Questions:

[crow87]

This thread is dedicated to some of the hard questions that need to be asked at the end of every season, right now obviously people are pretty emotional and may be prone to over-stating things, perhaps saying something you dont really mean. Have a crack at some of these anyway and feel free to add your own, perhaps answer now then in a couple of days when you've cooled down a bit. For the record some of the following I agree with and some I dont. Please add your own if you have something on your mind.

1. Craig a premiership coach?: Some would argue no, although it is obvious that our minor round position over the past 3 years would not have been as high, could a different coach have done better come finals time? Say an impact coach like a Blight or who-over you like, obviously he wouldnt switch come finals but we're talking hypotheticals here.

2. Our forward line:
What happens next year? Hopefully Kenny stays, Sarge looks to be heading for the scrap heap and Hentschell will take some time. I think we will field our best fwdline in some years in 2008-though not outstanding, simply the best we have fielded. Sellar to come in? What happens to Bode? Plenty of question marks here.

3. Scott Thompson:
Right, so he had alot of stats today, and without him we probably wouldnt have been in the game, yes he did play well but what was that kick? Some would argue thats the second final he's cost us (getting opinionated I do blame him for the St Kilda qualifying loss). Would you look to trade him? You would get a decent player, what about a straight out trade for a Mitchell or Hodge type player (obviously these two are staying put but again im talking hypothetical) or equivalent standard.

I have a few more but will leave it at that for now.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

1. I do think Craig is a premiership coach and hope he stays long term. Unlike others though, I feel that it is his preparation and planning that needs some tweaking. They obviously are reluctant to make moves in the coaches box because of the 'ripple effect' any move causes to your other match ups, rotations, interchanges etc. They see more negatives than positives about making a swift, knee-jerk move.

However, there must be some contingency plans in place and, as Rodney Eade has described, you must go through these potential different scenarios with your players during the week so they are prepared for any changes you do make on game day.

I also think that NC and the club needs to lighten up a bit. It seems a very serious, measured, calculated environment. Even though football is a multi-million dollar industry there still has to be some emphasis placed on the sheer love and boyhood thrill of playing the game. It doesn't look like a fun club to play for at times.

2. Our forward line struggles and has since 2000. For eight seasons now we have been a team that wins plenty of the footy but struggles to put the score on the board. There is no substitute for quality (Jarman, Modra) and it is hard to see a way out. No club in their right mind will trade away quality forwards. And we do not get the early draft picks to bring a Franklin to the club. Hard to see a solution to be honest. Let's hope that Sellar and Tippett emerge as quality AFL players and that Hentschel is able to return to something resembling full fitness.

3. Our next captain. A very good season from him. Still some 'rough edges' for him to smooth over but will be the heart and soul of the club for the next 5-6 years.

 

[crow87]

Thanks Carl, heres another one y'all:
4. Finals are won in moments:
There are moments in which a final is won or lost, thats pretty close to gospel. Do we have too many players who, in those moments are not quite hard enough, not quite good enough, decision making goes downhill and fumble or make that mistake when it matters. I'm thinking the Stevens and (I know he didnt play today) the Doughtys. Will having a player like Nick Gill (who, let it be known that I think is so great that if Kenny leaves my Dream Team will be the Nick Gill FC Emus next year) hurt us in one of those moments next year? That goal that you just have to kick becomes a point... we've seen it with Perrie. Please, not saying lets get rid of Gill, hes a champ, just thoughts. My over-riding feeling from the past 3 years is that we just lack that little bit extra, that class, that finish or polish that is so rare and needed to win finals and Grand Finals and perhaps is only obtained with an early draft pick. Think Judd, Cousins, D. Jarman, J. Brown, Franklin, Ablett, ... these guys, you the ones I mean-Please dont bother pointing out who wasnt taken with an early draft pick, they're just examples ok?

 

[hugecannon]

A few of those players you mentioned were father-son selections for their teams, it would be nice to have father-son picks......Bryce Gibbs anyone?

 

[baaaallllll]

Question: with bugger all time left and less than a kick up why would you kick it out of bounds on the full? Why was there no one prepared to run to give him an easy option?

 

[bus24]

Question: with bugger all time left and less than a kick up why would you kick it out of bounds on the full?

I don't think he was trying to

Runner should have been out there, telling him to turn around and bang it through the sticks.

 

[Baron Winds]

Question: With 17 players in the hawks backline and obviously only 1-2 targets, how did franklin manage to take an uncontested mark?!

 

[smoovy]

I also think that NC and the club needs to lighten up a bit. It seems a very serious, measured, calculated environment. Even though football is a multi-million dollar industry there still has to be some emphasis placed on the sheer love and boyhood thrill of playing the game. It doesn't look like a fun club to play for at times.

Give me some flair FFS!

I would give $100 to charity just to see a checkside shot at goal.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Question: with bugger all time left and less than a kick up why would you kick it out of bounds on the full? Why was there no one prepared to run to give him an easy option?

Question: Do you honestly believe he did it on purpose?

 

[baaaallllll]

Question: Do you honestly believe he did it on purpose?

No I don't but cleary I am pretty annoyed by it.

 

[crowman_23]

Question: Do you honestly believe he did it on purpose?

Doesn't matter. He is a quality player but making mistakes like that at a time like that has cost us a final. It was pathetic and is not at AFL level.

 

[*PAF]

Yeah I have a question regarding something I have seen a number of times over the years.
Did the Crows alter their gameplan entering the finals? ie from highly defensive to a more attacking style.
IMO they did and it is something that I have never seen (or heard) do anything but backfire.
Having said that, the steely resolve of your players this year is something to be proud of.

 

[crowman_23]

Yeah I have a question regarding something I have seen a number of times over the years.
Did the Crows alter their gameplan entering the finals? ie from highly defensive to a more attacking style.
IMO they did and it is something that I have never seen (or heard) do anything but backfire.
Having said that, the steely resolve of your players this year is something to be proud of.

We did look to be a fair bit more attackive today. It was a worry from the outset, because I never thought we could have beat them in a shoot-out and we were probably lucky to get as close as we did.

 

[macca23]

I don't think he was trying to

Runner should have been out there, telling him to turn around and bang it through the sticks.

That's exactly what he should have done. When the ump called play on he should have turned and sprinted towards the Hawthorn goal and kicked a point.

All that would have been left for the win would have been a kick-off to position and the rest would have been history.

Last night I watched Port- a comparatively young team in exactly the same position we were in - run down the clock for close to a minute and half or so and win the game.

Today I watched my team lose another close game - but this time a final - due to an inability to do what competent teams can do.

I'm totally pissed off with the result because of

- a lack of commonsense which cost the game.

- a fall of in intensity after reaching a 31 point lead.

- very average skills by some players that at times were below AFL standards.

- selecting injured players - particularly the skipper - who could barely walk let alone run on both Wednesday and Thursday, requiring his knee to be drained and cortizone injections on both days.

- and the big one. Another final lost by an abhorrent lack of match day coaching nous. To leave Massie on Franklin all day when there was both Bock and stevens available stunk and was moronic.

- the pig-headedness and arrogance of Craig to say in his press conference that he was happy with Massie's performance on Franklin.


Congratulations to Neil Craig on burning at least 3 finals now with his stubborn-ness and pig-headed stupidity in not making moves which could have saved all 3 of these games.

Neil cannot be faulted in most areas of his coaching but the club MUST appoint a match day strategic advisor to help the 3 merry clowns in the box on match day.

I'm calm now, but thoroughly pissed off for the above reasons.

That won't change.

 

[macca23]

Yeah I have a question regarding something I have seen a number of times over the years.
Did the Crows alter their gameplan entering the finals? ie from highly defensive to a more attacking style.
IMO they did and it is something that I have never seen (or heard) do anything but backfire.
Having said that, the steely resolve of your players this year is something to be proud of.

Exacly Jim, exacly.

Sheer stupidity and as you say it never works.

I'll PM you in the next day or so to arrange that slab of Coopers I now owe you.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

1. I do think Craig is a premiership coach and hope he stays long term. Unlike others though, I feel that it is his preparation and planning that needs some tweaking. They obviously are reluctant to make moves in the coaches box because of the 'ripple effect' any move causes to your other match ups, rotations, interchanges etc. They see more negatives than positives about making a swift, knee-jerk move.

However, there must be some contingency plans in place and, as Rodney Eade has described, you must go through these potential different scenarios with your players during the week so they are prepared for any changes you do make on game day.

I also think that NC and the club needs to lighten up a bit. It seems a very serious, measured, calculated environment. Even though football is a multi-million dollar industry there still has to be some emphasis placed on the sheer love and boyhood thrill of playing the game. It doesn't look like a fun club to play for at times.

Correct. Specific to the game, it appeared Stevens wasn't doing a great deal, nor was his opponent. How hard would it have been to simply swap the two over?? Even this morning i am angry. You don't mind losing if you have done your best but yesterday clearly wasn't the best we should expect, starting from the senior coach His major downfall is absolute inability to believe he may have got something wrong and actually change. Not all changes can be made after a thorough match analysis on monday, because there is now no game next week.

Also cannot believe Rutten in the best players in the paper Was killed. He needs to do a heap of work on his take off speed...too slow against a quick-leading player. Much comment has been made regarding the need for smaller, quicker, rebounding defenders. While there will be a need for one gorilla back there, he has gotta get quicker, lose 5kg, especially from those tree trunks, do some sprint training and come back a better player.

Now another untouchable who is a great player but must improve himself...McLeod. It is often said of a certain fringe player that he 'has great skills, is very attacking, plenty of flair but is soft as butter, doesn't go near physical contents. We don't mind receivers but when the ball and the contest is there to be won you gotta get in and do it for the team'. Now, i understand McLeod's role BUT every now and then you gotta put yourself on the line and win the hard ball, take the hit. McLeod was never a physical player but neither was he soft...unfortunately he has taken this 'quarterback receiver' role too far and now appears to be equally as soft as any other player on our list. I don't want to believe he is scared of putting his body on the line, i hope he is just taking his role too far, because next year i don't want to see namby-pamby taps in front when the pressure is coming when he should take the ball and the hit.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

That's exactly what he should have done. When the ump called play on he should have turned and sprinted towards the Hawthorn goal and kicked a point.

All that would have been left for the win would have been a kick-off to position and the rest would have been history.

Last night I watched Port- a comparatively young team in exactly the same position we were in - run down the clock for close to a minute and half or so and win the game.

Today I watched my team lose another close game - but this time a final - due to an inability to do what competent teams can do.

I'm totally pissed off with the result because of

- a lack of commonsense which cost the game.

- a fall of in intensity after reaching a 31 point lead.

- very average skills by some players that at times were below AFL standards.

- selecting injured players - particularly the skipper - who could barely walk let alone run on both Wednesday and Thursday, requiring his knee to be drained and cortizone injections on both days.

- and the big one. Another final lost by an abhorrent lack of match day coaching nous. To leave Massie on Franklin all day when there was both Bock and stevens available stunk and was moronic.

- the pig-headedness and arrogance of Craig to say in his press conference that he was happy with Massie's performance on Franklin.


Congratulations to Neil Craig on burning at least 3 finals now with his stubborn-ness and pig-headed stupidity in not making moves which could have saved all 3 of these games.

Neil cannot be faulted in most areas of his coaching but the club MUST appoint a match day strategic advisor to help the 3 merry clowns in the box on match day.

I'm calm now, but thoroughly pissed off for the above reasons.

That won't change.

It's hard to argue with any of this. Spot on.

 

[crow87]

Anyone any more keen to answer questions 1 through 4 now that the 24 hour rule has come into play-its the opposite now because the season is over

 

[crowman_23]

That's exactly what he should have done. When the ump called play on he should have turned and sprinted towards the Hawthorn goal and kicked a point.

All that would have been left for the win would have been a kick-off to position and the rest would have been history.

Last night I watched Port- a comparatively young team in exactly the same position we were in - run down the clock for close to a minute and half or so and win the game.

Today I watched my team lose another close game - but this time a final - due to an inability to do what competent teams can do.

I'm totally pissed off with the result because of

- a lack of commonsense which cost the game.

- a fall of in intensity after reaching a 31 point lead.

- very average skills by some players that at times were below AFL standards.

- selecting injured players - particularly the skipper - who could barely walk let alone run on both Wednesday and Thursday, requiring his knee to be drained and cortizone injections on both days.

- and the big one. Another final lost by an abhorrent lack of match day coaching nous. To leave Massie on Franklin all day when there was both Bock and stevens available stunk and was moronic.

- the pig-headedness and arrogance of Craig to say in his press conference that he was happy with Massie's performance on Franklin.


Congratulations to Neil Craig on burning at least 3 finals now with his stubborn-ness and pig-headed stupidity in not making moves which could have saved all 3 of these games.

Neil cannot be faulted in most areas of his coaching but the club MUST appoint a match day strategic advisor to help the 3 merry clowns in the box on match day.

I'm calm now, but thoroughly pissed off for the above reasons.

That won't change.

I like this post a lot. Could not agree more. I will be very pissed off about this loss for a very long time.

 

[Crowman32]

I couldnt believe Rutten was rated highly yesterday in the sunday mail either. I thought he was given an absoulute bath and showed up for a lack of pace. Ruttens had a good year but yesterday he was terrible. Roughead kicked a few goals plus a few points not to mention a couple of dropped marks in the forward line.

 

[Geoffa32]

That's exactly what he should have done. When the ump called play on he should have turned and sprinted towards the Hawthorn goal and kicked a point.

All that would have been left for the win would have been a kick-off to position and the rest would have been history.

Last night I watched Port- a comparatively young team in exactly the same position we were in - run down the clock for close to a minute and half or so and win the game.

Today I watched my team lose another close game - but this time a final - due to an inability to do what competent teams can do.

I'm totally pissed off with the result because of

- a lack of commonsense which cost the game.

- a fall of in intensity after reaching a 31 point lead.

- very average skills by some players that at times were below AFL standards.

- selecting injured players - particularly the skipper - who could barely walk let alone run on both Wednesday and Thursday, requiring his knee to be drained and cortizone injections on both days.

- and the big one. Another final lost by an abhorrent lack of match day coaching nous. To leave Massie on Franklin all day when there was both Bock and stevens available stunk and was moronic.

- the pig-headedness and arrogance of Craig to say in his press conference that he was happy with Massie's performance on Franklin.


Congratulations to Neil Craig on burning at least 3 finals now with his stubborn-ness and pig-headed stupidity in not making moves which could have saved all 3 of these games.

Neil cannot be faulted in most areas of his coaching but the club MUST appoint a match day strategic advisor to help the 3 merry clowns in the box on match day.

I'm calm now, but thoroughly pissed off for the above reasons.

That won't change.

Covers my thoughts....