J-Ro-20
All Australian
NEIL Craig says Adelaide will take an aggressive approach to trading next month, with two forwards - a tall and a small - at the top of his shopping list.
Already eyeing a possible swoop for All-Australian Collingwood goalsneak Alan Didak, Craig says the Crows have few "untouchables" as he attempts to find more goalkicking power for a side which ranked 15th in scores (85.5 points a game) for this season.
"I think we need to refresh our forward line and bolster that area of our footy club," Craig said.
"Obviously there is a need for a key forward if we can find one and small forwards seem to be becoming more and more dominant in the AFL, so we'll look at that too.
"We saw what Geelong's smalls did on the weekend and from a fashionable point of view that sort of player has become pretty important."
Craig has small forwards Matthew Bode, whose Crows future is uncertain because of injury, and Jason Porplyzia at his disposal but neither is a big goalkicker.
"It's a matter of finding out who is available versus who's not on the (trade) table, but if you're asking if Didak satisfies our criteria when you talk about a small forward, yes he does," Craig said.
Speculation is rife that Didak could be seeking a return home to SA after becoming embroiled in off-field trouble in Melbourne this year.
At his end-of-season press conference, Craig yesterday indicated a desire to be far more active in trade talks than in previous years, where he has rebuilt through the draft.
But Craig, who in the past has been anti-trading, stressed that wanting to trade is one thing, being able to do it successfully is another.
"It's going to depend on what's available," he said, indicating the club would probably make five or six changes to its list.
"We're not going to go into trade week (from October 8-12) just to trade someone to show people that we can be aggressive. It's a matter of making sure whatever you trade for adds to your football club, not just keeps it the same."
Craig and the Crows had intended making a big splash for Fremantle captain and key forward Matthew Pavlich but he has been taken off the table after signing a new three-year deal with the Dockers.
While the Crows search for another key forward - Craig said Carlton Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola probably did not fit the culture of the club - they appear certain to cut two of them loose.
Ian Perrie, whose knees are crippled, is likely to be delisted, while popular (with the fans) Ken McGregor appears up for trade.
He kicked four goals in Adelaide's elimination final defeat to Hawthorn but doesn't appear to have the coach's vote of confidence, being in and out of the side all season and prompting Craig to look elsewhere for his key forward needs. Craig said there already had been trade interest in several Crows players and that some tough decisions would be made.
"So there will be a fair bit of discussion with our players, not only about what we want but what the players want as well," he said. Craig didn't rule any trade out but he said it was unlikely rival clubs would offer big packages for established veterans such as Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards.
"They are not players they come to you about, it's more like a Ken McGregor," he said.
Adelaide will complete its player reviews and fitness assessments today before the players begin their eight weeks holiday. Craig said no delistings would be announced until after trade week.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22415041-21543,00.html
Explosive Alan Didak takes a mark over Bomber Henry Slattery.
my "artists" impression
Already eyeing a possible swoop for All-Australian Collingwood goalsneak Alan Didak, Craig says the Crows have few "untouchables" as he attempts to find more goalkicking power for a side which ranked 15th in scores (85.5 points a game) for this season.
"I think we need to refresh our forward line and bolster that area of our footy club," Craig said.
"Obviously there is a need for a key forward if we can find one and small forwards seem to be becoming more and more dominant in the AFL, so we'll look at that too.
"We saw what Geelong's smalls did on the weekend and from a fashionable point of view that sort of player has become pretty important."
Craig has small forwards Matthew Bode, whose Crows future is uncertain because of injury, and Jason Porplyzia at his disposal but neither is a big goalkicker.
"It's a matter of finding out who is available versus who's not on the (trade) table, but if you're asking if Didak satisfies our criteria when you talk about a small forward, yes he does," Craig said.
Speculation is rife that Didak could be seeking a return home to SA after becoming embroiled in off-field trouble in Melbourne this year.
At his end-of-season press conference, Craig yesterday indicated a desire to be far more active in trade talks than in previous years, where he has rebuilt through the draft.
But Craig, who in the past has been anti-trading, stressed that wanting to trade is one thing, being able to do it successfully is another.
"It's going to depend on what's available," he said, indicating the club would probably make five or six changes to its list.
"We're not going to go into trade week (from October 8-12) just to trade someone to show people that we can be aggressive. It's a matter of making sure whatever you trade for adds to your football club, not just keeps it the same."
Craig and the Crows had intended making a big splash for Fremantle captain and key forward Matthew Pavlich but he has been taken off the table after signing a new three-year deal with the Dockers.
While the Crows search for another key forward - Craig said Carlton Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola probably did not fit the culture of the club - they appear certain to cut two of them loose.
Ian Perrie, whose knees are crippled, is likely to be delisted, while popular (with the fans) Ken McGregor appears up for trade.
He kicked four goals in Adelaide's elimination final defeat to Hawthorn but doesn't appear to have the coach's vote of confidence, being in and out of the side all season and prompting Craig to look elsewhere for his key forward needs. Craig said there already had been trade interest in several Crows players and that some tough decisions would be made.
"So there will be a fair bit of discussion with our players, not only about what we want but what the players want as well," he said. Craig didn't rule any trade out but he said it was unlikely rival clubs would offer big packages for established veterans such as Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards.
"They are not players they come to you about, it's more like a Ken McGregor," he said.
Adelaide will complete its player reviews and fitness assessments today before the players begin their eight weeks holiday. Craig said no delistings would be announced until after trade week.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22415041-21543,00.html
Explosive Alan Didak takes a mark over Bomber Henry Slattery.
my "artists" impression
