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I wouldn't be so sure this time.

If you asked me at round 12 last year, I'd argue, yeah absolutely. This is like running on a hamster wheel.

Now? I don't expect better. I expect us to be belted again.

Maybe if there was a semblance of a game plan on show maybe but the one thing that's standing out to me unless I'm missing something big time is there isn't a coherent playing strategy for the players to adopt, either that or they don't understand it if there is. Currently I'd take a man on strategy over whatever the coach is trying to achieve because it sure as hell isn't working.

Surely freeing the players up to play an attacking style game has to be better than this defensive sh*t where all our players are trailing their opponents to the ball, sometimes attack is the best form of defence, at least it puts the opposing defence under pressure.

Whilst I am usually the first to decry game plan, to blame it for what was dished up against Port is just the wrong take. What we saw was a team who did exactly what they did for the back half of 2019 (and occasionally before). When the going got even remotely difficult, they gave up and played an unaccountable, selfish brand of football. Probably the best example of this was Matt Crouch calling for the ball from McHenry to take a shot from 50. That right there is the canary in the coal mine for where this club is at.

If you need more to show this, imagine losing by 75 points and being out tackled by double digits, and one percenters by 4, even though the ball was in your D50 for the majority and it is a statistic that is owned by defenders. They're not indicators of anything about game plan. They're indicators that the competitive drive and the desire to put the team above yourself have been beaten out of a lot of our senior players over the past few years. It's expected too seeing Burton/Pyke fostered that culture from the moment they absolved themselves from blame for the grand final loss with the camp, and the mental toughness snake oil. I have no doubt the players ran hard, but I have no doubt players ran hard out of self-interest than any actual desire to impact the play. Brad Crouch letting a player get a 20 m head start on him before sprinting is another canary for this.

Focusing on defence is the right move because defence demands a team-first attitude and this attitude which has permeated throughout our senior players needs to be snuffed out quicksmart, or else it will sink any rebuild because that selfishness will slowly, but naturally rub onto the next generation (The Jones, McHenrys, Doedees etc).
 
In the pre-Covid world supporters should be angry with the lack of changes, however, 2020 is not normal and the break between round 1 and 2 was significant. I liked that Nicks put it out there to the senior guys this is the test this week if you don't respond your spot is not guaranteed. Next games selection is the real telling material if we lose, which surely we will, if that result is ignored Nicks has lost me.

Welcome Will Hamill hope you kill it!
From C7 news . 1 forced change in Hamill for Milera. Surely others deserved to be dropped after last week.
 

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If you asked me at round 12 last year, I'd argue, yeah absolutely. This is like running on a hamster wheel.

Now? I don't expect better. I expect us to be belted again.



Whilst I am usually the first to decry game plan, to blame it for what was dished up against Port is just the wrong take. What we saw was a team who did exactly what they did for the back half of 2019 (and occasionally before). When the going got even remotely difficult, they gave up and played an unaccountable, selfish brand of football. Probably the best example of this was Matt Crouch calling for the ball from McHenry to take a shot from 50. That right there is the canary in the coal mine for where this club is at.

If you need more to show this, imagine losing by 75 points and being out tackled by double digits, and one percenters by 4, even though the ball was in your D50 for the majority and it is a statistic that is owned by defenders. They're not indicators of anything about game plan. They're indicators that the competitive drive and the desire to put the team above yourself have been beaten out of a lot of our senior players over the past few years. It's expected too seeing Burton/Pyke fostered that culture from the moment they absolved themselves from blame for the grand final loss with the camp, and the mental toughness snake oil. I have no doubt the players ran hard, but I have no doubt players ran hard out of self-interest than any actual desire to impact the play. Brad Crouch letting a player get a 20 m head start on him before sprinting is another canary for this.

Focusing on defence is the right move because defence demands a team-first attitude and this attitude which has permeated throughout our senior players needs to be snuffed out quicksmart, or else it will sink any rebuild because that selfishness will slowly, but naturally rub onto the next generation (The Jones, McHenrys, Doedees etc).
Yeah them bloody Crouch boys....
 
Way to completely miss the point.
Nah I'll go with Malcolm Blight's version not yours if that's OK. ....



“There are three rules in football if you are going to keep it as basic as you can. The first one: you’ve got to plan to get the ball. If you’re not planning to get the ball and you’re prioritising defence, you’ll run second to the ball all the time, you’ll be beaten all the time. You follow your man, all you do is chase.


“The second thing is: use the ball. So plan to get the ball and then use the ball. Hopefully you get a goal.


“And the third and final thing is: if they get it, the nearest player puts on pressure. That’s as simple as the game is in its most simple philosophy.


“To say that you prioritise defence means that those blokes in the middle of the ground are going to be too worried about a midfield player getting the ball.


“It’s rubbish.


“Unless you’ve got the best team and the greatest defence and the best forward line, you’re not going to win. So you can’t pinch games by playing like that (defensively). I guarantee you now you’ll end up kicking five goals like they did.


“They’ll go up to the Gold Coast and if they can’t win this one they are gone.


“To actually prioritise defence, it’s rubbish.


“It is a rookie coach with a rookie idea. I’ll tell you now, it won’t work.”
 
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I’m ok with them getting one week for a reprieve, and even if we win, if some of those senior players don’t improve they’re gone next week. This is what Nicks was talking about earlier in the week, so I hope he follows through.

Kelly and Nicks don’t have any ties to past personnel that influenced the continued selections of players like Mackay, I’m willing to trust him for now.
Yeah fair enough and good on you for being so trusting despite everything. I just can't trust the words any more. I need to see the actions at this point.

Even Walsh who we now idolise and say he was just about to change things. The evidence is that he was yet another coach that got sucked in to the crows culture of looking after senior players.
 
From C7 news . 1 forced change in Hamill for Milera. Surely others deserved to be dropped after last week.


They deserve to be dropped definitely however there was at least 14 of them - I like Nick's approach give them a go but announce to all who can hear they are all on notice -about time! For too long the gold pass has been handed around the change rooms time it was torn up and I have a feeling it has!
 
Yeah I'm actually okay with these changes, or lack thereof. If it means we are as shit as last week I'm pleased, a step closer to a top 2 or 3 pick (or two top 3 or 4 picks, if Brouch leaves)

As long as we're blooding a ton of youth (which we are, Jones/McHenry/Fog/McAsey/Hamill all playing) I'm happy with how things are tracking
 
Nah I'll go with Malcolm Blight's version not yours if that's OK. ....



“There are three rules in football if you are going to keep it as basic as you can. The first one: you’ve got to plan to get the ball. If you’re not planning to get the ball and you’re prioritising defence, you’ll run second to the ball all the time, you’ll be beaten all the time. You follow your man, all you do is chase.


“The second thing is: use the ball. So plan to get the ball and then use the ball. Hopefully you get a goal.


“And the third and final thing is: if they get it, the nearest player puts on pressure. That’s as simple as the game is in its most simple philosophy.


“To say that you prioritise defence means that those blokes in the middle of the ground are going to be too worried about a midfield player getting the ball.


“It’s rubbish.


“Unless you’ve got the best team and the greatest defence and the best forward line, you’re not going to win. So you can’t pinch games by playing like that (defensively). I guarantee you now you’ll end up kicking five goals like they did.


“They’ll go up to the Gold Coast and if they can’t win this one they are gone.


“To actually prioritise defence, it’s rubbish.


“It is a rookie coach with a rookie idea. I’ll tell you now, it won’t work.”
That was in response to Nicks saying they have to concentrate more on defence. It wasn’t a direct response to the game.

Everyone who posts here is well aware of your affection for the Crouch’s. You’re a highly valued poster and no one, especially me, takes any joy in the knowledge that giving them a whack is a kick in the guts to you.

But putting all that aside, their unaccountable football and often poor or indirect disposal, is fuelling arguably the worst midfield in the competition.

Golumless post was absolutely spot on, and I’ve seen more footage than I care to remember which is all too similar to the examples he provided.
 

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Yeah fair enough and good on you for being so trusting despite everything. I just can't trust the words any more. I need to see the actions at this point.

Even Walsh who we now idolise and say he was just about to change things. The evidence is that he was yet another coach that got sucked in to the crows culture of looking after senior players.
Who is carrying that culture now that Burton and Campo are both gone? Campo especially was the major driver of it regardless of who the senior coach was. We haven’t seen a Crows team with this much youth for a very long time.
 
If you asked me at round 12 last year, I'd argue, yeah absolutely. This is like running on a hamster wheel.

Now? I don't expect better. I expect us to be belted again.



Whilst I am usually the first to decry game plan, to blame it for what was dished up against Port is just the wrong take. What we saw was a team who did exactly what they did for the back half of 2019 (and occasionally before). When the going got even remotely difficult, they gave up and played an unaccountable, selfish brand of football. Probably the best example of this was Matt Crouch calling for the ball from McHenry to take a shot from 50. That right there is the canary in the coal mine for where this club is at.

If you need more to show this, imagine losing by 75 points and being out tackled by double digits, and one percenters by 4, even though the ball was in your D50 for the majority and it is a statistic that is owned by defenders. They're not indicators of anything about game plan. They're indicators that the competitive drive and the desire to put the team above yourself have been beaten out of a lot of our senior players over the past few years. It's expected too seeing Burton/Pyke fostered that culture from the moment they absolved themselves from blame for the grand final loss with the camp, and the mental toughness snake oil. I have no doubt the players ran hard, but I have no doubt players ran hard out of self-interest than any actual desire to impact the play. Brad Crouch letting a player get a 20 m head start on him before sprinting is another canary for this.

Focusing on defence is the right move because defence demands a team-first attitude and this attitude which has permeated throughout our senior players needs to be snuffed out quicksmart, or else it will sink any rebuild because that selfishness will slowly, but naturally rub onto the next generation (The Jones, McHenrys, Doedees etc).
Is that you Gary Ayres?
 
I think as much as we as supporters have seen a frustrating pattern in selection, Nicks would have come in and cleaned the slate. No pre conceived judgements on players and gold passes etc. I like what he has spoken about, and im going give him the benefit of the doubt for the year. Especially with zero support.

This is his teams second AFL game, and really, he needs the senior players to stand up. Not just for wins on the board but to set an example for the kids. So I think he gives them every opportunity to pull their fingers out. If they dish up the same shit as last week, swing the axe, but im happy there has been no knee jerk reaction.

Like it was mentioned above, let the players seal their own fate.
 
Who is carrying that culture now that Burton and Campo are both gone? Campo especially was the major driver of it regardless of who the senior coach was. We haven’t seen a Crows team with this much youth for a very long time.
One thing you must realise about the modern crows by now is that the chairman drives the culture.

It's all a big wankfest of banksterish committees to cover everyone's arses.

It's not like the 90s where the coach could make the call.

Surely you've heard enough Campo or Clarke interviews by now to realise its all voted on by committee. You always hear "oh we discussed it at length but in the end consensus was..." or "at the end of the day match committee decided...".

Now that might be a great away to obviate specific responsibility. But rarely have I seen a committee reach the best possible decision.

Especially when an environment exists where committee members get so matesy with the people they're supposed to make decisions on.

Football decisions should be best left to a coach. Then you know who to celebrate or who to blame. Leadership by committee is a flawed method of blame sharing, dilutes true leadership, and is a cop out.
 
One thing you must realise about the modern crows by now is that the chairman drives the culture.

It's all a big wankfest of banksterish committees to cover everyone's arses.

It's not like the 90s where the coach could make the call.

Surely you've heard enough Campo or Clarke interviews by now to realise its all voted on by committee. You always hear "oh we discussed it at length but in the end consensus was..." or "at the end of the day match committee decided...".

Now that might be a great away to obviate specific responsibility. But rarely have I seen a committee reach the best possible decision.

Especially when an environment exists where committee members get so matesy with the people they're supposed to make decisions on.

Football decisions should be best left to a coach. Then you know who to celebrate or who to blame. Leadership by committee is a flawed method of blame sharing, dilutes true leadership, and is a cop out.
Do you think Chapman has influence over selection? I thought it was always senior coach, an assistant (Campo in past years) and the footy ops manager.
 

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Good to see Hamill debut but basically if Milera was fit it would be an unchanged lineup. Making no forced changes after that pitiful effort is not the correct way to correct a poor culture. Should have been a minimum 3 changes. On the bright side I'm feeling more confident about the bet I made. Lets hope Nicks comes into his own at some point this year. Needs to realise that his only chance of keeping the job long term will be breaking the back of selfishness and privilege that permeates through the club. Best to be done early in his tenor. Players don't need a mate, they need someone they better deliver for.
 
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Do you think Chapman has influence over selection? I thought it was always senior coach, an assistant (Campo in past years) and the footy ops manager.
Selection, no. Committee culture, yes.

Read it again. And if you've heard any assistant crows coach speak in the last 10 years you know they all have a seat at selection.

Campo gone might be why Dmac is no longer getting a jumper but the culture remains so there will be other Dmacs that current assistants are attached to.

I think pick the best man and then let him pick his own team. None of this spreading responsibility so potential blame is distributed evenly garbage.
 
Selection, no. Committee culture, yes.

Read it again. And if you've heard any assistant crows coach speak in the last 10 years you know they all have a seat at selection.

Campo gone might be why Dmac is no longer getting a jumper but the culture remains so there will be other Dmacs that current assistants are attached to.

I think pick the best man and then let him pick his own team. None of this spreading responsibility so potential blame is distributed evenly garbage.
Ben Hart having input into team selection fills me with no confidence. A head coach should pick the team. Hear out assistant coaches but don't let it change your view if you believe strongly in it.
 
Shame not bringing in Butt
Maybe if there was a semblance of a game plan on show maybe but the one thing that's standing out to me unless I'm missing something big time is there isn't a coherent playing strategy for the players to adopt, either that or they don't understand it if there is. Currently I'd take a man on strategy over whatever the coach is trying to achieve because it sure as hell isn't working.

Surely freeing the players up to play an attacking style game has to be better than this defensive sh*t where all our players are trailing their opponents to the ball, sometimes attack is the best form of defence, at least it puts the opposing defence under pressure.
This has been the worry I've had when players have been talking about 90% of what they've been doing is contested footy and defending. Players on interviews before round 1 and restart seemed to have little idea who was playing where.
 

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