Preview Changes vs Swans

[marshallfender]

What I saw on Saturday was just plain embarrassing. I wonder if 2012 was an aberration and the reality is being in the bottom half of the ladder is where this Club is at. I am still hurting and feel the pain of our Club coming 2nd in a two team town. Port have flogged us at every post since their appointments in the summer of 2012.

They have formed a strong and solid foundation and rebuilt their Club from almost ruin. From the administration like Kochie to the coach - Hinkley to the players recruited and their marketing campaign. They have blitzed us and yet our Club sits back and has not responded in fighting hard to regain ground we have lost.

Our first home game is laughable and a joke, Port beat us in staging the first ever home game at AO, it gained all the excitement that goes with opening a new stadium, Adelaide was alive all of last week about the first game and the media too. There is nothing to get excited about this week. Whatever we do is going to look trying too hard and will come off second best to what Port achieved over the weekend. Yes I am looking forward to this weeks game, but lets face it please, its just any home and away game, nothing at all to care about. Port won all the glitz and glamour over the weekend, the only way we could have robbed them of "their" moment was winning and we just gave it up, when the game was in the balance.

My glass is still half full
Last time I looked the sky had not fallen

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

we are massively missing often imo. Anyone know when he should be back?

Often Otten won't be ready til about round 4.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

What I saw on Saturday was just plain embarrassing. I wonder if 2012 was an aberration and the reality is being in the bottom half of the ladder is where this Club is at. I am still hurting and feel the pain of our Club coming 2nd in a two team town. Port have flogged us at every post since their appointments in the summer of 2012.

They have formed a strong and solid foundation and rebuilt their Club from almost ruin. From the administration like Kochie to the coach - Hinkley to the players recruited and their marketing campaign. They have blitzed us and yet our Club sits back and has not responded in fighting hard to regain ground we have lost.

Our first home game is laughable and a joke, Port beat us in staging the first ever home game at AO, it gained all the excitement that goes with opening a new stadium, Adelaide was alive all of last week about the first game and the media too. There is nothing to get excited about this week. Whatever we do is going to look trying too hard and will come off second best to what Port achieved over the weekend. Yes I am looking forward to this weeks game, but lets face it please, its just any home and away game, nothing at all to care about. Port won all the glitz and glamour over the weekend, the only way we could have robbed them of "their" moment was winning and we just gave it up, when the game was in the balance.

Whilst no one likes losing, can cope with it if the side gave 100% ... but when the effort to give it your all isn't displayed by many of the players & we go down in a screaming heap - particularly on an important occasion for the club - it is totally unacceptable!

 

[Tex200]

Don't forget the games after that Stk-gws-wb-melb

Yep that will keep the positive publicity going right up until we get smacked by a contender again

 

[Crowbots are dead]

What?

oops I meant otten

 

[beartoo]

The decision to recruit Buddy has to be among one of the poorest in AFL history. It the kind of decision I am surprised our Club has not entertained.

I do believe something is not 100% right about the deal though, a 9 year contract? Something is fishy as anyone would tell you once you pass 30 your career generally turns pear shaped. Fletcher and Harvey the outliers to what is generally the norm of players careers finished once you hit the third decade of your life.

Fourth.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Don't forget the games after that Stk-gws-wb-melb

That block of four 'easy' games is a double edged sword.

Win them and we are back on track. Lose them...

 

[Mismatched]

I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter who we bring in, it ain't going to change shit. Our issues at the moment run much, much deeper than who pulls on the guernsey. We're relying on individuals to change our fortunes which is fundamentally wrong.

Our big issue is the fact that we're playing like an amatuer league side, as in we don't play like a team, we're so far off "well drilled" it's not funny. Sure we have the odd set play, but beyond that we're a rabble, there's no system, it's just make it up as you go.

Our players don't work as a team, Jacobs has no idea where his midfielders are, our mids have no idea where their teammates are and then have no idea where the forwards want the ball kicked. Our defense doesn't work well as a unit at all, they can't work the ball our with any sort of system and when it hits the ground it's just one big mass panic.

Sadly, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think Saturday was just a sign of things to come, things are going to get worse before they get better and unfortunately until we get some genuine leadership from our hierachy.

 

[GROTTO]

That block of four 'easy' games is a double edged sword.

Win them and we are back on track. Lose them...

If we can win those 4 games and have our injured players return and perform well, we can "reboot" our season.

 

[Tex200]

I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter who we bring in, it ain't going to change shit. Our issues at the moment run much, much deeper than who pulls on the guernsey. We're relying on individuals to change our fortunes which is fundamentally wrong.

Our big issue is the fact that we're playing like an amatuer league side, as in we don't play like a team, we're so far off "well drilled" it's not funny. Sure we have the odd set play, but beyond that we're a rabble, there's no system, it's just make it up as you go.

Our players don't work as a team, Jacobs has no idea where his midfielders are, our mids have no idea where their teammates are and then have no idea where the forwards want the ball kicked. Our defense doesn't work well as a unit at all, they can't work the ball our with any sort of system and when it hits the ground it's just one big mass panic.

Sadly, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think Saturday was just a sign of things to come, things are going to get worse before they get better and unfortunately until we get some genuine leadership from our hierachy.

this is pretty much what Brent Reilly said in his presser today

 

[GROTTO]

Sadly, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think Saturday was just a sign of things to come, things are going to get worse before they get better and unfortunately until we get some genuine leadership from our hierachy.

I wish your comment was full of shit, rather than being a potentially accurate reflection of where we are at.

Sando has a responsibility to get us out of this position, we rewarded him with a contract extension, its time he led at the top and makes sure no stone is unturned in winning this weekend.

 

[Wood_Duck]

I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter who we bring in, it ain't going to change shit. Our issues at the moment run much, much deeper than who pulls on the guernsey. We're relying on individuals to change our fortunes which is fundamentally wrong.

Our big issue is the fact that we're playing like an amatuer league side, as in we don't play like a team, we're so far off "well drilled" it's not funny. Sure we have the odd set play, but beyond that we're a rabble, there's no system, it's just make it up as you go.

Our players don't work as a team, Jacobs has no idea where his midfielders are, our mids have no idea where their teammates are and then have no idea where the forwards want the ball kicked. Our defense doesn't work well as a unit at all, they can't work the ball our with any sort of system and when it hits the ground it's just one big mass panic.

Sadly, and I hope I'm wrong, but I think Saturday was just a sign of things to come, things are going to get worse before they get better and unfortunately until we get some genuine leadership from our hierachy.

Agree. I really don't see the solution in the team selection.

The whole club has been on the nose for 18 months. Our on field performance is just a reflection.

 

[azza77]

In:
- Riley Knight. At least he's fit and will run both ways, helping out both our forwards and defenders, so that Sloane and Douglas dont have to do everything.
Note: The point above may have contained sarcasm. But seriously, those 2 are left to do it all and no one else is to be seen. Its pathetic.

- Some tall lanky object, that has 2 arms and can stand in the goal square and mark a football, so that we dont have to continue playing Dangerfield at FF at crucial stages of the game. Fancy having the best player in your team and one of the best in the competition planted in the goal square and then just bombing it to him repeatedly

- Midfield grunt.

Out:
- Selecting players when they are clearly not ready. Brad Crouch did get a ton of the ball, but they were all cheap possessions and he did sweet **** all when he did have it. He was laboring around the ground after the first 10 minutes and put in 0 effort. He almost looked like he didnt want to be out there, but im sure he is just still underdone.

- Kicking the ball as high and long as we can into the 50 when we are't creative enough to do anything else, and hope to god Betts will take mark of the year or Pods will clunk one. To be honest though, Im pretty sure I didnt see Pods or McKernan on a lead once that game.


On a more serious note, I dont want to be a knee jerk supporter, but is this final straw? Do we just throw out the old stuff, players like Porps, Martin etc and go with the young guns from now on? Start getting games into Yoleman, Cameron, BoB, Lyons. I know Reilly has only had 1 game back and was pretty solid, but he as well wont be around for our next flag window. Our squad is already surprisingly young and we will have our full range of picks available to us this year. May as well just go with young'ns from here on in.

Oh and another thing, so many people on here complain about Lyons being treated poorly, and then call for Matt Crouch to be selected.... I really dont believe he could run out a full game just yet.

In: Jenkins, Lyons, Laird (if fit. If not would love to see Cameron/CEY).
Out: Mckernan or one of the talls, pick a name out of a hat they were all terrible, Porps, Crouch

Reaaaaally want to squeeze Cameron into the side or CEY into the backline, but I just dont know where

 

[BACCS]

Why the hell would we have tagged pittard?

I have no idea, but it was the role he was playing.

 

[BACCS]

Are they really?

Don't be annoying for the sake of it

 

[BACCS]

Longmire said Tippett definitely won't be back this week on OTC... damn.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

That block of four 'easy' games is a double edged sword.

Win them and we are back on track. Lose them...

Good point. I have said since the draw was released that if we can get to 1-2, it would be a satisfactory start. One thing that bolters tend to have in common is that they get stretches of "easy" games and win them (often unconvincingly) then at the end of that run, suddenly beat a good team and they're away. That's exactly what happened to us in early 2012 - limped over the line against the likes of the Bulldogs, Power and Giants, then knocked off Sydney in Sydney and suddenly we were invincible... hammered Geelong and Carlton (when they were good).

Port last year and WCE in 2011 were very similar.

I still think we're good enough to do it, and we will not get a better stretch of games to give us an opportunity to feel good about ourselves. This season is still far from gone, because I still believe there's a very good side lurking deep within us which could surface at any time.

Come out the other side of that stretch of games 2-5 though, and it's done. Pack up, start eyeing off the draft pool, and order smaller guernseys for any number that is a power of 5.

 

[beartoo]

Out:

On a more serious note, I dont want to be a knee jerk supporter, but is this final straw? Do we just throw out the old stuff, players like Porps, Martin etc and go with the young guns from now on? Start getting games into Yoleman, Cameron, BoB, Lyons. I know Reilly has only had 1 game back and was pretty solid, but he as well wont be around for our next flag window. Our squad is already surprisingly young and we will have our full range of picks available to us this year. May as well just go with young'ns from here on in.

Depends if we are prepared to suffer the pain of losing most games in 2014 (we may well do that anyway, I know).
I want to see a balance of youth and experience. I want the Crows to turn around this disastrous start to the season. I want to make the top 8 and preferably be top 4 with a chance at the flag.

Stranger things have happened in this funny old game of Aussie Rules.

 

[azza77]

Depends if we are prepared to suffer the pain of losing most games in 2014 (we may well do that anyway, I know).
I want to see a balance of youth and experience. I want the Crows to turn around this disastrous start to the season. I want to make the top 8 and preferably be top 4 with a chance at the flag.

Stranger things have happened in this funny old game of Aussie Rules.

Yeah im not prepared to throw out the baby with the bath water just yet, which is why I haven't included Reilly and Thompson in that list for now. As much as I've defended him and the fact that's only 2 games I really wanted to drop Pods for JJ who looked decent on the weekend, but he has experience that we need, and is probably best if Mckernan goes at this stage.

But I dare say someone like Cameron or CEY could contribute just as much as what a Porps or a Martin would.

Right now im just hanging tight for Tex to come back. We need him ever so badly. IF we beat and average looking Sydney and then win that run of 4 easier games it's not all doom and gloom. We have played good footy at times and have lead both Geelong and Power late in games, but it's just not going well and we are further back than where I thought we would be, hence turning to the younger players.

 

[GROTTO]

Stranger things have happened in this funny old game of Aussie Rules.

Dont you ever dare underestimate the AFC ability to disappoint their supporters.

 

[GROTTO]

My glass is still half full
Last time I looked the sky had not fallen

Thats because you appreciate mediocrity.

 

[Sir Vlado]

Longmire said Tippett definitely won't be back this week on OTC... damn.

That's good, isn't it? He'd tear us up as he tears just about all the poor teams to shreds. If anything it improves our chances of winning by several % points.

 

[GROTTO]

Here is a stat that may surprise some posters, we have won just 5 of our past 15 games. (those wins are NM, Melb, WC, GCS and the Cats which should have won that game with 2 misses at goal in the last minute of play)

 

[Matman23]

Out: McKernan, Mackay, B.Crouch, Podsiadly, Porplyzia and Shaw
In: Jenkins, Lyons, M.Crouch, Laird, Cameron(Sub) and Ellis-Yolman

B: Laird Rutten Brown
HB: Reilly Talia Jaensch
C: Smith Dangerfield Lyons
HF: Grigg Jenkins Wright
F: Betts Johnson Kerridge
R: Jacobs Sloane Thompson
I: M.Crouch Ellis-Yolman Douglas
SUB: Cameron

 

[GROTTO]

There is no way Sando will make 6 changes to a team, I think at most he has made has been 3 or maybe 4.