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Here's a preview of Friday's game I have written for bomberblitz.com .
CROWS FACE ESSENDON HOODO
Well, its that time of the year for Crows supporters once again, the annual trip to play Essendon in Melbourne which has only ever resulted in one result – a bad loss.
Most of these bad losses, have been large defeats, stretching back to the first ever encounter at Windy Hill where Sheeds tied down the wind socks and the players got into the changing rooms to find the gear from the reserves game all over the rooms (throwing all the gear in the corner resolved this problem).
The Crows were accordingly belted which started a run which remains unbroken to this day, with the 1993 Preliminary final being the most heartbreaking loss of all (free kick count of 42-16 in an 11 point game being a sore point for us winging crows fans).
The Crows even lost the round 22 game in 1997 by four points when Essendon were not in great form and the crows were on the way to Premiership glory. I guess any team with Brett Chalmers in it, stands a fair chance of losing.
This sequence must stop eventually. Mothers day 2000, with Essendon in the middle of the best purple patch in their history, saw the Crows come reasonably close to winning (being up by as many as 20 points in the third quarter) before Michael Long decided to beat the Crows on his own (again) with a five goal quarter, and the final result blew out to 49 points.
A similar thing occurred last year except the Crows couldn’t stick for quite as long and Essendon again ran out easy winners.
The match being played at Colonial is a big positive for the Crows in as much as our record there is very good and the conditions are similar to our home at Footy Park, except of course for the roof!!
Whether it’s a good time to get Essendon after they were belted by the Lions (sweet) is a moot point. It will either damage the Bombers’ confidence or give them a resolve to bounce back. Personally, I think the later as this team has been supreme over a three year period and a loss would mean Essendon are two and two and back with the rest of the pack.
Match ups of course will be the key determinant and this game always throws up some interesting ones. In my view, the Crows forward line will be the key. Adelaide always gets plenty of ball in the midfield both out of the centre and at stoppages, however it is how efficient we are within our forward 50 that will count.
Adelaide were second to Brisbane in inside 50’s last season but failed to convert, either due to no forwards being able to take a mark or atrocious kicking in front of goal.
The Crows seem to have turned this around so far this season with returns of 16, 16 and 17 goals, with accuracy on the improve. Big Ryan Fitzgerald, a man mountain at 201 cm, is starting to show why he was rated so highly as a junior before being stuck down by a terrible run of injuries including a shoulder, a hernia and a knee reconstruction. The Crows will be hoping his bad luck is over and he can continue to be a force for the remainder of the season. His impressive start will probably gain him the dubious honour of being picked up by Dustin Fletcher, who is one of the modern era’s truly great defenders. I can’t see Fitzy being given much latitude here, and he is probably in for a very tough day.
But here’s where Adelaide’s new multi-dimensional forward line steps in, with Welsh, Bienke, Schell, Mark Stevens and Burton all capable of kicking goals and causing problems. Throw in McLeod, Goodwin, Ricciuto and Edwards changing at half forward and there is plenty of goal kicking potential.
A small window of opportunity here with Sean Wellman to miss the game, and the nuggety and tough Dean Solomon out for the season, and of course Damian Hardwick playing for the filth. This from an outsiders view leaves the Essendon defence looking a lot less formidable than in previous years, as players such as Arron Henneman are yet to look truly comfortable in the roles given to them by the great man Sheeds.
I don’t think the loss of Solomon can be underestimated. One of the best defenders in the comp in my view, who is super tough and provides tremendous run from the half back line. Crows fans are certainly happy not to have to face him again this week, but we wish him well in his recovery, as if he ever wants a change of scenery he will be more than welcome at football park.
Crows fans will also be quite relieved, one of SA’s favourite sons, Sean Wellman is not playing, as we will be reminded that Jars has retired yet Wellman continues to dominate. Still think we will take the back to back flags though. In my view therefore, this one is evidence of a trade that really worked out to be a win -win situation.
I think the other big determinant of the game will be Matthew Lloyd. The Crows have always struggled to find a player to match up on him as he is either too tall or too quick (or both) for many of his opponents.
Ben Hart has been used in the past but has really struggled for the height, and Lloyd is probably the only player to have regularly beaten Hart in the last five years.
The Crows regular full back Nathan Basset is probably the most honest and hard working player in the club with the exception of Mark Bickley. He never gives in, always gives 100% and is upset with himself when an opponent gets the ball – a quality most fans love to see. Having said all of that, whilst he can hold his own with Lloyd in the one on one contests, he is going to really struggle to contain him on the lead. If the ball comes out of the midfield cleanly, I can’t see Basset being able to hold him back.
Given that Ben Hart hasn’t worked in the past, I think the wildcard would be Nigel Smart. He seems to have this amazing ability to scrag and hold players and get away with it!! He can also play tall and again the only problem will be the pace of Lloyd, however with Nigel’s immense football brain (he is actually also still quite quick) he could be able to hold his own. Worth a try in my view, which would free up Bassett to look after Barnard or the like.
Other than Lloyd there is no player in the Essendon line up that the Crows can’t match up on - on a good day. I hear the Bomber fans scream “What about James Hird, what about James Hird”. Well, young Jimmy boy who was in fine form again last week can be matched up quite well in my view by one of two players – Simon Goodwin or Tyson Stenglein ( a vastly underrated player who is improving by the week). The fact that Rioli is not playing will free up Stenglein who may get the role so that Goodwin can get a free rein in the midfield. Either way I think the Crows have a strong chance of making Hirds’ influence less than what it usually is. Anything less than 25 possessions is a win for us!
I think the midfields of both clubs are very strong and that throughout the night both clubs will get plenty of quality ball in the middle, and I find it hard to split the two teams in this area. For the Crows, McLeod and Goodwin have been quiet for the past two weeks and so if they can really fire, we will be a big chance, especially with Johnson (Kane) Bickley, Edwards, and Bode all in really fine form. Add the presence of the skipper, back after an ankle injury into the mix and we could see the Crows explode this week!!! Johnson, Blumfield, Peverill, Ramanauskas et al will certainly have their work cut out.
I think in previous seasons, Essendon’s ability to go very hard at the ball for four quarters has got them over the line against the Crows who have not been able to maintain the intensity for four quarters. So far this season the Crows attack on the ball has been magnificent with the ever-green Mark Bickley leading from the front as always.
If the Crows can maintain the appropriate intensity, the battle will be half won. A lot of our younger players now have an extra years experience and should be able to improve on last years effort at least.
The Crows may have an advantage in the ruck with Biglands and Clarke seemingly having the edge on a youngster in Hillie and a player who has to be underdone in Alessio.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more chance I give the Crows, however given our lamentable record in Melbourne against Essendon, the fact the Dons will be fired up after lasts weeks loss, and the quality of the Essendon side from top to bottom – I think Essendon will start as slight favourites.
However, if Lloyd was to be held to 4 goals or less, I think the Crows can win it.
Should be an absolute corker.
(Crows are $3.35 for the win which is pretty good odds at the TAB).
- by Jars 458
CROWS FACE ESSENDON HOODO
Well, its that time of the year for Crows supporters once again, the annual trip to play Essendon in Melbourne which has only ever resulted in one result – a bad loss.
Most of these bad losses, have been large defeats, stretching back to the first ever encounter at Windy Hill where Sheeds tied down the wind socks and the players got into the changing rooms to find the gear from the reserves game all over the rooms (throwing all the gear in the corner resolved this problem).
The Crows were accordingly belted which started a run which remains unbroken to this day, with the 1993 Preliminary final being the most heartbreaking loss of all (free kick count of 42-16 in an 11 point game being a sore point for us winging crows fans).
The Crows even lost the round 22 game in 1997 by four points when Essendon were not in great form and the crows were on the way to Premiership glory. I guess any team with Brett Chalmers in it, stands a fair chance of losing.
This sequence must stop eventually. Mothers day 2000, with Essendon in the middle of the best purple patch in their history, saw the Crows come reasonably close to winning (being up by as many as 20 points in the third quarter) before Michael Long decided to beat the Crows on his own (again) with a five goal quarter, and the final result blew out to 49 points.
A similar thing occurred last year except the Crows couldn’t stick for quite as long and Essendon again ran out easy winners.
The match being played at Colonial is a big positive for the Crows in as much as our record there is very good and the conditions are similar to our home at Footy Park, except of course for the roof!!
Whether it’s a good time to get Essendon after they were belted by the Lions (sweet) is a moot point. It will either damage the Bombers’ confidence or give them a resolve to bounce back. Personally, I think the later as this team has been supreme over a three year period and a loss would mean Essendon are two and two and back with the rest of the pack.
Match ups of course will be the key determinant and this game always throws up some interesting ones. In my view, the Crows forward line will be the key. Adelaide always gets plenty of ball in the midfield both out of the centre and at stoppages, however it is how efficient we are within our forward 50 that will count.
Adelaide were second to Brisbane in inside 50’s last season but failed to convert, either due to no forwards being able to take a mark or atrocious kicking in front of goal.
The Crows seem to have turned this around so far this season with returns of 16, 16 and 17 goals, with accuracy on the improve. Big Ryan Fitzgerald, a man mountain at 201 cm, is starting to show why he was rated so highly as a junior before being stuck down by a terrible run of injuries including a shoulder, a hernia and a knee reconstruction. The Crows will be hoping his bad luck is over and he can continue to be a force for the remainder of the season. His impressive start will probably gain him the dubious honour of being picked up by Dustin Fletcher, who is one of the modern era’s truly great defenders. I can’t see Fitzy being given much latitude here, and he is probably in for a very tough day.
But here’s where Adelaide’s new multi-dimensional forward line steps in, with Welsh, Bienke, Schell, Mark Stevens and Burton all capable of kicking goals and causing problems. Throw in McLeod, Goodwin, Ricciuto and Edwards changing at half forward and there is plenty of goal kicking potential.
A small window of opportunity here with Sean Wellman to miss the game, and the nuggety and tough Dean Solomon out for the season, and of course Damian Hardwick playing for the filth. This from an outsiders view leaves the Essendon defence looking a lot less formidable than in previous years, as players such as Arron Henneman are yet to look truly comfortable in the roles given to them by the great man Sheeds.
I don’t think the loss of Solomon can be underestimated. One of the best defenders in the comp in my view, who is super tough and provides tremendous run from the half back line. Crows fans are certainly happy not to have to face him again this week, but we wish him well in his recovery, as if he ever wants a change of scenery he will be more than welcome at football park.
Crows fans will also be quite relieved, one of SA’s favourite sons, Sean Wellman is not playing, as we will be reminded that Jars has retired yet Wellman continues to dominate. Still think we will take the back to back flags though. In my view therefore, this one is evidence of a trade that really worked out to be a win -win situation.
I think the other big determinant of the game will be Matthew Lloyd. The Crows have always struggled to find a player to match up on him as he is either too tall or too quick (or both) for many of his opponents.
Ben Hart has been used in the past but has really struggled for the height, and Lloyd is probably the only player to have regularly beaten Hart in the last five years.
The Crows regular full back Nathan Basset is probably the most honest and hard working player in the club with the exception of Mark Bickley. He never gives in, always gives 100% and is upset with himself when an opponent gets the ball – a quality most fans love to see. Having said all of that, whilst he can hold his own with Lloyd in the one on one contests, he is going to really struggle to contain him on the lead. If the ball comes out of the midfield cleanly, I can’t see Basset being able to hold him back.
Given that Ben Hart hasn’t worked in the past, I think the wildcard would be Nigel Smart. He seems to have this amazing ability to scrag and hold players and get away with it!! He can also play tall and again the only problem will be the pace of Lloyd, however with Nigel’s immense football brain (he is actually also still quite quick) he could be able to hold his own. Worth a try in my view, which would free up Bassett to look after Barnard or the like.
Other than Lloyd there is no player in the Essendon line up that the Crows can’t match up on - on a good day. I hear the Bomber fans scream “What about James Hird, what about James Hird”. Well, young Jimmy boy who was in fine form again last week can be matched up quite well in my view by one of two players – Simon Goodwin or Tyson Stenglein ( a vastly underrated player who is improving by the week). The fact that Rioli is not playing will free up Stenglein who may get the role so that Goodwin can get a free rein in the midfield. Either way I think the Crows have a strong chance of making Hirds’ influence less than what it usually is. Anything less than 25 possessions is a win for us!
I think the midfields of both clubs are very strong and that throughout the night both clubs will get plenty of quality ball in the middle, and I find it hard to split the two teams in this area. For the Crows, McLeod and Goodwin have been quiet for the past two weeks and so if they can really fire, we will be a big chance, especially with Johnson (Kane) Bickley, Edwards, and Bode all in really fine form. Add the presence of the skipper, back after an ankle injury into the mix and we could see the Crows explode this week!!! Johnson, Blumfield, Peverill, Ramanauskas et al will certainly have their work cut out.
I think in previous seasons, Essendon’s ability to go very hard at the ball for four quarters has got them over the line against the Crows who have not been able to maintain the intensity for four quarters. So far this season the Crows attack on the ball has been magnificent with the ever-green Mark Bickley leading from the front as always.
If the Crows can maintain the appropriate intensity, the battle will be half won. A lot of our younger players now have an extra years experience and should be able to improve on last years effort at least.
The Crows may have an advantage in the ruck with Biglands and Clarke seemingly having the edge on a youngster in Hillie and a player who has to be underdone in Alessio.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more chance I give the Crows, however given our lamentable record in Melbourne against Essendon, the fact the Dons will be fired up after lasts weeks loss, and the quality of the Essendon side from top to bottom – I think Essendon will start as slight favourites.
However, if Lloyd was to be held to 4 goals or less, I think the Crows can win it.
Should be an absolute corker.
(Crows are $3.35 for the win which is pretty good odds at the TAB).
- by Jars 458
I only tipped us by 3!
and the day after is the oppostions turn to have all the fun. Also if we ran them at the same time there will be nothing new updated for the people who visit the site the next day. Unless one of the players decided to 'wayne careyed' a team mate.
