Official Round 8 Changes

[-VC-]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171555&highlight=bock

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170741&highlight=bock

I draw your attention to these two threads, in particular the dates of them.
For the record, I don't think Stevens has it and I don't expect him to surprise us the way Bock did last year but I think he should be given the chance.
I'm not unhappy that Stevens is in because I actually have a weird feeling about this. Like I said, I don't expect anything but it's way too similar to this time last year.
Also, who good was johnnypanther's call on Page 2 of the Please No Bock thread?! Absolute visionary.

 

[FCAGJAT]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171555&highlight=bock

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170741&highlight=bock

I draw your attention to these two threads, in particular the dates of them.
For the record, I don't think Stevens has it and I don't expect him to surprise us the way Bock did last year but I think he should be given the chance.
I'm not unhappy that Stevens is in because I actually have a weird feeling about this. Like I said, I don't expect anything but it's way too similar to this time last year.
Also, who good was johnnypanther's call on Page 2 of the Please No Bock thread?! Absolute visionary.

Would be interesting. I really hope Stevens can prove something out of this game but I think the challenge for him would be maintaining that consistency of good form if he does play well against Richmond on Saturday. I won't be jumping on this guy's bandwagon anytime soon. He'll need to prove himself over the next few weeks to get my vote of confidence. I trust Craig has his own reasons for this particular selection and I'm not entirely worked up about it. I think Craig knows that kids like Porps, Knights Maric etc can play. Stevens just needs to show Craig what he's capable of!

 

[Vader]

Like most (if not all) on this board, I don't agree with the decision to retain Stevens at the cost of Porplyzia.

The decision can't be based on form (Stevens has none at AFL level, Porps form is good). It is unlikely to be based on potential match-ups.

So, what is the reason for it?

The only thing I can think of is that Craig views Stevens as a likely delisting at the end of the season. However, before he makes the final decision he wants to see what Stevens is capable of. That means giving Stevens several games to show his wares. Few players play their best when coming in for one game now and then. Most play their best when they are part of the team for a prolonged period, this allows them to settle into a position and gaining a better understanding of their role within the team.

That's my guess anyway.

 

[Jars458]

We've got Bassett, what's the useless ragdoll still doing in the team?

I'm genuinely angry about this one. Stevens did NOTHING, whereas Porplyzia was excellent in every aspect. Sends a really bad message to the youngsters that a fringe player like Stevens can retain his spot after a rubbish performance.

That was a poor one, Neil.

Are you seriously questioning Neil Craig??? Even now?

We have no idea what's happening in the inner workings of the club.

In Neil we trust

In any case, if we can afford to develop Stevens as a key position player whilst still winning we are doing well. I think he can play a role for us in defence and he needs a few games to get the pace of the game, and what better time than now

Knights and Porplyzia unlucky for sure but they have a great attitude will go back and play well on each other in the SANFL and get another chance sooon.

Not a bad decision in my mind

 

[Jars458]

Biglands as a key forward and bringing Maric in to share the ruck duties. Biggles is now capable of kicking a coupleevery game and also hurts the oppositions backman, literally.

Biglands is only an Emergency key forward as he is too unco and his kicking is too erratic.

 

[marvin]

There's a fair bit of irony having one thread on this board bagging another club for burning out it's juniors, and this thread bagging our club for not burning out it's juniors.

Porps did nothing wrong last week, but if he missed training on Wednesday, there's got to be some doubt over him. He's better off having a lower intensity match on a softer surface than Telstra Dome.

As for Stevens' continuing presence, the one thing we know about Nathan Bassett after all these years is that he's a brilliant 3rd tall / 3rd man in on the spoil but struggles as a KPP. Stevens is needed at least until Welsh comes back fit, in which case one of McGregor or Hentschel can go back if needed.

 

[Gets!]

Maybe with Bassett back, Craigy wants Stevens to have a go up forward.

 

[-VC-]

Another theory is that they re-laid turf in the forward pocket at TD on Wednesday. That can be Scott Stevens' pocket...all other Crows stay away because the turf may not have settled yet.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Understanding the Tigers
4:15:17 PM Fri 19 May, 2006
Alan Shiell
Sportal for afl.com.au

Neil Craig says Adelaide has a 'real understanding of Richmond's mentality' for their duel at Telstra Dome on Saturday.

The Crows are steeling themselves for a full-bore assault from the Tigers, knowing Terry Wallace's men will be anxious to try to make amends for the 118-point flogging (28.12 to 9.8) they received from Sydney at Telstra Dome last Saturday.

Adelaide copped a 141-point hiding (29.15 to 6.12) from the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 17 of 2004 - only Craig's fourth game as the Crows' senior coach - but rebounded to beat the Kangaroos by seven points at AAMI Stadium the following week, after the Roos had won four of their previous five matches.

Reminded of this after training on Friday, Craig said: "They (the Tigers) have been in similar shoes - not quite as good as us. We were 140-something points. They were only 118. It doesn't sound much but it's a big difference, I tell you.

"It's amazing how it turns around. It's an experience very few clubs have been through. This one has. Our playing group has - I was a part of that.

"So you have a real understanding of Richmond's mentality. It makes it pretty clear. There won't be any guessing games about what their mentality will be because we've been through it ourselves. Having said that, they've won three out of four, even though they got beaten badly last week.

"But, quite clearly, we're just concerned about the way we approach the game and how we play it. All it settles down to be is that Richmond is going to be a really strong and good opponent, plus for us it's another chance to travel and to perform. So the way it's unfolded, it's a perfect game for us.

"We'll just go out and play our game, which has got a very strong defensive component to it, but we also like to think we can attack when it's appropriate. Whatever the opposition puts up against us will be good experience for us to handle, whether it be flooding or man-on-man tactics or total attack. All those experiences we need."

Asked how much more improvement he saw in his top-of-the-ladder team, Craig said: "Internally, we think we've got huge amounts of improvement - on our teamwork, on our transition from midfield to forward, some of the work we're doing in the back line needs to be practised and exposed by the opposition. That's just on strategy and the way we like to play.

"Then, of course, improvement from individuals. It's been great for us we've played quite a few first and second-year players this year, and we'll get an opportunity to do that again. So they'll only improve.

"We've got Mark Ricciuto playing full-forward. I think once he gets more comfortable up there, and Brett Burton gets more comfortable … and we can improve when a Nathan Bock, a (Jason) Torney, a (Scott) Welsh, (Ben) Hudson-type players become available. So there's enormous improvement in us and we look forward to it.

"But you can ask any club that and they would give you similar reasons why they can improve, and that's good. It makes you want to get up in the morning.

"There'll be things bob up that we don't even know about, whether it be injury or, hopefully not, a bad loss or anything. But that's all part of growing and being able to set yourself to be able to handle any situation, whether it be good or whether it be some adversity."

Craig said the Crows' main area of improvement needed to be in the 'transition from midfield to forward', and he added: "We've had some good stuff, we've had some wasteful stuff, and we just need to keep working on it because if we don't, it'll get us."

Asked how he 'kept a lid on success', he said: "Internally, it's got to be really clear about where we're going and where we sit, how much improvement we've got, to have respect for the opposition, keep looking for ways to do it better.

"We are dealing with a competition where everything is geared around equality on the field, if possible. Every club has highly motivated people and when you've got highly motivated people … every game is a difficult game, it really is. It's not like the old days when I played (in the SANFL) when there were some easy games. In this competition, there's not, so that keeps you pretty balanced."

Nathan Bassett (neck) and Matthew Bode (head and back knocks) got through training on Friday and will resume after missing the win against the Kangaroos at Telstra Dome last Sunday.

Jason Porplyzia (knee soreness), named as an emergency, dropped out of the squad and will not play for West Adelaide in the SANFL on Saturday.

Chris Knights will go to Melbourne as the Crows' 23rd player.

Well there's always a reason