 

[PerthBoy86]

This year = no chance. Next year, not sure. 2027 and 2028 will be interesting though.

A lot of inexperience, Rankine out. Not a huge fan of the coach when it comes to making team selections (playing Murphy when he could play others, etc). Slow starts are not ideal, you cannot afford that next month. The pressure is really mounting big time.

If Adelaide play Gold Coast in the QF they will probably win. But they are no chance against Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood regardless of venue plus Hawthorn and GWS will not be easy to beat either. The regular season wins were great but finals is different.

Could be the first minor premier (assuring they beat North this weekend) in 40 years with a straight sets exit. Esp if they have Collingwood and Hawthorn in their first 2 games.

As a long time supporter, prove me wrong.

I get the pessimism about this year, even if overblown, but why are you unsure about next? No reason why you're not a huge chance.

When I imagine the side standing on the dais this season for some reason I keep seeing Adelaide on the dais, even if I think Brisbane or Geelong are better placed.

 

[MF]

Pies are clearly a threat. Do anyone not think they have not been doing heavy training load past 6 weeks?

Complete myth

 

[MF]

People severely underestimate the importance of injuries on a sides flag hopes and Adelaide will likely never again get a run like this.

When you find yourself in a position like this you have to capitalise on it. You can't assume you'll be thereabouts again next year because it rarely works out that way

 

[Golumless]

Have to agree. That defence was awesome, completely paralysed our pretty experienced forwards despite our midfield dominance.

I had thought the Crows were a nice looking forward line blowing small clubs away in the h&a but there's a strong case to be made they have the best defence on form, and a fairly unflappable coaching group.

Beating us puts them above us as a chance despite the VicBias of the MCG GF. Quite a real chance.

If Rankine goes down for 5 it's a test: if losing him breaks the will of the playing group then they were probably too mentally weak to win with him.

I think they're strong enough, with or without. By the same token, breaking a Collingwood hoodoo isn't proof of some new spiritual triumph, but its very nice to get the monkey off the back, and I think I will buoy them up.

It's been a decently quiet switch all things, but that's pretty much what we've been doing to teams since round 7-8. SEN champion data segment had it as the best defensive unit since Melbourne 2021 with how hard it is to break down.

I also think we're strong enough though losing Rankine does push this more into a Sydney 2005/Richmond 2017 job where the defense is going to have to do the heavy lifting. That said, it's probably the same situation as before, just that one of the match winners is gone.

 

[joe444]

Starting to think the OP works for a polling company ...

... looking forward to another weird post along the lines of "insert team and year, one of the best premiers?"

 

[twhowler]

That theory died about 3 weeks ago. 6 weeks I don't think so.

THis is what i find most intriguing

The club was talking about it a few weeks ago

DId it happen? Did it not work? Will it suddenly kick in? They had a lot of energy against the crows just no method going forward.

I am not prepared to dismiss them. MCG can still be their happly place with the crowd helping!

 

[JPetro83]

Not anymore

 

[Plugger46]

If Rankine goes down for 5 it's a test: if losing him breaks the will of the playing group then they were probably too mentally weak to win with him.

This is the best way of putting it! I've been thinking the same. I don't like our chances of winning without him because I remember last season when he'd be in and out we'd change dramatically.
We've got a few to come back but rankine does have that "magic)turn a game of my own boot" factor that we probably don't have anyone else who can on our list.
But good teams are based on good squads

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Rankine has been playing more forward recently without Rachelle in the team. Rach is tracking well for the QF. Rankine out is certainly a blow for the Crow's but I'd be more concerned if Dawson or TT was unavailable.

 

[Cleric]

Not now

 

[Cleric]

Rankine has been playing more forward recently without Rachelle in the team. Rach is tracking well for the QF. Rankine out is certainly a blow for the Crow's but I'd be more concerned if Dawson or TT was unavailable.

We would want to be playing alot better than we are now if we are to win finals. In the last few games we have been smashed in the midfield, and we have relied on Rankine to do some magic stuff to get the game back for us. We have three players who can win the game for us off their own boot. Rankine, Dawson and Thilthorpe.
Out of those, Rankine is the most dangerous. We are nowhere near as good without him.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

We would want to be playing alot better than we are now if we are to win finals. In the last few games we have been smashed in the midfield, and we have relied on Rankine to do some magic stuff to get the game back for us. We have three players who can win the game for us off their own boot. Rankine, Dawson and Thilthorpe.
Out of those, Rankine is the most dangerous. We are nowhere near as good without him.

We will certainly need to find our mojo back again but I believe we can do it with the players we'll have available for finals.

 

[Cleric]

We will certainly need to find our mojo back again but I believe we can do it with the players we'll have available for finals.

We have had alot of warning signs, especially against Hawthorn, West Coast and Collingwood.
If we give up 70 forward 50 entries against either Geelong or Brisbane and we are going to be destroyed. Our backline held up against Collingwood but they dont have any potent forwards.
Plus, you cant keep expecting them to do that week in week out, they shouldn't have to. The midfield is losing the clearances, and they obviously arnt defensive enough, otherwise we wouldn't be getting that many forward 50 entries against us.
We have relied on acts of brilliance by Thilthorpe, Rankine and Dawson to get us back in the game, which again, with no Rankine, you cant expect Dawson and Thilthorpe to do that week in week out.

We have some major danger signs, and if we dont have a decisive win against North who have all but wound up for the year, then we have major issues.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

We have had alot of warning signs, especially against Hawthorn, West Coast and Collingwood.
If we give up 70 forward 50 entries against either Geelong or Brisbane and we are going to be destroyed. Our backline held up against Collingwood but they dont have any potent forwards.
Plus, you cant keep expecting them to do that week in week out, they shouldn't have to. The midfield is losing the clearances, and they obviously arnt defensive enough, otherwise we wouldn't be getting that many forward 50 entries against us.
We have relied on acts of brilliance by Thilthorpe, Rankine and Dawson to get us back in the game, which again, with no Rankine, you cant expect Dawson and Thilthorpe to do that week in week out.

We have some major danger signs, and if we dont have a decisive win against North who have all but wound up for the year, then we have major issues.

All I'll say wait and see.