Preview R1: Changes for 2025

[WetCrow1991]

Depends. Does the AA team require an unaccountable stat-padding, high kicking defender that throws younger teammates under the bus in the media?

Hey, you are being really unfair to Laird here, he also throws younger teammates under the bus on the field too!

 

[Kenny Dee]

Jusy had a quick go at the rd 1 side...







Rachele Thillthorpe Tex



Keays Fogarty ANB



Soligo Dawson Cumming



Hinge Murray Nank



Max Keane Worrell







ROB Peatling Rankine







Crouch Draper Curtain Bond



Sub from Dowling Berry Pedlar Harry

 

[Mutineer]

Luckily for us we have 23 spots to fill and our reigning best and fairest winner is deserving of one of those spots.

Its not a question of Rachele or Keays they are both automatic selections and rightly so.

Just cannot fathom how anyone can still shit on Ben Keays after his 2024 season.

Really strange isn't it, Ben's been a big win for the recruiting team both on field and off field as well with his elite training standards etc.

 

[1970crow]

Really strange isn't it, Ben's been a big win for the recruiting team both on field and off field as well with his elite training standards etc.

How has his training standards improved us? We finished 15th last year. He had a great year and has been a quality pick up for us. But I have to laugh at the continual reference to intangibles in support of players. Murphy and his elite shape keeping and leadership, now dumped from the best 22, so how important was it really? If they're not performing on game day, they have no value to the 22. Keays does, so he does. His training efforts are meaningless, it changes nothing.

 

[crows dude]

Jusy had a quick go at the rd 1 side...







Rachele Thillthorpe Tex



Keays Fogarty ANB



Soligo Dawson Cumming



Hinge Murray Nank



Max Keane Worrell







ROB Peatling Rankine







Crouch Draper Curtain Bond



Sub from Dowling Berry Pedlar Harry

26 players before Laird?
Not happening. Laird will play

 

[Mutineer]

How has his training standards improved us? We finished 15th last year. He had a great year and has been a quality pick up for us. But I have to laugh at the continual reference to intangibles in support of players. Murphy and his elite shape keeping and leadership, now dumped from the best 22, so how important was it really? If they're not performing on game day, they have no value to the 22. Keays does, so he does. His training efforts are meaningless, it changes nothing.

It's been mentioned numerous times by the coaches and players that he's brought elite training standards to the group.

If you think that doesn't influence other players and especially new draftees then many would disagree with your take.

 

[1970crow]

It's been mentioned numerous times by the coaches and players that he's brought elite training standards to the group.

If you think that doesn't influence other players and especially new draftees then many would disagree with your take.

Ok, and what's the outcome of those 'elite training standards'? There's not a single player that was going to half arse it that looks at your 'elite training standards' player and then says, 'you know what, I might actually train as hard as the fitness coaches tell me that I need to'. And if players aren't self motivated in that manner, then selection and list management committees should be weeding them out.

What's your view on the need Murphy's leadership and shape keeping this year? Apparently couldn't do without him last year and you were lock step with the 'brains trust' in that regard.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

So important that we’ve added more players with speed. You can see what a difference it makes in todays game

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

So important that we’ve added more players with speed. You can see what a difference it makes in todays game

& skill too.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

lets not select our vc and b and f winner for round 1 haha

never change adelaide board

 

[Mutineer]

lets not select our vc and b and f winner for round 1 haha

never change adelaide board

Have to make allowances for the Clam man, he's been proven time and time again that his original call on Keays was bad and his doubling down on numerous occasions ever since just makes him look absolutely clueless. Thankfully he doesn't speak for the rest of us re Keays and what he's brought to the AFC both on and off field.

 

[kirky]

Do you think that I should provide a list of the posters who were wrong about Tex and Matty (I think in Matt’s case that is everyone except Bicks, including myself).

My point was that sometimes posters are correct (Brodie Smith?) regarding a rapid decline around 30 years of age. In other cases players maintain an AFL standard for several more years (or another 9 years if your name is Boomer).

I think it is just as likely that Laird plays some good footy over the next couple of years as it is that he becomes a total liability this year. The most likely outcome is he will be O.K. but not great this year (according to independent judges).

P.S. Loving your work Bearded Crow. How do you reconcile your frequently stated opinion that Keays is not an AFL standard footballer with his yellow jacket last year?

If he is required to be accountable for his opponent then his career will finish early.

He was never accountable as a midfielder and when we went to 6-6-6 he struggled big time. In his AA seasons, he played like a loose man/interceptor in defence.

 

[kirky]

This is the very interesting part.

The first month will be extremely telling. He had an absolute nightmare end to 2024. Dropped from the midfield for the prior month, called out a youngster and was blasted for it. Then the week after that he had two very very bad efforts that were called out by the national media.

How pissed off is he that he has been booted from the midfield? Are we over reacting because he has resting bitch face and had a horror end to the season?

Not sure if it's been posted elsewhere, but interesting conversation - here. Fantasy related, but go to 24 minutes for a chat with Laird and he discusses a few different players and where he thinks they will play. Comparison to Zorko was interesting.

LISTEN: Midfield strategy, Crow on Adelaide's stacked engine room

The Traders chat through AFL Fantasy midfielders and speak to Rory Laird about the Crows

www.afl.com.au

Well for starters, Zorko can lace out the footy to opponent. That isn’t a skill Laird has at all.

 

[kirky]

So you weren't happy with his performance in the backline from 2016 - 2019?

But it is now 2025, time to move on, we have better options.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Well for starters, Zorko can lace out the footy to opponent. That isn’t a skill Laird has at al

Fixed
Zorko can lace out the footy to team mates. Larid has that skill down pat.

 

[Bob Neil]

Jusy had a quick go at the rd 1 side...







Rachele Thillthorpe Tex



Keays Fogarty ANB



Soligo Dawson Cumming



Hinge Murray Nank



Max Keane Worrell







ROB Peatling Rankine







Crouch Draper Curtain Bond



Sub from Dowling Berry Pedlar Harry

That team looks like it's good at creating space