Crows vs. Demons - Match Talk

[fightingdreamer88]

Full Time

Adelaide - 14.16.100
Melbourne - 6.8.44


It was all Adelaide after quarter time. Great performance, looks like Mackay does indeed have some leg speed and Griff looks to have cemented his spot as Huddo's backup in round 1. The return of a couple of key senior players made a huge difference. The youngsters played with more confidence, Knights was fantastic today, Douglas, Mackay, Vince and company all showed a lot of poise and great ball handling. We've got a bumper crop of youngsters.

 

[RoosterLad]

We should be 5 goals up

 

[fightingdreamer88]

Yeah no doubt about that, we've smashed them in the middle since quarter time and just haven't put it on the scoreboard. I'd rather this happen now than the season proper though.

 

[RoosterLad]

At least our midfield is doing well,gotta be happy with that.

 

[- PC -]

At least our midfield is doing well,gotta be happy with that.

Is that our pacy midfield?

 

[AJ_No.4]

Griffen sounds like he is continuing his impressive form from last week

 

[Evilgiver]

DO we have an updated score

 

[Richard MacSellar]

DO we have an updated score

yeh we just won 100 to 44.

 

[Evilgiver]

gotta be happy with that

 

[- PC -]

gotta be happy with that

More happy no major injuries occurred.

Nice second teams and welcome

 

[crows4always]

DO we have an updated score

The final score was
14.16 Adelaide
6.8 Melbourne

 

[swanfan]

Griffin has booked his spot for round one and I think Knights will be pushing for selection. One thing that impressed me today was that Scotty Thompson played well and showed good discipline and most of his disposals were effective.

 

[jo172]

One thing that impressed me today was that Scotty Thompson played well and showed good discipline and most of his disposals were effective.

But he always plays well against Melbourne. I swear if we ever meet the Dees in a GF the hot tip for Goody and Wardy is to put all your cash on Thomo for the Norm Smith.

 

[swanfan]

But he always plays well against Melbourne. I swear if we ever meet the Dees in a GF the hot tip for Goody and Wardy is to put all your cash on Thomo for the Norm Smith.

I think we may see a refined Thommo this year. I do agree he always plays well against the Dees.

 

[Stiffy_18]

But he always plays well against Melbourne. I swear if we ever meet the Dees in a GF the hot tip for Goody and Wardy is to put all your cash on Thomo for the Norm Smith.

And for Burton to be the leading goalkicker for the match

 

[macca23]

Griffin has booked his spot for round one and I think Knights will be pushing for selection. One thing that impressed me today was that Scotty Thompson played well and showed good discipline and most of his disposals were effective.

I would've thought on his pre-season form so far he'd be a certainty, not a chance.

 

[macca23]

Just going by the 5AA call - and that's all we have to go by, it would seem that there were a lot of things to like about today's game.

- McLeod was at his magical best playing across HB
- Knights knocked up getting kicks
- Reilly was very good at the centre clearances
- Griffin keeps writing his name onto the 2nd ruck spot for the opening round.
- Burton was in great touch
- Welsh is firing at the moment
- Mackay continues to look a very likely type in spite of being a few kgs light
- Tippett did very well for a lad that's only played 20 games of footy in any format.
- the backline as a unit continues to be tighter than a nun's nasty.

Good to see so many of the younger players given a run and strut their stuff.

 

[RoosterLad]

I would've thought on his pre-season form so far he'd be a certainty, not a chance.

Even going by the way he played last season, coupled by his pre-season form, he will start with us this year and i doubt Torrens will get him at all.

 

[Gets!]

Knights and Douglas are both walk up starts in round 1.

 

[lunacy]

Did anyone go to the game who can give a good match report?

 

[Mad Dog]

Crows thump Demons

adelaide now

JESPER FJELDSTADIN
March 04, 2007 09:15am

ADELAIDE banished the ghosts of its NAB Cup loss to Port Adelaide and soothed concerns over a makeshift forward line with a 56-point thumping of Melbourne in a trial game at Mt Gambier yesterday.

After being flummoxed by Melbourne's reliance on handball at all cost in the first quarter (it netted a three-to-nothing lead for the Demons), the Crows heeded coach Neil Craig's loudest catchcries - to be competitive at all contests and to move the ball swiftly.
At once, both the problem with overuse and flat-footedness disappeared. Nobody stood out more in the counterpunch than Andrew McLeod, whose speedy and pack-busting work from the half-back line had Melbourne players scratching their heads in disbelief.

Not only because of his sheer speed, but also because of his crisp finishing and the morale-boosting effect it had on his teammates.

From the second quarter on, it was one-way traffic.

Melbourne's Ryan Ferguson, who had been outstanding in defence, found himself away from the play or outnumbered as Adelaide sprinkled the goals.

One concern remained, and for the Crows it was a grave one. They kept kicking awry and kept taking shots from long range instead of running the ball into bankable range or looking for a target closer to goal.

The result was telling. Adelaide slowly, but painfully, gained the half-time lead with 3.11 to 3.2.

No matter. The Crows not only turned the match but also put right some concerns from the previous week with a markedly improved performance.

For the final three quarters, Melbourne was swamped in a sea of tri-coloured players, a sign clearer than any that the Crows were playing through the line and had lost their early hesitation.

There were also encouraging signs in the ruck department.

Jonathon Griffin continued to impress and seems close to cementing a spot for round one; Ben Hudson had a fair, if patchy, afternoon and will be better for the run; and, young Kurt Tippett was full of endeavour and vigour.

That is no small feat considering the opposition. Jeff White played a fine game and continues to be one of the game's leading ruckmen, while Mark Jamar had the game in his hands in the early stages of the match.

Not only can Jamar ruck, he is more than adept when he floats forward and will be a pivotal player for the Demons' assault on the finals this year.

The Crows forward line, too, showed signs of promise for the season ahead.

It could still do with Mark Ricciuto for the bankable - and often missed - goals, but Scott Welsh and Brett Burton formed a potent duo and Matthew Bode never stopped. He is arguably the league's best forward when it comes to defensive action.

But perhaps the best signs for the Crows came from the next generation - the young-to-mid-range players who are expected to take over when the vaunted quartet of Ricciuto, McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin depart from West Lakes.

Chris Knights was one of the best for the Crows and continued to find the ball.

Brent Reilly, another who showed much promise in the early stages of his career, was sublime in the third quarter and provided crucial centre clearances. He not only is balanced in heavy traffic, he now is finding time.

You couldn't help but love Brett Burton. Sure, the athletic "Birdman" made a few clangers and was a touch rusty, but the good things he did delighted the crowd of 5471 at Blue Lakes Sports Park.

The fact that he finished as leading goalkicker was another important sign for the Crows. Burton can play off a flank and does some of his best work as a wingman, but it is likely he will be whistled up to spend time alongside Welsh and Bode this season.

 

[- PC -]

After being flummoxed by Melbourne's reliance on handball at all cost in the first quarter (it netted a three-to-nothing lead for the Demons), the Crows heeded coach Neil Craig's loudest catchcries - to be competitive at all contests and to move the ball swiftly

Not sure if this is a coaching issue or a player issue, but it is enough of an issue that there was a section of an article on the Eagles that relayed the same message...maybe the journos all use he same template.

 

[Truck Rutten]

Just wondering who played at CHB for us yesterday?

 

[Damp Squarie]

Did Mattner do the kickins
Did Knights actually find any targets

A wins a win

 

[macca23]

Just wondering who played at CHB for us yesterday?

Did Mattner do the kickins
Did Knights actually find any targets

A wins a win

Stevens played a fair whack of the game there. Ended up playing HFF in the last quarter.

Mattner started in the backlines and may have had 1 kick-out but played primarily up forward.

As usual Knights kicking was a mixture of good and not so good but 30 disposals for a young mid-fielder is a great start to build on.