Crows make three changes

[Malibu#27]

Not you too Mac. I'm so over hearing how if Port win the premiership this year, it will be the greatest and fastest rebuild in the history of sport ( just ask Ruc). Your top 8 players ( C & K Cornes, S & B Burgoyne, Motlop, Lade, Tredrea, Brogan) are just as talented, if not more so, then any other teams best 8 players. So the fact you are again a premiership chance should really be no big surprise. Actually if you think about it, and you take into consideration the aforementioned talent, you could say you actually underachieved the last 2 years.

Its not just Ruc describing it as a rebuild, but its based on the number of our premiership side we have turned over..

Personally I'd call it a refresh or similar as its not a complete rebuild, but in essence the senior players that have moved on have all been replaced by youngsters 23 or younger. But the side is nowhere near the 2003-2004 side, this is a side that will be all over the shop as the kids get games under their belts. I think its more of a damning fact for clubs like Carlton/Richmond that we have been able to replace half our list and have brought in a lot of kids while they still struggle - and in many ways are almost fielding an older side than us.

The key to our return to the top half of the draw (assuming the wins continue to come) I think is that in our 2004 flag we had a very solid core of what you term "backboners" at AFC - I'm talking Shaun Burgone, Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, even Chad Cornes was in that age bracket at the time. Because these guys have stepped up and taken over the mantle from the James/Wanganeen types we have managed to slide more kids in. Make no mistake - if it wasnt for these guys continuing to develop and stepping up to take ownership we would be in Richmondesque strife. But its allowed us to blood a mix of kids (Krak,Boak,Westoff, etc) and some recruiting has effectivly refilled the backbone group with players like Motlop (who looked risky at many times last year) and Rodan who has suprised all - even throw in the maligned Lonie who is filling a role and privded experience to the group.

Perhaps rebuild isnt the correct word - but after all - doesn't rebuild suggest you have to break it before you rebuild it ? Maybe renovate is the new rebuild.


But this weeks game - I would be a hell of a lot more confident if we had shown more against your mob over the past 2 years or so, but because you have had the wood on us it leads me to think you have a gameplan that we struggle to stop. The one game we did we seemed to go for broke, so I think we need to make it a shootout - if it is we will win, and probably well. But if your side can shut it down into a slogfest I dont think we handle that situation well and anything could happen.

Good luck - and lets hope its a shootout

 

[noddy]

Good luck - and lets hope its a shootout

Bad luck

& let's hope it's a Crows victory In a low scoring dreary wet miserable night.

 

[noddy]

Glad to see Doughty out of the team for this week, but I'm disappointed at Campbell being dropped after his first game. No, he wasn't overly impressive in his first game, but he needs at least a couple of weeks in the AFL to try to get a feel for it. Pulling him out after one week won't help him (or us) at all...

I thought he might have had another game but i'm not surprised that Doughty has been dropped as he along with Mattner & some others of our backbone group have gone backward due to loss of confidence & self belief.

 

[J-Train]

Ive gotta agree with drummond on this one. The selections made are terrible. How can we drop Bryce Campbell after his first game and only playing half a game at that. The time he was on the ground he was okay. Pathetic decision.

How can Robert Shirley get re-selected. He is an average player and very average tagger. If he tags Shaun Burgoyne, Burgoyne will end up with 30 possesions and three of four goals. This selection is an absolute joke.

Pfieffer more than likely wont get a game this year as Neil Craig seems more worried about his coaching record than developing his younger players. John Meeson might as well start packing his bags as he has no chance of getting a game with the crows selection policy at the moment. As for people who think Sellar maybe a chance to get a game this year - yeah right

Maybe now we can understand why Fergus Watts returned to Victoria.

Port will win easy this week and shirley will get his normally bath as a tagger!

I'm a Shirley supporter and just would like to point out that Rob has a top record again Shaun Burgoyne and that is exactly why he is back in the team this week. He has played on him in probably the last 5 showdowns and come out on top in most of them IIRC. Just checking the stats....In the 7 games that they have played in together...Rob has averaged 14 possessions, Burger Junior 15.1 possessions.
I think most Crows supporters would be stoked if Burgoyne was kept to 15 touches.

Here's a link if you want to check it out for yourselves

http://finalsiren.com/PlayerCompare...e4=&Compare=Add+to+Comparison&SelectedPlayers=

 

[J-Train]

Also, I'm bemused by people who say Rob has had a "shocking" year etc..etc.. Look at his 2007 season and I'd say between rounds 5 and 14 he was probably one of the Crows most consistent contributors...and I'm not just talking disposals, I'm talking off the ball tackling, scrimmaging and defensive pressure. He laid 49 tackles in that period, I don't think too many other Crows could boast that kind of work-rate. Sure, the other Crows mids can look pretty when they are 20m in the clear....but who is clearing the space for them, who is feeding out the handball, putting on the shepherd etc... The Crows are a better side with Shirley in.

 

[pjcrows]

Oh spare me Stiffy.

Too good for the SANFL? I know you highly rate the young lad but let’s assess his form in the SANFL a little more closely…

10 possessions, 2 marks
15 possessions, 1 mark
22 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal
30 possessions, 6 marks, 7 goals
19 possessions, 3 marks, 2 goals
20 possessions, 3 marks, 1 goal

Averages of 19.33 possessions, 3.33 marks, 1.8 goals per game. Too good for the SANFL? Give me a break. Had one outstanding game, and another very good game, but otherwise no real standout performances.

Chris Knights was an example of someone who WAS too good for the SANFL, Douglas definitely is not.

Once again, out come the stats. Drummond, you bag other people for making comment on Norwood players when they don't go to their games. I would like to ask you directly (so you can't pretend to ignore my question): When was the last full Glenelg game that you watched Douglas play? Because from memory, only a few Bays games have been broadcast on ABC this year, so unless you're abandoning Legs games to go and watch Glenelg then I think you shouldn't comment. Seeing as you have to "watch them for a full game in the SANFL" and all.....

 

[Campbell's Chunky]

Oh spare me Stiffy.

Too good for the SANFL? I know you highly rate the young lad but let’s assess his form in the SANFL a little more closely…

10 possessions, 2 marks
15 possessions, 1 mark
22 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal
30 possessions, 6 marks, 7 goals
19 possessions, 3 marks, 2 goals
20 possessions, 3 marks, 1 goal

Averages of 19.33 possessions, 3.33 marks, 1.8 goals per game. Too good for the SANFL? Give me a break. Had one outstanding game, and another very good game, but otherwise no real standout performances.

Chris Knights was an example of someone who WAS too good for the SANFL, Douglas definitely is not.

Quote Neil Cross 'When Richard Douglas plays for Glenelg, they win'.

Quote Justin McConnell 'He's our best player'.

Quote Stewart Dew 'He's a brilliant little player, isn't he?'

 

[Drummond]

Once again, out come the stats. Drummond, you bag other people for making comment on Norwood players when they don't go to their games. I would like to ask you directly (so you can't pretend to ignore my question): When was the last full Glenelg game that you watched Douglas play? Because from memory, only a few Bays games have been broadcast on ABC this year, so unless you're abandoning Legs games to go and watch Glenelg then I think you shouldn't comment. Seeing as you have to "watch them for a full game in the SANFL" and all.....

I’ve seen Douglas for the Bays on 3 occasions this year, does that give me the right to comment?

Yes the stats come out and I don’t care how dismissive you are they paint a pretty telling picture one would think. We all know he’s got considerable potential, we all know he had that 7 goal game, but something tells me that if you’re averaging under 20 possessions per game you’re not quite ‘too good for the SANFL” which is quite frankly an absurd comment.

 

[pjcrows]

I’ve seen Douglas for the Bays on 3 occasions this year, does that give me the right to comment?

Yes the stats come out and I don’t care how dismissive you are they paint a pretty telling picture one would think. We all know he’s got considerable potential, we all know he had that 7 goal game, but something tells me that if you’re averaging under 20 possessions per game you’re not quite ‘too good for the SANFL” which is quite frankly an absurd comment.

And I've seen Meesen twice this year and once late last year, but according to you I'm in the dark as to how awesome he is? Give it up, Drummond. You're acting like a child. If Douglas played for Norwood you would be saying how amazing he is and that he deserves his spot.

I just want to revisit a few things.

1) Campbell - you're right, dead-stiff to miss out this week. But who said that he was guaranteed a game? Shirley comes in to play on Shaun Burgoyne, who he has played very well on in the past. Fair inclusion.

2) Pfeiffer didn't get picked again. Big deal. He is performing well in the SANFL. But do you claim to know everything that goes on at the AFC in regards to selection? Do you have a list of the criteria - both team and individual - that needs to be met in order to be selected? Do you know ANYTHING about the inner workings of the coaching staff at the AFC? Ken McGregor performed very well for the Eagles for weeks, but wasn't picked. Why? We don't know. Perhaps it was attitude. Perhaps it was a fault in part of his game. Perhaps it was matchups. WE DON'T KNOW. Pfeiffer will get his chance.

3) They dropped Doughty and included Douglas this week. I haven't been happy with Doughty's form this year, and he was clearly on the edge of being dropped soon. So they bring in Douglas to replace him. Do you know how they're going to use Douglas? No. I'm sure if Massie or Torney were being dropped this week, then Pfieffer would be considerd. But they aren't. Doughty - a versitile wingman/half forward - is out. Who comes in? SURPRISE - a versatile wingman/forward in Douglas. Would Pfeiffer fit that role? No, he wouldn't. Do they squeeze Porplyzia - a proven AFL performer - out for Pfieffer? No, they don't.

No one is saying Douglas is miles better than Pfeiffer. No one is saying Pfeiffer is a hack. No one is saying Pfeiffer isn't playing good SANFL football.

He will get a chance. Get over it.

 

[Macca19]

It's not what the premiership ladder or betting is saying Mac. You're sitting 3rd on the ladder and you have won the last 3 games by a total of 240 odd points. Mate, you are definately a premiership chance, no matter how much you guys try and downplay it.

We have form but you have to look at who we played and either who they had in their team or what they had to play for. Thrashing Melbourne and Richmond doesn’t make us a premiership threat in my opinion. Sure if we finish top 4 and get a home final (hopefully top 2) then I agree we will be a genuine premiership chance, but right now I don’t believe we are.

 

[J-Train]

I’ve seen Douglas for the Bays on 3 occasions this year, does that give me the right to comment?

Yes the stats come out and I don’t care how dismissive you are they paint a pretty telling picture one would think. We all know he’s got considerable potential, we all know he had that 7 goal game, but something tells me that if you’re averaging under 20 possessions per game you’re not quite ‘too good for the SANFL” which is quite frankly an absurd comment.

Call the Waaaaaaaaambulance....we got a bleeder!

 

[Minotaur]

poor old Drummond - I actually think he is right about the conservatism of your selection.

Someone posted earlier in the thread in big blod letters that Port, Collingwood, Hawthorn only blooded a lot of youngsters because they were out of finals contention and those players now have 30 games under thier belts.

In the case of Port this simply isn't true. Westhoff, Krakour, Gray, Boak have all debuted and Carlile played his second or third game this year and we have been in finals contention for pretty much the whole year.

Last year was the only year that we were out of finals contention - and we debuted a few players. The only one currently in the team is -I think - Pearce - who played actually few games in 05.

 

[*PAF]

poor old Drummond - I actually think he is right about the conservatism of your selection.

Someone posted earlier in the thread in big blod letters that Port, Collingwood, Hawthorn only blooded a lot of youngsters because they were out of finals contention and those players now have 30 games under thier belts.

In the case of Port this simply isn't true. Westhoff, Krakour, Gray, Boak have all debuted and Carlile played his second or third game this year and we have been in finals contention for pretty much the whole year.

Last year was the only year that we were out of finals contention - and we debuted a few players. The only one currently in the team is -I think - Pearce - who played actually few games in 05.

2005 also went from a shocking year to a very promising one only after we started playing youngsters.

 

[Jars458]

Very strange changes for mine. Guys get dropped for only one week and are back without either playing or performing to a high level?

I think Campbell is very stiff indeed.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Someone posted earlier in the thread in big blod letters that Port, Collingwood, Hawthorn only blooded a lot of youngsters because they were out of finals contention and those players now have 30 games under thier belts.

In the case of Port this simply isn't true. Westhoff, Krakour, Gray, Boak have all debuted and Carlile played his second or third game this year and we have been in finals contention for pretty much the whole year.

Correct.

And Collingwood have blooded ten first year players this season despite being in the mix for finals. Martin Clarke, Shannon Cox, Ben Davies, Brad Dick, Tyson Goldsack, Daniel Nicholls, Ben Reid, Daniel Stanley, Alan Toovey and I think Ryan Cook is debuting this week.

 

[jenny61_99]

Correct.

And Collingwood have blooded ten first year players this season despite being in the mix for finals. Martin Clarke, Shannon Cox, Ben Davies, Brad Dick, Tyson Goldsack, Daniel Nicholls, Ben Reid, Daniel Stanley, Alan Toovey and I think Ryan Cook is debuting this week.

Unfortunately though, we werent in a position to blood so many youngsters earlier as many of them were out injured as well! When things go against us, they REALLY go against us.