Preview R16: Changes vs. Richmond Tigers (after the bye)

[Scorpus]

I haven’t updated my stats for a few weeks but we are competing for the number one spot for giving THE LEAST GAMES FOR 30+ YEAR OLD PLAYERS in the AFL.

As usual this is completely meaningless

We only have four 30 year olds on the list and in total they have played 6 SANFL games

Selecting the least number of 30 year olds is not evidence of us prioritizing kids. Right now we literally couldn't pick any more 30 year olds and we are playing 18 of our 20 most experienced available players - the others being Jones and Sholl. The only player in our 15 least experienced playing is Curtin

 

[1970crow]

I already clarified the first part and the vibe I'm getting is not so much "Jones is great", it's more "I guess I could live with this".

I would have thought it pretty hard to be outraged over Jones getting near the 23 when it’s a certainty that both Smith and Murphy will be in it.

 

[Gtowncrow]

Yeah the fixation the club have had for a long time with 'continuity' is incredibly frustrating. They don't appear to understand the need to rotate a squad over a long season and it's caused list issues for us in the past.

Like you can avoid doing massive rebuilds, if you are constantly moving players in and out of the team, as you get a better picture of the squad as a whole.

Yeah...
We should probably delist Bond, Edwards, Draper, Dowling et al.

If they're not getting a game before Murph, they're obviously have no hope of making it. Selecting Murphy and Smith in this game is utter cowardice by the coach and sets an appalling example to the very players who he should be mentoring and inspiring. His lowest ebb.

Balme and Davis should be forced to explain the rationale of this weekends selection. Why did we even get them into the club for? Nothings changed! Nothing.

Sack Nicks. Delist Murphy and Smith at season's end and start acting like a premiership club.

 

[Scorpus]

The Pies regularly rotate players during the year as do the Cats as do the Hawks.... not just against bottom teams... though there is more opportunity to do so... like we could have this week, but unfortunately Nicks doesn't give a shit about developing depth, even against a bottom team.

Number of players currently playing from a team's least experienced 15

Adelaide - 1 (vs Richmond)
Brisbane - 3 (vs Geelong)
Collingwood - 4 (vs West Coast)
Geelong - 1 (vs Brisbane)
Western Bulldogs - 4 (vs Sydney)
Gold Coast - 2 (vs Melbourne)
Hawthorn - 3 (vs North Melbourne)
Fremantle - 5 (vs St Kilda)

Even if you extended it to the 20 least experienced players on our list we'd only have four playing

 

[Doctor B]

We are sitting in 4th, on %, on 9 wins, along with Dogs, Suns, Hawks, Freo & Giants

Players used and average age of teams over the last five rounds

30 - 26.3 Dogs
27 - 25.8 Crows
28 - 25.7 Suns
31 - 25.5 Hawks
31 - 25.1 Giants
28 - 24.6 Freo

 

[WetCrow1991]

So glad Murphy is in instead of Taylor or Draper /s.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Number of players currently playing from a team's least experienced 15

Adelaide - 1 (vs Richmond)
Brisbane - 3 (vs Geelong)
Collingwood - 4 (vs West Coast)
Geelong - 1 (vs Brisbane)
Western Bulldogs - 4 (vs Sydney)
Gold Coast - 2 (vs Melbourne)
Hawthorn - 3 (vs North Melbourne)
Fremantle - 5 (vs St Kilda)

Even if you extended it to the 20 least experienced players on our list we'd only have four playing

it is staggering how after a complete 2nd half fade out in Tasmania, Murphy doing a completely useless job as usual we have only one change. Good coaches find ways to get players into the team and get rid of out of form or sub par players. Nicks has never ever been able to do this and this alone should have been a red flag to his extension.

 

[jenny61_99]

I read it that he meant "stink average" at AFL level not SANFL. Sure Murphy does well at SANFL which is where he should be playing. His AFL performance though has not got any better and the fact Nicks sticks with him, and an aged Smith when we could be exposing guys like Edwards is really just true to form for Nicks and why I find it hard to take to him as a coach. That and his crappy post game interviews.

100%

But we need to make sure we aren’t just slamming the player unfairly when he HAS actually been performing at SANFL level, but that hasn’t translated to the AFL. Essentially he probably “earned” his call up, but in no way has he deserved to stay there.

 

[Doctor B]

100%

But we need to make sure we aren’t just slamming the player unfairly when he HAS actually been performing at SANFL level, but that hasn’t translated to the AFL. Essentially he probably “earned” his call up, but in no way has he deserved to stay there.

History in all types of sports shows players who, for whatever reason, can't take the next step from a lower grade to elite level.

Murphy is now our 9th most experienced AFL player. He played 32 games pre-Nicks, he's now played 117 games.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

100%

But we need to make sure we aren’t just slamming the player unfairly when he HAS actually been performing at SANFL level, but that hasn’t translated to the AFL. Essentially he probably “earned” his call up, but in no way has he deserved to stay there.

We had players who were in more form in the sanfl than Murphy when he was selected.

If only form was used as primary basis for changes...

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I would have thought it pretty hard to be outraged over Jones getting near the 23 when it’s a certainty that both Smith and Murphy will be in it.

I think this place would have reacted the same way as it did when those other two got selected.

 

[jenny61_99]

We had players who were in more form in the sanfl than Murphy when he was selected.

If only form was used as primary basis for changes...

Do they play the same position?

 

[Cromulant]

Do they play the same position?

Murphy was playing midfield in the SANFL, he didn't play midfield against Hawthorn.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Do they play the same position?

Taylor does!

Has already had more influential games than Murphy with limited experience.

Draper could easily offer as much as Murphy.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Murphy was playing midfield in the SANFL, he didn't play midfield against Hawthorn.

Goes to show there is no selection integrity.

 

[hugecannon]

My point was all the alternatives have performed in a similar average/below average output as a medium / small forward. Measurements of overall performance like champion data points have Murphy just in front.

Now my preference is to select the players with greater potential (Taylor, Pedlar, Dowling) but I was responding to a comment that it is inconceivable for Nicks to select Murphy over the other players.

The other change this season is an even greater reluctance to bring in someone and play them in a different position compared to their SANFL form (yes, I know Murphy is the exception). I believe that it is recognised that Zac Taylor is well down the pecking order as an inside midfielder, due to lack of fitness. He is playing as a high half forward in the Twos so he can move seamlessly into this role. Similar story with Pedlar. Nankervis and Dowling are likely to play on the wing in the AFL. Edwards, Bond and Ryan are back up medium/small defenders.

Once all of our Kids are selected in their / the coaches preferred positions then our SANFL use the experienced guys like Murphy and Smith plus the top ups to complete the team.

Once again, I am not endorsing what is happening but there is some logic to what they are doing. The previous system of playing say Dowling as an inside midfielder in the SANFL and then using him as a forward in the AFL didn’t work very well.

Just out of curiosity what position was Murphy playing at SANFL level this season???

Compared to the position he’s playing at AFL level?

 

[hugecannon]

Just out of curiosity what position was Murphy playing at SANFL level this season???

Compared to the position he’s playing at AFL level?

I’d also argue that Dowling comparison as he performed well when he got into the side and showed that he could develop into at least the solid role player the coaches seem to think Murphy is .

 

[Syd Crow]

100%

But we need to make sure we aren’t just slamming the player unfairly when he HAS actually been performing at SANFL level, but that hasn’t translated to the AFL. Essentially he probably “earned” his call up, but in no way has he deserved to stay there.

True you can earn your call up playing good footy in the SANFL (unless your Edwards), but if you keep performing very average (being kind) at AFL level every time you are called up, you really do have to question the sanity of the coach and his panel.

 

[Syd Crow]

Is that Brodie's nickname ?

Of course you meant Granny Smith as a current nickname! Pink Lady was his nickname in the juniors

 

[WetCrow1991]

Unlike many others on this site, I can accept that the coaches have access to more information than me. They also use different criteria when making selections. My bias is more towards give the Kids a go and perhaps we might be pleasantly surprised. Our coaches seem to focus on what is most likely to improve our chances of winning.

I am frustrated by posters who take every opportunity to disparage the club and I simply provide data which contradicts their opinion. Calling for Laird to be dropped every week is illogical. Independent assessment indicate he has had a very good season as a small/medium defender. Like all players he has strengths and weaknesses but there is zero evidence that he should be dropped.

Most of the recent complaints are based on the selection of a below average experienced player (Murphy, Smith) instead of a below average less experienced player (Taylor, Dowling). This is not unique to the AFC. I haven’t updated my stats for a few weeks but we are competing for the number one spot for giving THE LEAST GAMES FOR 30+ YEAR OLD PLAYERS in the AFL.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Finally a challenge for Kane and the usual suspects, can you make a post that disagrees with my opinions without feeling the need to attack me personally?

I aint reading all that.
I'm happy for you tho
Or sorry that happened.

 

[GreyCrow]

Most of the recent complaints are based on the selection of a below average experienced player (Murphy, Smith) instead of a below average less experienced player (Taylor, Dowling).

Below average senior players should be judged on output more harshly as their body of work indicates they had better days

There is also the counter argument that below average junior players stats are misleading due to the low number of game and data points

 

[adelaidecrows]

Murphy was playing midfield in the SANFL, he didn't play midfield against Hawthorn.

could also chalk up increased sanfl midfield possessions to afl fitness levels which as we know are far superior.

 

[FR0GGY]

coaches seem to focus on what is most likely to improve our chances of winning.

I think that’s one of the biggest frustrations with nicks, he seems to coach for the now rather than the overall success for the club.

 

[Syd Crow]

I think that’s one of the biggest frustrations with nicks, he seems to coach for the now rather than the overall success for the club.

 

[spenze]

I think that’s one of the biggest frustrations with nicks, he seems to coach for the now rather than the overall success for the club.

If we had a decent football manager, maybe Nicks could be pushed from that philosophy