Crows 2005

[Tas]

Hello there,

Adelaide are one of the teams I like and kinda follow during the year but haven't really done much over the pre-season to keep updated. How has the pre-season been for the Crows?

Did you guys trade for any players? How are the draftees looking?

I wasn't able to watch the game against Port but heard it was close.

What are your thoughts on how the team will go this year, who you think will be important for the club, who do you think will improve on last year and how you think NC will go. I know a lot of people were not over the moon when he got the gig last year.

 

[Mong]

Welcome back Tas - always enjoy reading your comments.

We lost Stenglein to West Coast and picked up Scott Thompson from the Demons in the trade period. We drafted a handful of youngsters who seem to fill our long term needs nicely and hopefully a few of them live up to expectation. We drafted a ruckman, Meesen, first up and he should probably play a few games this year. And Van Berlo was another draftee who has already made his way into the team. They are probably the only new players who you will see get a game this year.

There was not much to get excited about in our first up Wizard Cup game. Same old Crows, appeared to match their opponents in winning the ball and going forward but just can't convert that into goals. we'll need more than one game to judge the progress properly and Port are a tough team to play against. We'll see.

 

[Tas]

Did they play Hentschel up forward against Port? Do you think the Crows will persistwith him as a defender this year?

I think he would be a good forward, in time, but most of the times I saw him last year he played in defense towards the end of last year.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Did they play Hentschel up forward against Port? Do you think the Crows will persistwith him as a defender this year?

I think he would be a good forward, in time, but most of the times I saw him last year he played in defense towards the end of last year.

He started up forward but IMO was a bit disappointing.
After Biglands was injured he was actually required in the ruck in parts. Not his best night out but I dont think he can be blamed after being put into the ruck.

I actually prefer him as a forward as we do not have that many options there as opposed to down back.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Hi Tas welcome back

Always appreciated your balanced views on footy and plus greeks and serbs get alsong well

Can't really add anything more than **** did apart to answer your question. We played Hentschel accross half forward and I think we will most likely persist with this. He even played in the ruck a bit because Biglands got injured early and Hudson couldn't ruck all day. He didn't have a great game but I do have high expectation of the lad as I am probably his #1 fan

 

[Tas]

Hey Stiffy, another exciting year of football. Greeks get on well with everyone, well, almost.

Pity Hentschel didn't have a good night, i think he will make a good forward in time. Did he put on some weight over the pre-season? I felt he was a little too lean in 2004.

Do any of the kids you drafted/traded look like they are ready for AFL level football this year or will they require 1-2 years of development in the local comp before they are ready?

NC said he was going to force the team to play more direct football but some Port supporters mentioned the Crows went wide alot in the WC game. Do you think NC will not adopt a direct approach this year? I think the crows looked a lot better last year when they played more direct but you still need forwards able to win the one-on-one battles.

 

[Mong]

NC said he was going to force the team to play more direct football but some Port supporters mentioned the Crows went wide alot in the WC game. Do you think NC will not adopt a direct approach this year?

He's trying to. He quoted statistics that showed in the game against Port they went down the middle at a higher percentage than they did last year, but not as often as he would like. I suspect old habits will be more evident against good teams, particularly when the defensive pressure is high. But there will be improvement in that area, I have no doubt. How much and how soon, will only be known in time. I'd like to see something significant by round 5.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Hey Stiffy, another exciting year of football. Greeks get on well with everyone, well, almost.

Turks?????

Pity Hentschel didn't have a good night, i think he will make a good forward in time. Did he put on some weight over the pre-season? I felt he was a little too lean in 2004.

He has put on about 3-4kg of muscle so he does look bigger but I would like him to put on some more if he is to play KP in time. We will play him as a flanker for most of the year and eventually we will move him to CHF or FF but I would like to see him get to at least 95kg before he play in key position.

Do any of the kids you drafted/traded look like they are ready for AFL level football this year or will they require 1-2 years of development in the local comp before they are ready?

As **** said we got Scott Thompson in the Stenglein trade and he is a ready made player. He is 21 and he gives us the inside misfielder that we need. He is very similar to Kane Johnson in the way he plays but Thommo is injury prone so thats a bit of a worry. I expect John Meesen (pick 8 and a ruckman) to play a couple of games this year and Nathan Van Berlo (pick 24, utility) looks to be the most advanced at this stage despite having a skinny body. I expect him to play a few games. However, these blokes, apart from Thomspon are still kids and they can't be key contributors just yet.

NC said he was going to force the team to play more direct football but some Port supporters mentioned the Crows went wide alot in the WC game. Do you think NC will not adopt a direct approach this year? I think the crows looked a lot better last year when they played more direct but you still need forwards able to win the one-on-one battles.

I think we are improving BUT we still keep going wide. NC has been working on this and he will continue to work at it. I don't expect us to improve over night but I am hoping that in 12 months time we will be a lot better at it than we are now. Patience is the word around here

 

[Tas]

Turks?????

Yeah, that was why I added almost. Although they love us after earthquakes.

He has put on about 3-4kg of muscle so he does look bigger but I would like him to put on some more if he is to play KP in time. We will play him as a flanker for most of the year and eventually we will move him to CHF or FF but I would like to see him get to at least 95kg before he play in key position.

Yeah, I agree you need to be around the 95kg mark for a key position at his height as a minimum. Otherwise he will struggle in the physical contests. Sounds like he is coming along well though.

As **** said we got Scott Thompson in the Stenglein trade and he is a ready made player. He is 21 and he gives us the inside misfielder that we need. He is very similar to Kane Johnson in the way he plays but Thommo is injury prone so thats a bit of a worry. I expect John Meesen (pick 8 and a ruckman) to play a couple of games this year and Nathan Van Berlo (pick 24, utility) looks to be the most advanced at this stage despite having a skinny body. I expect him to play a few games. However, these blokes, apart from Thomspon are still kids and they can't be key contributors just yet.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't sound like there were a large number of player turnovers as some were expecting. Richmond and Hawthorn really shredded their list over the pre-season and filled it with kids. I think a successful team needs kids but needs the experience aswell. I think St Kilda and Geelong will be more prone to failure because they lack that experience for stability.

I think we are improving BUT we still keep going wide. NC has been working on this and he will continue to work at it. I don't expect us to improve over night but I am hoping that in 12 months time we will be a lot better at it than we are now. Patience is the word around here

Yeah, it is when you are under pressure that you revert more to instinct than executing a plan. It will take a while to re-program the players. I think it is why a new coach should always be looked at as a 5 year + deal because it will really take a year or two for them to change the way they play if the gameplan needs a radical change.

I dont think going long at every instance is the right thing to do, if you become predictable it will make it easier for the opposition to counter so I think if the Crows go a little more direct but also look for the wider transfer of play on occassion it will make it harder for teams to just double team KPPs. Going a little more direct is a definite bonus though.