I do think their top 8-10 players on paper are up there with most teams in the league and importantly for them they are young enough to still have development in them. Dangerfield, Sloane, B Crouch, Talia, Walker, Jacobs, Kerridge, Lynch, Douglas, Laird is a good core group for them going forward in the next 3-4 years. They've done a great job in making sure that almost every key sports commentator in this state is a Crows ambassador which means they get pretty well nothing but positive press to keep the morons happy, but as we know it has a double edged sword effect. They get talked up that much by all and sundry in the media that completely average or shithouse players get no objective criticism of their game. "Our Sando" will continue to be talked up as a top 4 coach in the league despite not having a clue in the coaches box. How guys like Brodie Martin still get a game, or is even on their list is ludicrous. Was nice to see Eddie the Tampon go back in his box again. We'll see him pull another big game out in 3 weeks time. Josh Jenkins the SuperSpud couldn't get a kick. You'd think given Eddie's price tag there'd be some heavy criticism that he's only managed to kick multiple goals in 5 of 11 games this year - especially given the ridiculous media he got after kicking 5 goals against a bunch of 18 year olds at Richmond Oval. But nope, nothing. Matty White on half the pay has out played him this year. Says it all.
On a different note, North are starting to look alright. They've got a ridiculously easy run home. Only play 2 games against top 9 sides for the rest of the year. Double up games against Melbourne & the Crows. Saints, Dogs, GWS, Brisbane. They'll easy push top 4. Whether its another false dawn and we'll see them get spanked in the finals again we'll have to wait and see but they've taken some good scalps already this year.
As for Richmond. Wow. They couldn't even get a kick in that 3rd quarter. Poor old Chappy. Gifted them 4 consecutive goals with horrid defending.