Preview Changes v Adelaide Crows (R2)

[Optimistic Dog]

The odd odds. What odds at the start of the season would we have been to be favourites in round 2 against the crows in Adelaide. We are 1.87 and they are 1.97.

 

[iambrilliant]

Croft should come in for Lewis but I can see bevo giving Lewis a run of games

 

[Freshwater]

In - Croft, Jones
Out - Lewis, Hynes

I like Hynes but think there’s no clear role for him right now.

Come to say exactly this. I reckon this is pretty obvious, so obvious that our selection history shows it probably won’t be done.

 

[VitalDread]

Was a tough outing for Lewis having to ruck against Briggs

Feel like Croft or Darcy will fill that Third tall forward role better

Hynes was solid as that medium forward but Arty brings that extra speed around the ball

Out: Lewis, Hynes
In: Jones, Croft/Darcy

 

[dogwatch]

I think Arty is cleaner with the loose ball too. Hynes fumbled a few late in the game. Deft handling is so important for the fast game we like to play.

 

[Libbaaaa]

If our midfield stands up I just don’t see how they can match us. Also English routinely go handed his lunch by ROB who won’t play/ruck rules changed anyway.

 

[BigFloppa]

If we win this, I'm sorry but the lid is off

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

If we win this, I'm sorry but the lid is off

You still have your lid after that Brissie game? Weird

 

[Optimistic Dog]

The crows do get their third best player back in Rankine, it is at the AO where we do not play against them. However, I am confident with our current form we can get the win. Hopefully Rory has a better game against Thilthorpe than last season.

 

[Dog 36]

The crows do get their third best player back in Rankine, it is at the AO where we do not play against them. However, I am confident with our current form we can get the win. Hopefully Rory has a better game against Thilthorpe than last season.

What options are there for Thilthorpe other than Lobb really ?

Tough assignment vs Crows but winnable

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

What options are there for Thilthorpe other than Lobb really ?

Tough assignment vs Crows but winnable

There is hardly a defender in the league that matches up well against Thilthorpe as he is so quick and impossible to beat 1 on 1.

Same as Sam Darcy btw.

Going to have to get plenty back to help in defence.

 

[Mojorisin]

There is hardly a defender in the league that matches up well against Thilthorpe as he is so quick and impossible to beat 1 on 1.

Same as Sam Darcy btw.

Going to have to get plenty back to help in defence.

If we can force them as wide as possible like in the first 2 games it will go a long way to helping. Limiting the clean delivery he receives will be crucial.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

Hard to fault our 23 today overall. Will be a cracker of a match on a ground we haven’t fared well in years. And we have Hawks & Port to come there.

Jones in for Lewis?

West out of sorts the last week but can’t see us drop him.

What do you mean, “West out of sorts”? He was terrific yesterday.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Fully expecting English to annihilate McAndrew. Roberto always killed him so glad to see the back of him.

Adelaide dismantled us last year at Marvel, just pinpoint passing through our defence and defended so well. This will be a good test.

 

[Mhiggo]

Adelaide dismantled us last year at Marvel, just pinpoint passing through our defence and defended so well. This will be a good test.

Only the first game back against a side that had already had a run around but they didn't look anywhere near as polished against the Pies as they did in our game last year, would be a big step up to be able to execute that same game plan against us with less than a week turn around.

That said they'll be getting Rankine back and have got some kms in the legs now so it's not impossible either.

 

[TiAn_]

Being an away game against a contender, I won’t be shattered with a competitive loss. More important to me is seeing how our defenders cope with one of the best collections of forwards in the comp. Three good KPFs will be a real test.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Pinching a win can really open up our season, because our fixture difficulty with 10 more home games beyond this and knocking out 3 finals fancies early means we're yet to play the bottom 4/bottom 6.

Going 3-0 here means we don't even have to play particularly well - say, we even play at a league average rate of 8th/9th best in the league from Round 4 onwards - yet we could still feasibly go 13-7 in the 20 games despite only bein ghte 8th best team in the league for those 20 games or whatever, simply by virtue of how easy the fixture is in these last 20 games we play. A 16-7 record is almost certainly then good enough to finish top 4, and even a 15-8 record could very well be top 4 too.

And we've had so many seasons that we've been a top 4 team on form late in the season without actually getting the double chance in finals under Bevo that maybe this year can be a shoe on the other foot uno reverse - we somehow hang onto a top 4 spot without the form line itself in the late part of the season justifying it.

Its why going 3-0 is so, so important here.

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Can you even call this a statement game? How can you top beating Brisbane in Brisbane?

If we manage to pinch this one, the lid for me will be flung across the room.

 

[BigFloppa]

Can you even call this a statement game? How can you top beating Brisbane in Brisbane?

Because a true statement isn't just one game. Any team can beat any other team with the right amount of luck. Repeatedly beating good teams is what gives true credibility.

 

[bresker]

Adelaide only lost one game at AO during the H & A season last year, a high scoring game against Geelong.

However, they lost both finals at home & went out in straight sets. The crowd will be nervous.

Their form going into finals was patchy too.

They aren't "there for the taking", but neither is it an impossible task.

They were just about the most impressive team i saw at Docklands last year & Thilthorpe the most complete forward. They still won by eleven points , although our late goals came with the game lost .

Weather looks perfect for Friday night .

 

[Angak]

Can you even call this a statement game? How can you top beating Brisbane in Brisbane?

If we manage to pinch this one, the lid for me will be flung across the room.

You could argue the Lions are a little off their best to start the season.

If we beat the Crows at AO, then anything is possible this season. Tougher game IMO

 

[Libbaaaa]

Can you even call this a statement game? How can you top beating Brisbane in Brisbane?

If we manage to pinch this one, the lid for me will be flung across the room.

Agreed, it would be more of confirmation that we are a real deal top 4 team.

Adelaide will come out breathing fire, if we weather the storm in the first 10-15 mins the crowd will die down and we'll be fine. Will be a great test of our ability to not leave Lobb, Buku and JOD isolated against Thilthorpe and Fogarty, they will get monstered otherwise (see round 22 in 2024, it was tough watching).

 

[Optimistic Dog]

What options are there for Thilthorpe other than Lobb really ?

Tough assignment vs Crows but winnable

Not many. He has a lot attributes but probably the hardest to match is his strength. My guess is Gardiner is our strongest bodied defender. Would I play him the answer is a big no. So, it is Rory or JOD.

Thilthorpe v Lobb
Tex v JOD
Fogarty v Buku

Budarick gets Rankine when forward
Sellwood gets Rachelle

 

[Libbaaaa]

What options are there for Thilthorpe other than Lobb really ?

Tough assignment vs Crows but winnable

Team defence are our only options against him and Fogarty, so that means congesting space inside their forward 50 and having Jaques, Sellwood etc... floating in as much as possible to crash packs and try get a fist/body involved.

 

[theburst]

having to refresh the memory checked up on our previous matches in SA, shocking....lost all 3 to Adelaide, lost last 3 to Port (though the 2021 Prelim. win stands out, hopefully an omen for this year), and haven't won in 3 Gather Round matches...this game will tell us so much