Crows Wiz Wok GF Thread

[Jerome]

John Reid has stated on tonights news that Carey and Roo will not play this week.

This weekend's North v Glenelg trial match has been shifted to Prospect Oval, don't be suprised if Mr Carey plays. Might have a look at that if that's the case.

Ronnie Burns has stated he is keen to play well in this week's GF. Does this bloke have AAMiitis or something? Plays a top game away but the home matches have'nt been too flash.

In's & Out's for this week: Marsh for Crowell. We need the height around the ground, especially in defence on Fraser.

Channel 9 also showed footage of last nights game that could cause some concerns for Biglands and Mattner. It could be looked into a bit closer by the AFL so I'd have Marsh on standby and maybe Rutten for a defensive spot. Mattner played a shocker and might be a chance of being dropped as well.

Any Crows stand out in the SANFL trials?

KICK IT STRAIGHT DOWN THE GROUND CROWS!

Jerome

 

[Blues_Girl]

According to some mates of mine Begley was close on best on ground for Sturt yesterday!

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Blues_Girl
According to some mates of mine Begley was close on best on ground for Sturt yesterday!

I hope that was the case, because I'm a bit of a fan of Begley's from his St Kilda days - I thought he could really play, and that was in a side that got thrashed most of the time.

A 6' 2' wingman is very handy.

Didn't see the footage re Biglands or Mattner. If anyone did I'd be interested in your comments on it. I do remember someone, Brereton I think, making a comment about Biglands being involved in an off the ball incident. God help us if we have to rely on Marsh. He was no good before having his cartilege trimmed, and that's barely regarded as a performance enhancing operation!!!

Agree with Jerome's comments re lack of goalkickers. Probably time for Rockin' Ronnie to take up residence closer to goal.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
I hope that was the case, because I'm a bit of a fan of Begley's from his St Kilda days - I thought he could really play, and that was in a side that got thrashed most of the time.

A 6' 2' wingman is very handy.

Didn't see the footage re Biglands or Mattner. If anyone did I'd be interested in your comments on it. I do remember someone, Brereton I think, making a comment about Biglands being involved in an off the ball incident. God help us if we have to rely on Marsh. He was no good before having his cartilege trimmed, and that's barely regarded as a performance enhancing operation!!!

Agree with Jerome's comments re lack of goalkickers. Probably time for Rockin' Ronnie to take up residence closer to goal.

Mattner stuck his leg out and will probably be reported on a tripping charge. I think it was on Motlop.

As for Biglands, he flattened Petrie behind the play. I am not sure that it was caught on camera.

I think Roo will play this week. My understanding is that Reidy on channel 7 was talking about Carey not Roo and Carey

We need some height down back but relying on Marsh is a very big worry IMHO. Crowell seems like the one that will be dropped. Rutten might be a chance to come in for him. I wouldn't mind seeing Begley given a chance.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Jerome
Mattner played a shocker and might be a chance of being dropped as well.

You've got to be kidding. I must've been watching a different game. Mattner got plenty of the ball and did some useful stuff.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Jerome
Mattner played a shocker and might be a chance of being dropped as well.

I thought this was his best game this pre-season I agree he was given a bit of a touch up by Harvey but overall his game was solid. He did some good things, provided a few good runs from the backline and did a fair bit of his trademarks in 1%ers.

You must have him confused with someone else

 

[macca23]

Re: Re: Crows Wiz Wok GF Thread

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I thought this was his best game this pre-season I agree he was given a bit of a touch up by Harvey but overall his game was solid. He did some good things, provided a few good runs from the backline and did a fair bit of his trademarks in 1%ers.

That's about how I saw it.

Harvey was far too good, but Mattner wasn't hopeless - far from it. He would have learnt a lot from it as well.

 

[maccas_no1]

Yeah I also thought Mattner played very well Did some good stuff,Bassett played well also Hope Ronnie can Rock this week!!!

 

[Damp Squarie]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18

I think Roo will play this week. My understanding is that Reidy on channel 7 was talking about Carey not Roo and Carey

I understood by Reidys comments it was only Carey to stand out and not Roo but lately I take what JR says with a grain of salt.

I heard third hand from Simon Goodwin that Carey could still play; so until I see the side announced Ill keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Stiffy_18]

On channel 10 news tonight it was reported that Roo has trained with the main group today. It showed the footage of him and he appeared to move really well. He did some quick changes of direction and sort of things that you do in a game. I am hopeful that Roo will come up good.

As for Carey, they reported that Carey's 3 week modified program is into its 4th week. They also reported that Carey will not play this week but will line up a week later for North Adelaide in an internal trial.

Bugger if I know whats happening with Carey

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18


I think Roo will play this week. My understanding is that Reidy on channel 7 was talking about Carey not Roo and Carey

From realfooty.com.au

Crows taking no chances with Carey, Ricciuto
By Alan Shiell
Adelaide
March 10 2003





Adelaide is likely to keep Wayne Carey in cotton wool and leave the former Kangaroos captain out of Saturday night's Wizard Cup grand final against Collingwood at Telstra Dome.

And Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto, who has also missed the three cup matches, including last Saturday night's four-point win over the Kangaroos, might be rested again to ensure his fitness for the home-and-away season opener against West Coast at AAMI Stadium on March 30.

Adelaide's general manager of football operations, John Reid, said yesterday that Carey was "pretty unlikely" to play this week and Ricciuto was only a chance.

"Our focus is on round one," Reid said. "We certainly want to play well and win the cup grand final, but when you start asking questions about these players (Carey and Ricciuto), you've got to remember what's best for us in round one."

Carey has played only two halves for the Crows this year - in an intraclub trial at Mount Gambier and against SANFL club Norwood in a practice match at Norwood Oval. He was then put on a carefully managed fitness program for back-related hamstring soreness.

Ricciuto had surgery almost three weeks ago to remove a bone chip from the back of his left ankle.

"Mark still hasn't trained," Reid said. "He's done all the rehab work, but he hasn't actually had a run with the squad. We'll make a better assessment late in the week. If he didn't play next Saturday night, it would not be because of injury, but only because of a lack of work - match practice."

Adelaide has a worse premiership-season record (five wins, 13 losses) against Collingwood than any other AFL club.

It has lost its past three games to the Magpies - by two points in Adelaide in round 13 of 2001 and then last year by 22 points in Adelaide in round 13 and by 28 points at the MCG in the first preliminary final.

Immediately after last Saturday night's cup semi-final at AAMI Stadium, coach Gary Ayres said: "We probably haven't played as well as we should have against them (the Pies) over the last couple of years, so the challenge of making sure we come out to play as well as we can is the thing I'll be drumming into the players all week."

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley was pleased with his young team's Wizard Cup performance.

"We've played three finalists from last year," Laidley said. "We've beaten two of them (Essendon by 62 points and Melbourne by 13 points) and lost by four points to a preliminary finalist (Adelaide).

"There were some positives out of it (against the Crows), but there's still some stuff we can work with.

"I told the players not to be too disappointed. Everyone hates losing. We just went through a few things we thought we got right and a few things we didn't."

Laidley was pleased to have had three consecutive cup matches as a solid preparation for the round-one clash with St Kilda at the MCG on March 29.

"To play in conditions like this is better than going away and playing a half-baked game in the country," Laidley said. "It just gets you a bit match-hardened."

Ayres complimented Laidley after the game. "He's certainly got them going in the right direction, the way they've been playing over the pre-season," Ayres said. "It's a credit to him and the club, considering the changes they've had."

Tonights news was talking up Roo's chances, but I dont think he will play.

Jerome

 

[Damp Squarie]

Ayres is as content as can be
9:20:39 AM Mon 10 March, 2003


Gary Ayres is as happy as an AFL coach can be in early March.

Not for the fact his Adelaide Crows have made the pre-season grand final, or emerged unscathed by injury during outings in a period which used to be the sole domain of cricket.


Ayres' pleasure is that finally his charges have become like him. As a player, Ayres was renowned as Hawthorn's pillar of strength: an uncompromising defender who relished football's hard deeds.

As a coach, Ayres has at his disposal an Adelaide squad with abundant skill and flair that turns many rivals green with envy. Now, Ayres has added the grunt he displayed as a player to the Crows, and the result is a legitimate premiership contender.

Ayres reckons the Crows' victories in the pre-season competition have evidenced a growing maturity of his players.
Twice, Adelaide has come from behind in the final quarter to register victories which set up a pre-season playoff against Collingwood on Saturday night.

Initially, it was a one-point thriller against Port Adelaide. Last Saturday night, it was a four-point triumph over the Kangaroos.

"It was really a case of grind," Ayres said of the victory. "That was the message at three-quarter time - just to grind it out. I couldn't question their endeavour throughout the course of the match."

"They showed, I thought, a pretty strong will and a strong want to get over the line and that resolve in tight games, certainly for us as a group, shows a little bit of maturity.

"I know it's only the Wizard Cup ... but we have said right from the outside that this preparation is going to be vital to us in the home and away."

Adelaide has made the pre-season playoff without captain Mark Riccuito (ankle), star recruit Wayne Carey (hamstring) and with the coach deliberately restricting the output of playmakers Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin.

Ayres is uncertain whether Carey and Riccuito will be risked in Saturday's fina , but is certain the match will prove invaluable for his emerging younger brigade.

"The fact that is a grand final in the summer competition is certainly, for our younger players, a nice opportunity to be able to display their skills and be able to handle a step up from the pressure that we have had for the last three weeks," he said.

"Collingwood have certainly been very much an improving side over the last couple of years and so obviously deserve their chance to be in a grand final on their form over the summer."

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
On channel 10 news tonight it was reported that Roo has trained with the main group today. It showed the footage of him and he appeared to move really well. He did some quick changes of direction and sort of things that you do in a game. I am hopeful that Roo will come up good.

As for Carey, they reported that Carey's 3 week modified program is into its 4th week. They also reported that Carey will not play this week but will line up a week later for North Adelaide in an internal trial.

Bugger if I know whats happening with Carey

Nothing wrong with Carey Stiffy - the club just want him right for Round 1. They don't want to "waste" him in the wizzer. Reckon Roo is a good chance of playing though if he can get through this week's training OK.

 

[Jerome]

A couple more articles from afc.com.au

Wizard Cup Grand Final message to AFC Members.
Steven Trigg
afc.com.au
11:20:44 AM Mon 10 March, 2003


Given the very public debate over the last 24 hours regarding the location of the Wizard Cup Grand Final, the Club wishes to assure its Members that the strongest possible case was put to the League in support of the game being played at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

A number of factors were presented to the AFL, yet the game will be played at Telstra Dome on the basis (according to the AFL) that docklands provides a greater opportunity for the biggest crowd and therefore an enhanced “spectacle” for the pre-season’s ultimate game.


The Club maintained that a crowd of at least 35,000 would have been achieved should the Grand Final have been played at AAMI Stadium, but clearly the League did not share that optimism.

As stated in the media over the last 24 hours, the Club will now only contemplate and talk about the positive aspects of playing in Melbourne (of which there are many positives from a team perspective) and we know we go with the best wishes of Members and Supporters in an effort to win our first pre-season Premiership


Cup grand final excites young Crows
Alan Shiell
afl.com.au
7:07:57 PM Mon 10 March, 2003



Adelaide’s list contains only eight players who were in the club’s second AFL premiership (1998) – Mark Bickley, Tyson Edwards, Simon Goodwin, Ben Hart, Andrew McLeod, Mark Ricciuto, Nigel Smart and Mark Stevens.

Ken McGregor is one of the many youngsters who want to grab a slice of history, too, by being in the Crows’ first pre-season premiership.


Tall centre half-back McGregor, 22, says “the young blokes are really excited” about Saturday night’s Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final against Collingwood at Telstra Dome.

“A lot of us young blokes are really looking forward to it,” he said. “Bicks and the older core have been there and have been through a lot, so hopefully we can learn a bit from them.

“The young blokes are really excited about it. It would be great to be a part of it (Adelaide’s first pre-season title).”

McGregor, whose last grand final appearance was for SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens at under-19 level, was not overly bothered about having to play on Telstra Dome’s hard surface instead of the much more familiar, lushly grassed AAMI Stadium.

“Obviously we’re disappointed because we’d like to play here – with the members and all the fans – but we don’t see it as a big problem,” he said.

“We don’t mind playing away. We do it half the games in the minor round so it’s not a real great deal for us.

“There’s going to be a lot of pressure out there, and I suppose after the preliminary final (loss by 28 points to Collingwood in September) last year and all that, it’s going to be really intense and I can’t wait.

“There’s a bit on the end of it. We probably owe them one because they’re a very good side and they really match up well against us. They’ve beaten us here the last twice.”

Was there anything lingering from the preliminary final loss to the Magpies at the MCG (where Adelaide’s Tyson Edwards suffered a broken nose and concussion in the second quarter)?

“No, I wouldn’t say any more than normal,” McGregor said. “It’s definitely something big – a preliminary final – to lose.

“They’re a very good side and we’d really love to beat them. We’ve really watched them the last couple of weeks and hopefully we can get the right plan to beat them.

“They play very man-on-man footy and they can stay on you, and they play it tight and you have to play really well to beat them.”

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Nothing wrong with Carey Stiffy - the club just want him right for Round 1. They don't want to "waste" him in the wizzer. Reckon Roo is a good chance of playing though if he can get through this week's training OK.

Kane, I hope that there is nothing wrong with him but I would have thought that an internal trial for North Adelaide is more of a "waste" than a wizzer cup final.

No offence intended to roosters' supporters.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I watched the channel 7 news tonight and they had an interview with Roo. He was very confident he will play against the pies. He came up well today after yesterdays training and as I said he look to be a certainty.

Who do you think will drop out of our squad to make a spot for Roo?

As much as I hate to say this, James Gallagher seems to be the odd one out.

I think Andrew Crowell should be dropped for more height, maybe Ben Marsh if he is available.

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Mattner stuck his leg out and will probably be reported on a tripping charge. I think it was on Motlop.

As for Biglands, he flattened Petrie behind the play. I am not sure that it was caught on camera.

I think Roo will play this week. My understanding is that Reidy on channel 7 was talking about Carey not Roo and Carey

We need some height down back but relying on Marsh is a very big worry IMHO. Crowell seems like the one that will be dropped. Rutten might be a chance to come in for him. I wouldn't mind seeing Begley given a chance.

Looks like we got away with both the Mattner and Biglands incidents Stiffy. I saw the Biglands one tonight and it certainly looked a bit sus, although not much in it really. Still haven't seen the Mattner one but they must have deemed it an unintenetional trip. Was there any chance that's the way it was???

Spot on about needing a bit more height down back for this one, with Molloy and Fraser being potential problems. Rutten could match Molloy for strength but not experience, and would be too slow for Fraser. On the other hand, if we are relying on Marsh for either of these then god help us.

Carey definitely won't play and neither he should. Round 1 Freo has to be the target.

Ricciuto would be handy but only if there's no risk in it. That would probably cost Gags his spot if Roo plays.

Begley could be an interesting one to consider as well.

 

[Jerome]

Marsh and Rutten have to be looked at because they beat us last time with their strength and height in defence.

if Roo plays, what's the bet he plays at HFF or in a pocket to take pressure off Ian and sang some nine pointers?

Jerome

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
Looks like we got away with both the Mattner and Biglands incidents Stiffy. I saw the Biglands one tonight and it certainly looked a bit sus, although not much in it really. Still haven't seen the Mattner one but they must have deemed it an unintenetional trip. Was there any chance that's the way it was???

Spot on about needing a bit more height down back for this one, with Molloy and Fraser being potential problems. Rutten could match Molloy for strength but not experience, and would be too slow for Fraser. On the other hand, if we are relying on Marsh for either of these then god help us.

Carey definitely won't play and neither he should. Round 1 Freo has to be the target.

Ricciuto would be handy but only if there's no risk in it. That would probably cost Gags his spot if Roo plays.

Begley could be an interesting one to consider as well.

Both Mattner and Biglands incidents look a bit sus and going by what were the reportable incidents in the past, it would not have surprised me if they both were suspended. Luckily for us bith were not reported.

I would have tought that the following match ups would be on the Cards:

Bassett Vs Molloy :

Molloy beats him on strength but I would back Bassett in. Molloy is not of the same ilk as the likes of Neitz and Lloyd but could still be damaging. I am confident Bassett can hold Molloy well.

Smart Vs Tarrant :

Personally I would back either one of Hart or Smart on Tarrant. Both are more than Capable of holding him quite and hasn't really troubled us that much in the past.

McGregor Vs Rocca

Kenny being the tallest of our defenders will get either Rocca or Fraser, probably Rocca. Kenny has the courage and height to go with either of those 2. Last week against the roos was his best game of the pre-season.


This is where we need more height to go with Fraser. Can Biglands and Clarke play the full game? My bet is they cannot. If they could I would have played Biglands as a tall defender and let Clarke ruck all day but that doesn't seem possible since Biglands is not what you would call "aerobically capable" to play out the game.

If the Collingwood play with Fraser/Rocca interchanging on and off the bench then we probably could get away with the team that we have but my bet it MM will try and strech out defence by playing Rocca, Fraser, Molloy and Tarrant in the forward line at the same time.

We need to come up with a good strategy and we MUST play Stenglein on Buckley. Singer must wear Buckley like a glove.

 

[Blues_Girl]

I'd like to see James Begley be given a go. He's played on Colonial...sorry Telstra Dome before and he had a BOG for Sturt last week!

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Jerome
if Roo plays, what's the bet he plays at HFF or in a pocket to take pressure off Ian and sang some nine pointers?

Jerome

You are a mind reader Jerome, that was exactly my thought. He will most like play as a HFF with a switch to FP if needed. Might even start on the bench but I doubt it

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
My bet is they cannot. If they could I would have played Biglands as a tall defender and let Clarke ruck all day but that doesn't seem possible since Biglands is not what you would call "aerobically capable" to play out the game.

We need to come up with a good strategy and we MUST play Stenglein on Buckley. Singer must wear Buckley like a glove.

Good match ups.

Biglands has not been the most reliable defender, but might be our only option. Maybe he'll improve this week if given a chance.

Stinga will have to follow Buckley everywhere and maybe kick a few goals of his own.

Jerome

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
You are a mind reader Jerome, that was exactly my thought. He will most like play as a HFF with a switch to FP if needed. Might even start on the bench but I doubt it

Yeah! Roo on Cloke? Now that would be fun. I can see Roo being a danger man up forward if he gets going.

Jerome

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Jerome
Yeah! Roo on Cloke? Now that would be fun. I can see Roo being a danger man up forward if he gets going.

Jerome

I think that match up goes in our favour. Roo will cream Cloke with his speed and mobility . Roo is also a strong overhead and is bloody strong for his size

Roo is a leader, he trives on finals even if they are meaningless

 

[noddy]

You guys have forgotten Benny Hart, in form & has been successful in the past when given the job on talls,

Smart on Fraser
Hart on Tarrent,

if Roo plays out goes Gallagher or Crowell, but as you say Stiffy Begley could be the smokey,