Preview R4: Changes vs. Gold Coast Suns (Match of the Round!!!)

[Betts are off]

I suspect Neal Bullen will get a bit of a run.

Yeah me too. From memory he was a good 2 way mid at the Demons when he got his opportunities too, which will come in handy against the Suns midfield.

 

[Brasher]

If you’re relying on the worst player in your team to win a close game then not enough of your stars have stood up. Our stars have been playing well for us to be 3-0, it’s got nothing to do with the bottom couple in the 22 (carried Milera last week for example).

Agree, hence what's the lose in playing one of the other candidates who haven't hit their ceiling yet?

We know exactly what Murphys ceiling is because he's been given countless extended opportunities to show it.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Lots of poor clubs suffer from Kayne Turner Syndrome. They fall in love with a guy they see who lives all the values they preach. Character, work ethic, effort. The coaches want to see them succeed.

Results and performance are overlooked or explained away. They look for reasons to include them.

This mindset elevated Murphy to our leadership group and got Otten a grand final appearance.

We hope that an outsider comes in like Murray or Balme and points out that the emperor can't get a kick when the heat's on but sadly they get absorbed into the group mindset swiftly.

Don't disagree with your point but it's unfair on Otten's 2017. He was our first reserve tall forward all year replacing Jenkins and McGovern at various times (Jenkins hurt his ribs v Hawthorn and Otten shifted forward in-game, McGovern did a bad hammy in a Showdown the following week). In games where he played forward he averaged about a goal and a half a game. He was promptly dropped when McGovern regained fitness.

(He also played a handful of games as a reserve tall defender when Hartigan/Lever were out - but not relevant to this discussion).

He was a natural replacement for McGovern when he did his hamstring and was a contributor in the prelim - 13 touches, 4 marks, a goal and an assist.

Out of the many problems to come out of the 2017 GF - I don't think pretending Otten was some sort of sentimental selection needs to be one of them.

 

[Cromulant]

Old Cromulant and I had a bit of to and fro in the SANFL thread. Apparently it's "not that hard to understand" how far back Murphy is in the pecking order. But I'm too mature a person to say I told you so. So I won't.

Lets be honest, you're not.

And its fair. He SHOULD be that far back in the pecking order. That he isnt, tells you more about some members of the coaching staff.

 

[1970crow]

The worst bit, Murphy is now front of the queue for next-man-up.

We know this is how we roll.

Stick to the same group where possible.

He has jumped in front of Nank, Taylor, Ryan, Pedlar etc…

Watch him “play his important shape keeping stat free role” and be locked into the 23.

I’d even say there is a strong chance that once Rash comes back from injury, there will be someone ELSE dropped that doesn’t deserve it - before Murphy is pushed back to SANFL.

We just need Smith to find his way back into the team for normal transmission to be restored.

When will this come back and bite us? When we need it most. Instead of having high skill, high talent players lighting up under the spotlight of finals … we will have the status quo fighting out an effort filled scrappy loss that gets us nowhere closer to a premiership.

"Now"?? When has he ever been behind Nank, Taylor, Ryan, Pedlar etc? Noting that Nank and him are in separate queues, but I can't recall him being dropped in favour of any of the players that we saw debut last year or Pedlar in the past. He's always been in in front of them.

 

[1970crow]

I am beyond disappointed that they selected Murphy it is just mind boggling when so many younger options

Although, in saying that one of the guys at my work is a SANFL top up and has been for last year aswel he reckons that he actually is in ripping shape and best he has ever seen him

Maybe the addition of the depth has pushed Murphy to another level

Happy to have him prove me wrong

That would make you ask the question is why wasn't Murphy already in the best shape he could possibly be? There really is a levelling off culture at our club once a player has attained their "best 22 badge".

 

[baldandbroke]

"Now"?? When has he ever been behind Nank, Taylor, Ryan, Pedlar etc? Noting that Nank and him are in separate queues, but I can't recall him being dropped in favour of any of the players that we saw debut last year or Pedlar in the past. He's always been in in front of them.

I should have said “still”.

But I honestly hoped that as of right NOW he was behind them.

He isn’t. The proof is in the eating.

 

[cmndstab]

If we're being realistic, he has clearly been ahead of those players in the club's eyes all year. Last week where he didn't make the emergency list, that was the outlier. Every other week he's been in the squad.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Don't disagree with your point but it's unfair on Otten's 2017. He was our first reserve tall forward all year replacing Jenkins and McGovern at various times (Jenkins hurt his ribs v Hawthorn and Otten shifted forward in-game, McGovern did a bad hammy in a Showdown the following week). In games where he played forward he averaged about a goal and a half a game. He was promptly dropped when McGovern regained fitness.

(He also played a handful of games as a reserve tall defender when Hartigan/Lever were out - but not relevant to this discussion).

He was a natural replacement for McGovern when he did his hamstring and was a contributor in the prelim - 13 touches, 4 marks, a goal and an assist.

Out of the many problems to come out of the 2017 GF - I don't think pretending Otten was some sort of sentimental selection needs to be one of them.

Would have been a tough call on Otten, but a right call. A tough call we were (and are) unwilling to make as a club.

Would be tough to leave out Murphy.
I played all last year... was great in the SANFL in Week 1... a player has got injured in my exact position... I have lots of experience... I was in the leadership group last year... I've had a brilliant preseason.

We can't look Murph in the eye and say Sorry, last year wasn't good enough so we have to change things. Zac Taylor showed more against the Swans than you've shown in your whole career.

We couldn't tell Otten that it's a hot day on a large ground, against a team of hard runners where defensive pressure will be crucial, and you're the slowest player on our list.

Good club man
We've won games with him previously
Sold
That's enough for us.

The forward-thinking, intuitive and sometimes harsh decisions required to be a good club are beyond us.

The downside of having strong relationships is that it makes it difficult to make hard calls.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

I suspect Neal Bullen will get a bit of a run.

I think Keays will get a bit of time in there. Gives us a stronger body to compete against their inside bulls

 

[Betts are off]

I think Keays will get a bit of time in there. Gives us a stronger body to compete against their inside bulls

We shouldn't forget when Keays came into the side we played him as a midfield tagger for the first couple games. He wasn't bad either, he just ended up doing it and also winning a ton of the footy.

 

[VictorianCrow85]

If we're being realistic, he has clearly been ahead of those players in the club's eyes all year. Last week where he didn't make the emergency list, that was the outlier. Every other week he's been in the squad.

Yes then you see the SANFL write up about our best & Murphy of course was featured. Was a fair give away that he was close to if not "next man in."

I don't dislike him as most but there is at least 5-6 guys that should be ahead at the very least...

Nankervis, Pedlar, Berry, Taylor, Bond & Ryan all spring to mind for me as to who we should be getting games into ahead. Guys like Murphy & Smith should be break glass if we get decimated with injury.

Won't surprise me if Murphy actually plays well this week given how annoyed everyone is but still wouldn't make it the right choice imo.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

If we're being realistic, he has clearly been ahead of those players in the club's eyes all year. Last week where he didn't make the emergency list, that was the outlier. Every other week he's been in the squad.

That was so that we didn't have to hold him back from the SANFL towelling

Let him fill his boots and Dowling can sit it out.

Unlucky Billy. Needed to show more last week

 

[1970crow]

Murphy isn't the last player picked

It's amazing how anyone can go from being so wrong about him being selected to then just pivot to being certain that he was the last player picked. He was the first replacement, regardless of Crouch injury, Murphy was replacing Rachele.

 

[BucketsNj]

View attachment 2271727

You can not want Murphy in the side without resorting to thoughtless and tacky abuse

 

[StonesThrow]

Still a better option to play there than Murphy.

He’s not and we do, but he’s better option now than Murphy.

Also the dickhead coaches are developing him as a small forward and giving Murphy his midfield minutes

He is a better pure small forward than Murphy though! Look at the last game last season against Sydney! Murphy has never played that well

Better than Murphy as a small forward.

I thought my posts were obvious. I obviously don't want Murphy in the team which is why I'm pissed that we keep overlooking bringing in pure small forwards.

Yes I would prefer Taylor come in than Murphy, but that's not solving the problem of our lack of small forwards.

By small forward I mean someone with good pressure/tackler and decent goal nous. Taylor likely has those traits, but he's a midfielder.

 

[1970crow]

Lots of poor clubs suffer from Kayne Turner Syndrome. They fall in love with a guy they see who lives all the values they preach. Character, work ethic, effort. The coaches want to see them succeed.

Results and performance are overlooked or explained away. They look for reasons to include them.

This mindset elevated Murphy to our leadership group and got Otten a grand final appearance.

We hope that an outsider comes in like Murray or Balme and points out that the emperor can't get a kick when the heat's on but sadly they get absorbed into the group mindset swiftly.

Agree with everything except the last sentence. Murray and Balme are not here to correct or overrule Nicks' and his assistant's decision making in the current season. They will no doubt be providing input upon request, but Nicks is still the senior coach and the system cannot work if he isn't free to run the ship how he wants. Even if Murray and Balme vehemently disagree with Murphy being selected, they wouldn't progress that view to the extent that it alienates them from the consensus view.

 

[CrowBloke]

I think we will win - I tipped us - it doesnt make it right

Yeah, I was thinking about that too.

Why am I and so many others so upset about Murphy's selection, which revealed his place in the pecking order?
For me, I don't think it stabilises, nor does it increase, our chances of winning the game. Murphy's had 100+ games to prove he's a solid, reliable AFL-level player and just does not cut it. It's not just how many kicks/Handballs he averages. It's things like 1%ers eg blocks/shepherds at which he averages 0.86/game. So, in 115 games, 99 1%ers. 75 goals, total ie 0.65 goals/game. It's weak.
Also, not a single Brownlow vote. Not one. Even Sholl whom I think is not an impact player, has 5.
Based on previous output, Murphy is unlikely to have a game-changing blinder. If he does, I'm wrong, and will be happy to be wrong.

We might still win, but his selection does not make it right, as you said.
There are younger players with more upside and longer futures for us than Murphy.

Nicks is hindering their development and the Crows' future by selecting Murphy.

 

[Pugsley]

I thought my posts were obvious. I obviously don't want Murphy in the team which is why I'm pissed that we keep overlooking bringing in pure small forwards.

Yes I would prefer Taylor come in than Murphy, but that's not solving the problem of our lack of small forwards.

By small forward I mean someone with good pressure/tackler and decent goal nous. Taylor likely has those traits, but he's a midfielder.

Good.

 

[GameofSloanes]

When has he ever owned that his game plan was at fault last year? I listened to all of his abysmal pressers after game last year and he generally blamed injuries or player effort . I’d love to hear where he took responsibility from a coaching perspective.

He's never said anything about it you're right.

But our game plan this year is significantly different, so maybe privately he knew it had to change

 

[skam85]

It's amazing how anyone can go from being so wrong about him being selected to then just pivot to being certain that he was the last player picked. He was the first replacement, regardless of Crouch injury, Murphy was replacing Rachele.

Exactly.
Last player picked means that Karl Gallagher has debuted prior to Murphy's reinstatement to the side

 

[GameofSloanes]

As long as he doesn't rotate Laird through there now that Nank can play his role
Would not be shocked if he panics and throws Laird in as the grunt mid

I think this is exactly what will happen

 

[Dangarman]

Gold Coast have beaten two teams that have won two quarters between them. (WC won Q1 vs Bris, Mel won Q3 vs GWS)
Adelaide have beaten three teams that have won four matches between them. (StK beat Geelong and Richmond, Essendon beat Port, and North beat Melbourne.)

Hawthorn and the Dogs are the only other teams who have beaten the same teams we have.

Remember last season how Gold Coast won their first two games and everyone thought they were finally going to make the 8? How did that pan out?

 

[Betts are off]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how we utilise Dan Curtin against the Suns, for all their high end talent, they don't have an obvious match up against DC as the 4th tall forward/wing.

I feel like his breakout game could be on the cards if we are brave enough to really play through him. Have Tex play high up the ground, and have DC play almost as a traditional CHF against the 4th tall defender.

 

[feenix67]

You had a cracking football team in that period you were a couple of years below me!
It’s incredible the amount of schools and students in that area during that period Marion had nearly 2000 then there was Mitchell Park, Dover Gardens, Daws Road and Seacombe and not too far away Brighton!

Ironic that they got bull dozed for housing and now there’s no close schools!

Throw Glengowrie in there too.

I remember when I first started at Seacombe the open age team was almost unbeatable. My year was pretty good too, Robbie Thompson was in it, plus 3 or 4 who played at the Bays and a couple at South. It was a very good team. I think we came close to winning that inter schools thing in '83, my memory is a bit hazy.

Interestingly, I spent my primary school days at West Beach. Same thing there, it's the only school left standing in that little western region. The kids are all in the outer burbs these days.