Embarrassing

[Godallblighty]

Last year the coach (and team) were criticised for playing some very defensive football. Time and time again we would watch the players handball round and round in circles, or pass the ball back & forth in the backline with no evidence of any intent to move it forwards - both tactics invariably had the same result, a turnover resulting in an easy goal t the opposition.

Say what you like about today's performance (and I've written a few of them myself tonight), but at no point did our players devolve into those defensive tactics which appalled us last year.

The tactics we saw today were all run & attack, playing on at almost every possibility. What happened today is that many of our players just didn't work hard enough - they didn't break into open space, giving the ball carrier a valid option. No gameplan, nor coach, can be successful if the players refuse to try.

I didn't see the game. Just listened, appalled, to the radio commentary. Never really got a clear idea of what was going wrong and was worried that it was a dose of the 2010s.

So...I'm going to take this ^ as the silver lining.

 

[WheresGroomgone]

Massive premeture call that one.

Why is it a "massive premeture {sic} " call?? Many Adelaide supporters including myself thought he was going to be a stand out AFL player, well going on today's efforts he has too many deficiancies which is a real pity. I hope he can turn it around but today he was extremely poor in skills and decision making, not a great skill base to become a standout.

 

[anthc]

I'd argue that Henderson was worse. Maric would have been close. Then there's Jaensch & McKernan. Tough to pick Worst on Ground today with so many genuine contenders.

As for the OP. Yes, your judgement is incredibly kneejerk in nature.

For starters, you've massively underestimated Freo who are considerably better than you've given them credit for.

Then there's the fact that so many of our players decided to phone in their performances, rather than turning up in person. Really, there's nothing much the coach can do when 8 or 9 players decide to adopt the foetal position and refuse to participate in the contest.

The one thing you did get right is that it was embarrassing to watch and a completely disgraceful performance.

the coach is there to scare the shit out of em so they don,t enter the feotal position,
that's Neil's job, to instill confidence and motivate the players

 

[Crow-mo]

For those of you looking to have pot-shots at Craig, I'd like to point out that this was the least "crowbot" like game that I can recall in a very long time.

Last year the coach (and team) were criticised for playing some very defensive football. Time and time again we would watch the players handball round and round in circles, or pass the ball back & forth in the backline with no evidence of any intent to move it forwards - both tactics invariably had the same result, a turnover resulting in an easy goal t the opposition.

Say what you like about today's performance (and I've written a few of them myself tonight), but at no point did our players devolve into those defensive tactics which appalled us last year.

The tactics we saw today were all run & attack, playing on at almost every possibility. What happened today is that many of our players just didn't work hard enough - they didn't break into open space, giving the ball carrier a valid option. No gameplan, nor coach, can be successful if the players refuse to try.

they looked under prepared and confused about what they were trying to do.

whether that was just them or craig's performance we'll see shortly; but its completely inappropriate to think the coach doesn't have his share of the blame.

 

[SS_Fury]

not trolling, but i thought Symes was your worst.

 

[King Elvis]

not trolling, but i thought Symes was your worst.

Actually came back here to comment on him.

He was woeful today - beginning to think he's one of those players who is too good for the SANFL, but, for whatever reason, he can't make the transition to being a good AFL player.

No questions on his endeavour, he tries his hard out every week, but I think he's just not quite up to it.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Why is it a "massive premeture {sic} " call?? Many Adelaide supporters including myself thought he was going to be a stand out AFL player, well going on today's efforts he has too many deficiancies which is a real pity. I hope he can turn it around but today he was extremely poor in skills and decision making, not a great skill base to become a standout.

That's whaa I mean, the intitial call by many that Henderson would be a stand out player was a massive premature call.

 

[Vader]

they looked under prepared and confused about what they were trying to do.

whether that was just them or craig's performance we'll see shortly; but its completely inappropriate to think the coach doesn't have his share of the blame.

There's no doubt that the coach needs to bear some of the responsibility for the performance. Some things are outside of his control (such as the loss of 2 of our hardest players in Doughty & Sloane) but some things are well within his control.

I thought our efforts improved dramatically after the first quarter. The fact that we outscored them from quarter time onwards (7.9 51 to 6.10 46) is a pretty fair indicator of that. I didn't notice any drop off in Freo's intensity, so I'm going to say that they didn't start coasting because they had opened up a match winning lead. If Adelaide were able to match them after quarter time, why were they not sufficiently motivated in that first quarter? This indicates a lack of preparation by the coaching staff.

 

[pjcrows]

Plenty of morons in this thread.

1. You very rarely win with 4 changes. Hence why I did not tip us this week.
2. Fremantle played far better than us today.
3. We've played only 8 quarters of footy this year. So yes, it is a kneejerk thread. We'll beat Port next week and we'll supposedly be Top 4 bound again.

 

[Freomaniac]

This is not a kneejerk thread. I've said this before. I'll say it again. I don't see why Craig is the one to take this club forward.

We're soft. We lose games we shouldn't. We fall to pieces under pressure - today's panicky disposals a perfect example. These are all consistent hallmarks of the Craig era.

That game was embarrassing. It was a blight on the club. We should not have lost to that Freo side at home. It was not deserving of the talent in the side. It wasn't like we were competitive: we struggled to score a goal, let alone threaten Freo.

I'm not saying Bassett is ready to coach AFL, but look at the hardness he's put into the Norwood side. Craig's sides are lillywhite.

Maric should never play again, unless somehow Moran, Tippett, McKernan and Jacobs all go down. He is a terrible ruckman. His heart is not the issue: his ability is.

How many times can Stevens mistakes cost us goals before we drop him? As many goals as he saves, he gives up with enormous brainfades.

Yes, I'm angry. That was disgraceful, and don't make any excuses to me.

Todays game between freo and crows game reminded me of the magpies vs blues game last night. Magpies only won last night because they kicked 4 goals in a row in the 2nd quarter and kept it.

Freo kicked the 1st 5 goals and maintained it the whole game. 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters were both even. Crows won the game by 2 goals from the 2nd quarter on wards.

had the crows kicked 2 goals in the 1st quarter the momentum would of swung the whole game.

 

[footy4ever]

the team sorely missed the selflessness that is sloane today...
his value cannot be underestimated...doughty's hardness was equally missed...

how good was dangerfield's running goal today?...go close to GOTY surely.

I think Doughty was a huge out for us today.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

otten was worst on ground.

If he wasn't, he was at least in the grand final.

How many times can Stevens mistakes cost us goals before we drop him? As many goals as he saves, he gives up with enormous brainfades.

Watch Neil give him coaches votes.

 

[footy4ever]

Plenty of morons in this thread.

1. You very rarely win with 4 changes. Hence why I did not tip us this week.
2. Fremantle played far better than us today.
3. We've played only 8 quarters of footy this year. So yes, it is a kneejerk thread. We'll beat Port next week and we'll supposedly be Top 4 bound again.

Too true PJ

 

[JP Sauce]

We were pathetic today; barely even competitive.

Henderson, terrible, but at his stage in development, you expect some ups and downs; that was a shocker though.

Otto, yea, may as well have stayed home - where did we play him today, third tall down back, or in the middle a bit?

Maric got destroyed by Sandi, but I thought at least made a big difference when he went out.

Stevens, his usual self; gets plenty of the ball due to the role he plays, but wastes it and fumbles it and turns it over.

Walker - Looked lazy in the first quarter, worked his way into the game, then tried to be unselfish and pass the ball; yea, nah, Walker, if you're within sixty, have a shot.


Thommo was fantastic today, loved his game, Danger continues to impress, and little Brodie Smith hasn't put a foot wrong yet.

Tippett was crap, but will be better for the run.

Also thought the Umpires stitched us up a bit - but they were probably disgusted by our lack of effort as well.

This really annoyed me in the last quarter especially. Walker can kick goals from 50 out without even trying, but he seemed to forget that he had a freaking gale behind him.

 

[Freomaniac]

This is not a kneejerk thread. I've said this before. I'll say it again. I don't see why Craig is the one to take this club forward.

We're soft. We lose games we shouldn't. We fall to pieces under pressure - today's panicky disposals a perfect example. These are all consistent hallmarks of the Craig era.

That game was embarrassing. It was a blight on the club. We should not have lost to that Freo side at home. It was not deserving of the talent in the side. It wasn't like we were competitive: we struggled to score a goal, let alone threaten Freo.

I'm not saying Bassett is ready to coach AFL, but look at the hardness he's put into the Norwood side. Craig's sides are lillywhite.

Maric should never play again, unless somehow Moran, Tippett, McKernan and Jacobs all go down. He is a terrible ruckman. His heart is not the issue: his ability is.

How many times can Stevens mistakes cost us goals before we drop him? As many goals as he saves, he gives up with enormous brainfades.

Yes, I'm angry. That was disgraceful, and don't make any excuses to me.

I doubt the crows were disgraceful, they just didnt kick enough goals from the set shots from the 50 metre arc.

If you want disgraceful I was at the crows vs dockers game at aami in 2009. freo only kicked 1.7.13 for the whole game and we lost by 117 points.

this is my opinion, Neil craig is not a bad Coach, your team has played in consecutive finals from 2005-2009.

Crows lost 1300 games of experience with Goodwin, McCleod Edwards and Brett burton.

Both teams Had injuries, Both teams fielded a few 1st, 2nd and 3rd year players. Sandilands played half a game but made a huge difference.

 

[twentydollarnote]

We've got some good young talent but i agree the coach needs to go. He just doesn't seem to have the match day smarts or adaptability, we have been awful delivering the ball to our forwards for a long, long time now!

 

[cammo6556]

We've got some good young talent but i agree the coach needs to go. He just doesn't seem to have the match day smarts or adaptability, we have been awful delivering the ball to our forwards for a long, long time now!

yeah NC is a really bad short pass...

 

[Crow-mo]

Plenty of morons in this thread.

oh the ironing!

 

[afc1991]

I think Doughty was a huge out for us today.

Sloane too. Inexperienced player, but we need his grunt. Hes in the top handful of our most important players already I think, because of he in and under gear he brings.

 

[tacopavlich]

Agree totally with the opening post. Fremantle congratulations but if you think you were terrific today, post that sort of performance up against Collingwood. You will get flogged. We were atrocious.

lol posting up any kind of performance against collingwood will end up getting flogged, so i don't see your point :/ the conditions were shit, so skills from both sides were average, we just handled it better in the end.

 

[Drummond]

That comes close to the most spineless performance I've seen, we were flat out soft. Didn’t even bother rocking up today, thought we were all that after Round 1.

Henderson was a joke today, as others have said, giving power running Jezza a run for his ‘softest performance of all time’ award. I don’t EVER want to see Maric playing for the AFC again after what he dished up today. I get Sandilands is a freak and unbeatable in the ruck, but your decision making, awareness and just all-round football ability is nonexistent. He was hilariously bad today, couldn’t have played worse if he set out to suck.

Symes, yeah top recruit that one. If we’re playing Symes, why not play Cook? They’re the same, but Cook at least has pace and some potential for improvement, Symes is not going to get any better than the mediocrity he continuously puts forth. How many times did Scott Stevens’ direct opponent mark inside forward 50?! How many times?????????? He’s got to go, the sooner Luke Thompson takes his place the better. Even if he concedes 5 goals a game he’d be up on the contribution Stevens provides.

Thompson is a machine and should be captain. Dangerfield’s goal and point from those massive runs were the only good things from the game. And Jaensch’s bomb from 60 out. People are bagging his game and while he was poor, he did have 5 SOG, and one was a goal but touched off the boot. He was lively, and did dish off to Vince for a goal, and would’ve had another if Henderson could’ve PICKED THE FREAKING BALL UP!!

We’re a very ordinary side, simple as that.

 

[crowman_23]

That comes close to the most spineless performance I've seen, we were flat out soft. Didn’t even bother rocking up today, thought we were all that after Round 1.

Henderson was a joke today, as others have said, giving power running Jezza a run for his ‘softest performance of all time’ award. I don’t EVER want to see Maric playing for the AFC again after what he dished up today. I get Sandilands is a freak and unbeatable in the ruck, but your decision making, awareness and just all-round football ability is nonexistent. He was hilariously bad today, couldn’t have played worse if he set out to suck.

Symes, yeah top recruit that one. If we’re playing Symes, why not play Cook? They’re the same, but Cook at least has pace and some potential for improvement, Symes is not going to get any better than the mediocrity he continuously puts forth. How many times did Scott Stevens’ direct opponent mark inside forward 50?! How many times?????????? He’s got to go, the sooner Luke Thompson takes his place the better. Even if he concedes 5 goals a game he’d be up on the contribution Stevens provides.

Thompson is a machine and should be captain. Dangerfield’s goal and point from those massive runs were the only good things from the game. And Jaensch’s bomb from 60 out. People are bagging his game and while he was poor, he did have 5 SOG, and one was a goal but touched off the boot. He was lively, and did dish off to Vince for a goal, and would’ve had another if Henderson could’ve PICKED THE FREAKING BALL UP!!

We’re a very ordinary side, simple as that.

Great post Drummond, agree with it all. Symes and Stevens today were both disgraceful. I never felt all the hate towards Stevens as much as others, but to see him fumbling around and turning the ball over was disgraceful.

I also don't read in to what everyone said about Jaensch. I haven't seen enough of him, but I thought he showed glimpses. Not a great game, but something to suggest he wasn't as awful as a lot of the boys out there today.

I also thought Brodie Smith was pretty good. While he did nothing spectacular, to see a young guy show the poise and class he did at times, looked a lot more experienced and mature than the likes of Symes.

 

[beartoo]

The conditions were dreadful with that swirling wind. My view is that Freo, apart from being harder at it in the 1st q, handled those conditions far better than we did. Both sides fumbled and made mistakes--the wind was very difficult to read. Freo players read it much better than ours did.
It's our dungheap, we should learn how to play it in all conditions.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I think some are marking Jaensch harshly. Got 17 possessions in a tough position to play when your team sucks. 2 good shots on goal, with some others that were admittedly (and uncharacteristically) poor. But overall i thought it was a decent first up hit out for 2011. Deserves his spot for next week (unlike many others who will be gifted theirs)

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Love Danger, but 10 clangers is pretty embarrassing. Conversely, his effort was superb and stood out against most of his teammates.