Crows visit Riverland

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
As for Carey, simply this - we did not recruit the greatest player and forward in the last 15 years for him to be a backman - good or bad shoulders.

Spot on

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
McGregor would struggle up forward. He can pinch hit there but he has ALWAYS struggled when he was started up forward even in 2003. He is a bit like Bassett, when he goes forward as a pinch hitter he might sneak a couple of goals but if he plays a whole game there he puts in a stinker.

Think my comment was based on what I saw from the Hawthorn game at the MCG last year, where he shone in attack, taking some strong contested marks in the front of packs. Has always had good hands and kicking is not bad.
I agree that he has always struggled until he played in the backlines, but he was not a natural thinking forward, and maybe a few years apprenticeship in the backline and in the game, could change his knowledge of how to play as a forward.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
Think my comment was based on what I saw from the Hawthorn game at the MCG last year, where he shone in attack, taking some strong contested marks in the front of packs. Has always had good hands and kicking is not bad.
I agree that he has always struggled until he played in the backlines, but he was not a natural thinking forward, and maybe a few years apprenticeship in the backline and in the game, could change his knowledge of how to play as a forward.

I thought that was the game that got you thinking

He was swung forward in the 2nd half because Perrie was as useless as **** on the bull. He is not a forward. He was started as a forward on a couple of occasions this year but the one that really stood out in my mind was against Port in the 1st showdown of 2003.

Why would you start someone who is not a natural forward at FF when you have a player like Hentschel who is a deadset natural forward??????

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18

If you say he was not slow why then have the coaching staff and fitness staff designed a pre-season program that has focused on him getting pore agile, quicker off the mark and getting back some of his pace that he had in previous years??????

Stephen Schwertd was quite blunt in stating this on 5AA in a first couple of weeks of the pre-season.

More Pre-season Propoganda - yes it was stated that his first year was about getting miles into his legs, and less speed work. And that this year was more about speed and agility work.
But the inference cannot be drawn from these comments that he has lost pace, and certainly I've not seen any reference to any AFC person saying he has lost pace or is seeking to recapture pace.

If you believe every word spoken in the media, the Crows has 38 players who will be in our opening 22.
And every team is a top 4 prospect - its all part of the PS publicity machine for all clubs.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18

Why would you start someone who is not a natural forward at FF when you have a player like Hentschel who is a deadset natural forward??????

He maybe a natural forward, but:

He hasn't shown yet he is an AFL player

He hasn't the build to play FF

His kicking action is suspect, gets too close to opponent, kicks up and under, and not through the ball.

All his good football last year, was as a defender, not a forward ( but yes I agree he has natural forward thinking)

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
More Pre-season Propoganda - yes it was stated that his first year was about getting miles into his legs, and less speed work. And that this year was more about speed and agility work.
But the inference cannot be drawn from these comments that he has lost pace, and certainly I've not seen any reference to any AFC person saying he has lost pace or is seeking to recapture pace.

If you believe every word spoken in the media, the Crows has 38 players who will be in our opening 22.
And every team is a top 4 prospect - its all part of the PS publicity machine for all clubs.

We will agree to disagree with this one. I also seem to remember that you think Rutten doesn't have a problem with his pace. Obviously haven't seen him play a lot of games.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
All his good football last year, was as a defender, not a forward

Huh?????? Have you ever seen him play last year for the Eagles??????

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Huh?????? Have you ever seen him play last year for the Eagles??????

In fairness to Wayne's-World I would doubt that they get to see the local Eagles over there in Melbourne. While I agree with you Stiffy, Hentschel hasn't fired a shot as a forward at AFL level, with his only passable game being as a defender against Freo.

In time hopefully he'll be able to play good footy consistently at both ends of the ground at AFL level.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
In fairness to Wayne's-World I would doubt that they get to see the local Eagles over there in Melbourne. While I agree with you Stiffy, Hentschel hasn't fired a shot as a forward at AFL level, with his only passable game being as a defender against Freo.

In time hopefully he'll be able to play good footy consistently at both ends of the ground at AFL level.

It completely slipped my mind that he is a Melbourne boy. Sorry Wayne's World

I agree that he hasn't fired at AFL level yet but surely his "history" has to count for something.

As a 18 year old he has played CHF for a premiership wining team (Palmerston Magpies) in the NTFL seniors. He kicked 80 goals that year including 9 in the GF. He then moved to SANFL where he was kicking a bag of 5 regularly for the reserves etc....

I know those leagues are sweet F all compared to AFL but I ma trying to point out he can also play good footy as a forward.

At the start of last year he had a month of fantastic footy as a forward where he kicked bags of 7, 4, 3, 5, and 3 goals. I think he was moved around a lot last year with the Eagles. They would start him as a forward where he would be starved of opportunities. They would them move him to defence where he would get them back into the game only to move him again to the forward line where he gets starved. I think this was the reason he had a bit of a form slump mid-season.

The kid cracked it for 3 AFL games in his 2nd year on the list and was named as an emergency on 6 or 7 occasions.

I think he will start as a defender at the AFL and eventually move up forward and be a very good 3rd tall.

 

[naughty monkey]

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
Sorry, I've watched him too closely to subsribe to this.
You must have missed a few games last year, because he certainly took the odd overhead mark (at full stretch).

As I said, don't believe all the media hype - no evidence whatsover that his pace was an issue or will be an issue in 2004. If you can supply any evidence to support this I would be interested.

I Don't listen to the media crap as a norm, especially the ****e spewed forth here in Adelaide. My opinion is based on my own observations (and conversations with some nurses from Wakefield Hospital ). And what I saw a lot of last year was Carey get spoiled from behind because he kept trying to take marks in front of his eyes, not overhead.

Originally posted by Wayne's-World
If he was as bad ( stuffed shoulders, slow, has been) as suggested, why did he spend so much time at CHF during last year, when the club openly stated at the beginning of 2003, they were looking at him closer to goal, as a FF.

Surely, with all his supposed deficiencies, at CHF he would have been exploited by a quick CHB running off him - sorry didn't see that happen at all.

He was sometimes. The reason he played CHF most of the time imo was because he was the best deliverer of the footy inside 50 in the team. This is the reason I would leave him at CHF, unless by some miracle the midfield have suddenly worked out how to do it.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
We will agree to disagree with this one. I also seem to remember that you think Rutten doesn't have a problem with his pace. Obviously haven't seen him play a lot of games.

Yes I have said that about Rutten.
My point is these observations are sometime without statistical foundation.
My observation is that whilst Ruttens turning circle is not great, I havn't seen players running away from him, and I've seen him catching and laying tackles on players.
Massie is slow,S.Stevens is slow, Stenglein is slow, all do get run off - but they can get the ball and other valuable attributes.
To me Rutten has to increase his intensity, he appears to be a bit larconic in his approach - which may be causing this perception of him.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Huh?????? Have you ever seen him play last year for the Eagles??????

Yes via foxtel - not overly impressive, unless you count uncontested marks.
How many contested marks did he take last year?

The SANFL does allow for a more free flowing gamestyle - suited to Hentschells ability to read the game.
But AFL is a different standard altogether.

 

[Dogwatcher]

Here's some of the review I promised. SAorry it's a bit late and sorry I can't provide much of an idea of the trial match - I barely saw any, I was trying to find some stories and pics.


“It seemed like a good idea, seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Although John Farnham's song utilising those lyrics may not ever be played on Magic FM, the words may be running through the head of one of the radio station's on-air identities after his streak across the Berri Oval on Friday.
The unidentified streaker wearing only a balaclava, g-string, Port Adelaide socks and scarf and bearing a Magic FM advertising placard, ran across the field during the Adelaide Crows' internal trial match, looking like a demented member of Australian music group TISM.
The stunt was going well when the ground invader was heading straight across the field (from the bowling club towards the grandstand) but his deviation into the line of play caused some consternation.
Crows players, who had their attention on the ball were mostly ambivalent towards his sprightly run, but training staff were none too pleased.
A couple of them took things into their own hands and decided that his time was up.
They herded him towards the boundary line but the radio man made a brave break for freedom. Just when it looked like he would get away, a trainer ended his run with a trip that would have earned a 12 week suspension from the AFL tribunal.
The radio man's glorious semi-naked moment had come to a very sticky end.
The moment caused some mirth around the ground, including in the coach's box.
When quizzed about the incident by Adelaide's thronging media, Gary Ayres said he had heard the stunt was going to occur at half time.
“He must have got his clock wrong because he was a bit early,” Ayres said.
Former Renmark resident Mark Mickan, now a member of the Crows' coaching staff, was underwhelmed by the streak and was heard to say “he's just lucky we didn't let John Reid (football manager) out there after him”.
The stunt may have earned Magic FM some publicity, but the ground invader probably left the scene with a very sore rear end.
By the way, if the radio man wants his grey tank top and lovely black briefs back - he had best contact Phil Harper of the Adelaide Crows as he might know of their whereabouts.

 

[Dogwatcher]

Riverland Football League chairman Neil Martinson was impressed by the
Adelaide Crows' efforts during the community camp held in the region
last week.
Mr Martinson said it was great for the Riverland "to see all the stars".
Adelaide Crows players visited all schools, including those in outlying
areas such as Brown's Well Area School, Orana Enterprises and visited a
number of other organisations.
"It's great that they have opened themselves up to the community like
that," Mr Martinson said.
"The dinner on Tuesday night was excellent."
Mr Martinson said he is unsure whether the visit by the Adelaide Crows
will inspire more Riverlanders to play the game or go watch local
football when the new season starts.
"Something like this is a great opportunity for people to see quality
players," Mr Martinson said.
"It's hard to say whether it will transfer interest to our competition."
The Riverland Football League season starts on Saturday, April 17.

 

[Dogwatcher]

Adelaide Crows coach Gary Ayres spoke to the press following Friday
morning's internal hit out at Berri:

On the visit and local hospitality:
"Thanks very much to the Berri people, they've been great and the way
the ground was today was excellent."
"I can't say anymore of the Riverland supporters who have come to the
game and training."
"We as an Australian Football League club have a responsibility to grass
roots to go back because we don't want basketball or soccer overtaking a
great game."
On performances:
"Ben Hudson, Tim Hazell, Hayden Skipworth and Brent Reilly are all
players we need to come on and they did well."
"Hazell has only played four years but had a real appetite for the
competitive stuff which is important at that level."
"Very solid efforts from McLeod, Edwards, Johncock, Bode and Biglands,
there were some encouraging signs."
On the game:
"I'll take a smile out of the game because there's no injuries. To see
things I've emphasised during pre-season, that's good. Whether it was
pretty or not didn't matter."
"If people think scratch matches are pretty soft that (an on the ball
collision between Scott Welsh and Rohan Andrews) says it's not. As a
coach I want to see that. That was a fair commitment from them."

 

[Dogwatcher]

School children across the Loxton district enjoyed the visit to the Riverland by the Adelaide Crows for last week’s community camp.
The AFL club completed its four day visit to the region on Friday with an internal trial match at the Berri Oval attended by around 2000 people.
During the camp, Crows players visited each of the schools in the region, as well as Loxton’s Orana Enterprises and made many other guest appearances, including a major supporters’ dinner held at Barmera last Tuesday night.
Riverland Football League chairman Neil Martinson said he was impressed by the Crows’ efforts.
“It’s great that they opened themselves up to the community like that,” Mr Martinson said.
“Throughout the week it was very pleasing to see how the Adelaide Football Club got involved with Riverland schools and footy clubs.”
Adelaide Football Club coach Gary Ayres was full of praise for the hospitality shown by locals.
“I can’t say anymore of the Riverland supporters who have come to the game and training,” Ayres said.
He commented that the accommodation, oval facilities and friendliness of people from throughout the region was “top class”.
Mr Martinson reported that about $1300 had been raised via a gold coin donation entry fee for adults at last Friday’s internal trial game.
He said some of that money would be donated to the Riverland Junior Football League, while the remainder would help to purchase new guernseys for the region’s senior representative side.

 

[Dogwatcher]

For many of the Adelaide Crows footballers last week’s AFL community camp in the Riverland was a first opportunity to visit the region, not so for star player Andrew McLeod.
McLeod, the Norm Smith medallist for being best on ground in each of Adelaide’s grand final victories, has been a regular visitor to the region over the past year, visiting the Paruna farming property of family friends Rick and Vicki Schubert.
“We’ve stayed out there on the farm a couple of times,” McLeod said.
“It’s relaxing, we don’t do anything too strenuous.”
McLeod said the visits are a perfect opportunity to get away from Adelaide and the “stresses of being an Adelaide Football Club player”.
He said the Schubert farm is an ideal place “because no one is there and you can be yourself and enjoy being in the company of your friends and family”.
During his visits to the region last year, McLeod was sighted at several Riverland Football League games involving Loxton, where Rick’s son Shane is a highly skilled player.
“It’s always good to get out and see the local lads going and getting a kick and to see the talent that’s on display,” McLeod said.
“A couple of the games that we’ve been to were real good ones.”
McLeod said he hopes to get back to the region later this year and enjoy a bit more of the “local atmosphere”.
“When I get a chance I will certainly be up there and out on the farm having a few brews with Rick,” he laughed.

 

[Dogwatcher]

I should credit those stories otherwise I'll be in trouble:
They appeared in The Murray Pioneer and The Loxton News.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by napsyd
Thanks macca, I didn't have a fixture handy.

You know, we make a lot of fuss about Lynch, but equally Brisbane supporters must pull their hair out about Burton. He seems to always kick a bag against them and has been a match winner for us against them on a few occasions.

The key would be to curb Lynch (via the gameplan) maybe to 3 or 4 and find an additional avenue to goal beyond Burton and Stevens. Carey may provide this, he had a shocker in the semi last year. The small forward line approach worked to an extent last year. We let ourselves down with our kicking and it should be noted that Brisbane were probably at the low point of their form for 2004.

Another point is that Lynch is able to spank us because of the delivery he gets from his midfielders. The semi was interesting again in that Brisbane seemed unable to gel in the midfield until Voss got off his bike.

Personally I think we are closer to Brisbane than the semi result indicates. Form, weather, illness and burn out all conspired against us in the finals last year. Unfortunately many of these things are beyond just player management controls.

Really good post.

 

[Crow-mosone]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18

I like McGregor at CHB and he is not half the player at FB or FF. A defence consisting of McGregor, Parker and Bock should complement a forward line of Watts, Krueger and Hentschel nicely. Now we only need to get some quaility midfielders and a quality young ruckman.

seriously,
what year do you forecast this? it certainly won't be 2004.