Preview Changes vs Swans

[Mr_Moogle]

I'm not sure if LJ has it in him frankly, unlike Tex who always had something a bit special about him. But I think it's unfair to call him soft or say he isn't trying. I reckon he clearly is trying his guts out, but he's not quite good enough right now.

Agreed. I think he tries his guts out but he just isn't a contested ball player.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

the club needs to decide that regardless of a players talent what common attributes to we expect from our players and our side

for me yes LJ has a good leg (I refuse to say great at this stage) however he lets us down in so many other areas and these are the things that contribute heavily for us at this point in time not being a physically or mentally tough side

you only need 2-3 soft and lazy players at this level to be exposed as a team

 

[Slippery Pete]

Couldn't agree more Slippery Pete

On Saturday I saw a lot of LJ busting a gut chasing guys like Hartlett from 20m behind because the mids/small forwards weren't within cooee.

That's dumb chasing. It doesn't help actually put pressure and the only reason players do it is because it looks bad if they don't and there's this dumb stigma dreamt up by commentators like Dermott Brereton who never would've made the same chase himself..

Spot on.

For anyone watching with a quarter of a brain, it should be a terrible feeling watching guys like JPod and LJ run full steam chasing Port defenders out of our forward half. Every time I saw this happen (and I lost count the number of times) I cringed from the grandstands.

Why?

Because every time this happens, it reduces the effectiveness and potency of the forward by another notch. And it doesn't matter how fit you are - this is a common and stupid misconception on this board. Do you think LJ and Pods were smoking joints in the sheds while everyone else was running during pre-season? They've done exactly the same pre-season as everyone else. The fact is, "dumb chases" like this only have to happen a few times a quarter to completely blunt the effectiveness of a tall forward. It doesn't matter how fit you are. You can't be spending all day chasing Brad Ebert out of defence if you want to clunk marks and kick goals.

That is why you get to a point late in quarters where guys like LJ and Pods are dropping easy marks and banging the ball out on the full on shots they'd nail 98 times out of 100 at training.

Somebody with a CLUE about ball movement and a functioning forward line needs to get in the door of that football club.

And don't get me started on the credentials of the forward line coach.

 

[Smithalicious]

For me I would like to see LJ start at Full Forward and not have to chase loose defensive mids all over the ground. Lets also give him a shot by not bombing it on his head, he isn't the Gorilla that brings the ball down in front. Have Cameron/Wright/Petrenko and Betts near at hand so that if there are any loose defenders they have the pace of these two to deal with. Have Pods out of CHF.

Would also like to see more speed in the legs of our Back 6. Reilly, Rutten, Talia aren't fast. Hartigan I'm unsure on speed. I unfortunately think Reilly becomes a liability for the Crows in defense now with the other two tall timbers. Laird and Brown are locks as the small defenders with enough pace and aggression. We miss the speed of Hendo so would like to see CEY rather than Reilly take his spot. Then Sloane/Smith to rotate through the mid/hb flank.

The mids should grab each other and sort out their issues as we've only really "lost" VB there and now Crouch.

I just hate watching two or three of our players chase the ball and one player from the opposition to have them handball/kick over their other players and bam, off it goes.

 

[PykeDream]

Couldn't agree more Slippery Pete. When the ball hits the ground, I want my key forwards to hunt it. If someone else gets it, I want them tackle, tackle hard and make it hurt. If a player 5m from them gets the footy, I want them to chase and tackle or affect the kick.

On Saturday I saw a lot of LJ busting a gut chasing guys like Hartlett from 20m behind because the mids/small forwards weren't within cooee.

That's dumb chasing. It doesn't help actually put pressure and the only reason players do it is because it looks bad if they don't and there's this dumb stigma dreamt up by commentators like Dermott Brereton who never would've made the same chase himself.

LJ tried bloody hard on the weekend. You could see it at ground level. Not his fault he's a laconic mover.

+1

As fashionable as ragging on Johnston's defensive effort is, he ran his guts out on the weekend trying to chase Port defenders. He was having a good game up until half through the 3rd quarter where he clearly tired of chasing the likes of Pittard and Hartlett.

I'll say it again - since Round 1 2013 our midfield's defensive intensity is the cause of our woes. Thompson, Dangerfield, Crouch, Mackay, Porplyzia are all one way runners, and the opposition constantly exploit it.

 

[Crowbots are dead]

Agreed. I think he tries his guts out but he just isn't a contested ball player.

so when he stops running mid contest as he often does he's trying his guts out. Rubbish

 

[Unknown Identity]

Hey guys..

What role is Jaensch playing now.. Such a big increase in numbers..?

Cheers.. Best of luck on the weekend!

 

[DD#23]

Hey guys..

What role is Jaensch playing now.. Such a big increase in numbers..?

Cheers.. Best of luck on the weekend!

his role is to be the unaccountable player in the back line who waits to receive handballs from team mates who make an effort to win their own ball and then use his elite leg to hit guys like Ollie Wines on the chest 50m out.

his secondary role is to illustrate why supercoach points aren't a reliable way of rating a players impact on a game.

 

[beartoo]

Hey guys..

What role is Jaensch playing now.. Such a big increase in numbers..?

Cheers.. Best of luck on the weekend!

Playing as the sweeper/ quarterback and is playing well. In the best players both games so far for mine.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

so when he stops running mid contest as he often does he's trying his guts out. Rubbish

Must admit I haven't seen this from him.

 

[Unknown Identity]

his role is to be the unaccountable player in the back line who waits to receive handballs from team mates who make an effort to win their own ball and then use his elite leg to hit guys like Ollie Wines on the chest 50m out.

his secondary role is to illustrate why supercoach points aren't a reliable way of rating a players impact on a game.

Disposal efficiency of 89%, was that his only error..?

 

[NTRabbit]

Disposal efficiency of 89%, was that his only error..?

Only direct turnover, but it directly resulted in a goal. He also ran past a ball instead of grabbing it off the deck which led to a Boak goal, and put in two terrible kicks to our forwards at two critical times - when we'd just hit the lead, and when we needed a steadier end of the 3rd - which I'm pretty sure went coast to coast for Port goals.

 

[DD#23]

Disposal efficiency of 89%, was that his only error..?

I'm perhaps being a little bit harsh on the guy, but he's a bit like me when I go and play golf - He'll make his fair share of pars and bogeys for most of the day, but then he'll get a couple of 8's or 9's on the back end and will probably never crack 100.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Here's another stat Rowe just gave on radio.

Possessions per goal -

Port, 19.8

Adelaide - 32.8 (Only Melbourne are worse).

Anyone who thinks that is not a systematic failure of the coaches box needs their head read. This stat is 100% on the head of the men in that box. 100%. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Yes YOU Sanderson, yes YOU Bickley, yes YOU Camporeale.

****ING FIX IT.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

How far away is Walker anyway? We haven't had an update for a little while

likely to resume playing once he has passed the 12 month milestone

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Here's another stat Rowe just gave on radio.

Possessions per goal -

Port, 19.8

Adelaide - 32.8 (Only Melbourne are worse).

Anyone who thinks that is not a systematic failure of the coaches box needs their head read. This stat is 100% on the head of the men in that box. 100%.

Absolutely. They created a working game plan in 2012 which thrived on long kicking and a direct, attacking playing style. Flash forward 2 years down the track and we're going back to high possession, overusing the ball, handball crazy game style we suffered under Craig albeit without the fitness. It just boggles the mind and makes me think Sanderson is a total amateur.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Now we have a shiny new game plan. Move the ball quickly by hand to break through the first line of resistance and then kick it to 30 metres from goal. Currently our players are unable to execute the plan. I suspect that Sando watched a bit too much of the Reds over the summer. Are we the new Barcelona? Are we trying to introduce tiki-taka to the AFL? There were plenty of critics of Gombau early in the season, now not so much. It was painful watching Adelaide United in the first 10 weeks but they are now a genuine flag contender. The optimist in me is hoping for the same thing from the Crows.

Plenty of sides have won titles playing tika taka.

No sides have won AFL premierships averaging 33 possessions per goal.

If we don't change our approach, we are in deep shit.

 

[fabs33]

Here's another stat Rowe just gave on radio.

Possessions per goal -

Port, 19.8

Adelaide - 32.8 (Only Melbourne are worse).

Anyone who thinks that is not a systematic failure of the coaches box needs their head read. This stat is 100% on the head of the men in that box. 100%. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Yes YOU Sanderson, yes YOU Bickley, yes YOU Camporeale.

******* FIX IT.

I disagree with that stat, half of the those would be fumbles not actual disposals.

 

[GROTTO]

******* FIX IT.

I read before that you were at the game, I assume you would have seen the shit delivery into the forward line. Then players lacked the confidence to nail a kick from around 40m.

I was so impressed with the way the Power went forward each and every time.

 

[AFC979810]

Here's another stat Rowe just gave on radio.

Possessions per goal -

Port, 19.8

Adelaide - 32.8 (Only Melbourne are worse).

Anyone who thinks that is not a systematic failure of the coaches box needs their head read. This stat is 100% on the head of the men in that box. 100%. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Yes YOU Sanderson, yes YOU Bickley, yes YOU Camporeale.

******* FIX IT.

No it isn't. It has to do with the talent on the park. You could have the best coaching in the world, but if you lack the cattle you aren't winning games.

Entering 2014 our list was average. Add in injuries/injury affected preseasons to the following players to Tex, VB, Hendo, Lynch, Otto, Douglas, Laird, Crouch and suddenly our best 22 becomes one of the weakest in the AFL.

It doesn't matter who our coach is, we simply don't have the cattle.

 

[GROTTO]

It just boggles the mind and makes me think Sanderson is a total amateur.

I am beginning to wonder if Craigy was on the right path and that 2012 was a result of Craig then Sando.

 

[40porpoise]

his role is to be the unaccountable player in the back line who waits to receive handballs from team mates who make an effort to win their own ball and then use his elite leg to hit guys like Ollie Wines on the chest 50m out.

his secondary role is to illustrate why supercoach points aren't a reliable way of rating a players impact on a game.

A bit harsh. He's been one of our better players for the first 2 rounds.

 

[GROTTO]

The other thing that surprised me was the number of our players going for a contested pack mark up to 4 at one stage. WTF

I was expecting one player to play back if the ball fell off the pack to grab the crumbs.

WTF has happened from a team that showed plenty of promise during the preseason.

The next month will shape our season, it will be imperative to get game time into those injured players before our next tough run of games.

 

[DD#23]

A bit harsh. He's been one of our better players for the first 2 rounds.

I did already admit to being a bit harsh, but I won't take back calling him unaccountable or suggesting he has little impact in games.

He has been good under the circumstances but anyone who thinks he could be a regular and very handy player for us is dreaming, and the thought that Sando might be one of them will give me nightmares.

 

[Slippery Pete]

No it isn't. It has to do with the talent on the park. You could have the best coaching in the world, but if you lack the cattle you aren't winning games.

Entering 2014 our list was average. Add in injuries/injury affected preseasons to the following players to Tex, VB, Hendo, Lynch, Otto, Douglas, Laird, Crouch and suddenly our best 22 becomes one of the weakest in the AFL.

It doesn't matter who our coach is, we simply don't have the cattle.

If our best 22 really is as bad as you're saying (it's not), then that makes Sanderson's gameplan even worse.