Rucci: Still no quick fix

[Stiffy_18]

If you take out the snide little digs where he just can't help himself, he actually makes a pretty good point here. A fair bit of thought and rationale put behind this article

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22547029-21544,00.html

Still no quick fix

MICHELANGELO RUCCI
October 08, 2007 02:15am

POPULAR opinion will be - Adelaide coach Neil Craig has done an extraordinary job with an ordinary list.

Indeed, he has. Three consecutive finals' series is an achievement, matched in the club's 17-year history only by Gary Ayres from 2001-03.

He did turn fortunes around very quickly, reviving a squad which was bored and jaded under Ayres to win the 2005 minor premiership and challenge for both the 2005 - which it should have won - and '06 flags.

But now the wheel has turned full circle. At the end of Craig's third full season as Adelaide coach, his quote at the end of 2004 haunts, or challenges, him. Like his team, Craig is at a challenging crossroad.

Craig took charge from Ayres with the club's board making a strong issue of list development. Today, Adelaide is as far from a premiership as it was in Ayres' last days. And, if the remarks from Adelaide's player review on Friday, September 21 are put on the public record, there is need for Craig to use the off-season break to find a new theme.

First, his gameplan has been worked out - this is a standard line from many of his AFL rivals - and he does not have enough top-line players to get away with a predictable playbook.

Second, Adelaide players want to enjoy their football again - and this year's decision to add more defensive strategies has blunted their enthusiasm. To quote one player in the review process: "It ain't fun playing here anymore."

Retiring captain Mark Ricciuto went on public record last week saying: "Our skills were down for a majority of the year so I'd expect they will do quite a bit of work on those over the summer ... perhaps they need to get a little enjoyment back into it too."

Where was Adelaide in '07 and where does it go from here?

The Crows won 12 of their 23 premiership games this season. Since Round 16 last year, when they were billed invincible, Craig's men have a 15-16 win-loss count (including 1-2 in finals).

There has been a high injury count. But, as the Adelaide board emphasised when Craig took the job, list development would have insulated the Crows from the full brunt of this threat.

If Adelaide is said to have an "ordinary" list today, Craig must admit to having taken his eye off the club's needs for tomorrow.

Which of Adelaide's next-generation players seriously advanced his career this season, beyond natural progression from experience and time? Only one - Nathan van Berlo. What happened to the promise of Richard Douglas? How is that, after years of being identified as a potential midfielder, Graham Johncock, 24, has not been developed beyond a defender?

At a time when AFL football rediscovered high scoring, Craig went defensive. In the 23 premiership games this season, the Crows broke the watershed 100-point barrier just nine times. Six times they failed to break the 12-goal (72-point) mark. Again, the instant answer will be that Adelaide's "ordinary list" does not have gun forwards. And the issue of list management identified in Ayres' dismissal has to be faced by Craig. It will hit as a sledgehammer for Season 2008. Adelaide has lost its greatest-ever leader, Brownlow Medallist Ricciuto. He will be succeeded by Simon Goodwin, 30. But there is a sound case to be made in planning for the future by opting for full back Ben Rutten, 24.

Adelaide already has lost two ruckmen - Ben Hudson to the Western Bulldogs and first-round draftee John Meesen to Melbourne - and is now reliant on Rhett Biglands, in his comeback from major knee surgery, and the inexperienced Ivan Maric and Jonathon Griffin.

Adelaide still needs forwards - and a gameplan to score more often. It needs gritty midfielders. It has prime defenders and a sound defensive system, but cannot win on defence alone.

Three years have passed since Craig's statement of no quick-fix to his list. It still applies, but now with greater relevance.

 

[noddy]

Not much wrong with what he says, in fact he's right on the money.

In 05 & 06 we were unexpectedly in a position to challenge for a flag so i have no qualms in the club trying to make the most out of their opportunities.

This year is the one where we should have done a PA in blooding as many kids as we could but injuries more or less prevented this from happening in a large way.

 

[jackster83]

A good article by Rucci's standards
I think that because we unexpectedly found ourselves challenging for a flag in 2005, everyone forgot about list development because we saw ourselves as a genuine premiership contender.
In 2005, we had a golden chance at a premiership until Roo got suspended for the home QF against the Saints. In 2006, Ricciuto, Hart, Mcleod, Hentschel, McGregor and Burton were all hardly sighted after round 18 due to injury. This year we were missing Hentschel, Biglands, Bode, Ricciuto, Burton and Bassett for huge chunks of the year.
We could have easily won a flag or 2 in the last 3 seasons but with injuries and Riccuito's rapid demise combined with early draft picks failing to live up to expectations puts greater emphasis on our list development for 2008 and beyond. We are not necessarily doomed next year but we need a clean run with injuries and continued improvement from Knights, Douglas, Maric, Porplyzia and Vince.

 

[Damp Squarie]

POPULAR opinion will be - Adelaide coach Neil Craig has done an extraordinary job with an ordinary list.

Unless you listen to some of the Port Power supporters waffling on but then it wouldnt be popular

Craig took charge from Ayres with the club's board making a strong issue of list development. Today, Adelaide is as far from a premiership as it was in Ayres' last days.

I disagree.
We both know we could've been grand finalists in two of the last three seasons but for twists of fate. Lets face it, Geelong is the only team head and shoulders above the usb and the rest of those that made the eight this year.


First, his gameplan has been worked out - this is a standard line from many of his AFL rivals - and he does not have enough top-line players to get away with a predictable playbook.


I agree.
Craigy does need Plans B and C but more importantly someone with balls in the Coaches box willing to challenge him.

To quote one player in the review process: "It ain't fun playing here anymore."

Ruccispeak for "I have no proof".

Retiring captain Mark Ricciuto went on public record last week saying: "Our skills were down for a majority of the year so I'd expect they will do quite a bit of work on those over the summer.

Didnt we do that last year....get the balls out early blah blah blah


There has been a high injury count. But, as the Adelaide board emphasised when Craig took the job, list development would have insulated the Crows from the full brunt of this threat.

Did they? How do you carry an extra 5 topline players (just to name the obvious one)... of Hentschels calibre.


If Adelaide is said to have an "ordinary" list today, Craig must admit to having taken his eye off the club's needs for tomorrow.
While we keep drafting sooky Victorians it'll happen.

Which of Adelaide's next-generation players seriously advanced his career this season, beyond natural progression from experience and time? Only one - Nathan van Berlo.

Griffin, Douglas, Reilly, Thompson and VB


At a time when AFL football rediscovered high scoring, Craig went defensive. In the 23 premiership games this season, the Crows broke the watershed 100-point barrier just nine times. Six times they failed to break the 12-goal (72-point) mark. Again, the instant answer will be that Adelaide's "ordinary list" does not have gun forwards. And the issue of list management identified in Ayres' dismissal has to be faced by Craig.

Horses for courses idiot- we buried the PAP Grand Finalists twice based on a solid all round game.

Hentchel, Tippett and yeah Classy KPPs are like hens teeth.


It will hit as a sledgehammer for Season 2008. Adelaide has lost its greatest-ever leader, Brownlow Medallist Ricciuto.

Who hardly played a game...so where are you going with this?


He will be succeeded by Simon Goodwin, 30. But there is a sound case to be made in planning for the future by opting for full back Ben Rutten, 24.

I agree

Adelaide already has lost two ruckmen - Ben Hudson to the Western Bulldogs and first-round draftee John Meesen to Melbourne - and is now reliant on Rhett Biglands, in his comeback from major knee surgery, and the inexperienced Ivan Maric and Jonathon Griffin.

Its not ideal but could be worse. Theres no reason to suggest Biglands will fade away and both Griff and Maric will be better with another season behind them.


Three years have passed since Craig's statement of no quick-fix to his list. It still applies, but now with greater relevance.

What still applies?

 

[- PC -]

To quote one player in the review process: "It ain't fun playing here anymore."

Ruccispeak for "I have no proof".

As in the other thread there are leaking reports of what was said imn the player review ...I heard 2nd hand a few stories that have slowly been confirmed

Which of Adelaide's next-generation players seriously advanced his career this season, beyond natural progression from experience and time? Only one - Nathan van Berlo.

Griffin, Douglas, Reilly, Thompson and VB

I really raised an eyebrow over this comment as well...he seriously doesnt expect us to believe we only developed 1 player

At a time when AFL football rediscovered high scoring, Craig went defensive. In the 23 premiership games this season, the Crows broke the watershed 100-point barrier just nine times. Six times they failed to break the 12-goal (72-point) mark. Again, the instant answer will be that Adelaide's "ordinary list" does not have gun forwards. And the issue of list management identified in Ayres' dismissal has to be faced by Craig.

Horses for courses idiot- we buried the PAP Grand Finalists twice based on a solid all round game.

This is about plan b and c... he thinks plan a is one dimensional when really Plan A is work out what your opponent does and spend 5 days working out how to beat it.....if that is fast paced football we play it, if it is defensive football we play it...

It will hit as a sledgehammer for Season 2008. Adelaide has lost its greatest-ever leader, Brownlow Medallist Ricciuto.

Who hardly played a game...so where are you going with this?

Adelaide already has lost two ruckmen - Ben Hudson to the Western Bulldogs and first-round draftee John Meesen to Melbourne - and is now reliant on Rhett Biglands, in his comeback from major knee surgery, and the inexperienced Ivan Maric and Jonathon Griffin.

Its not ideal but could be worse. Theres no reason to suggest Biglands will fade away and both Griff and Maric will be better with another season behind them.

Also we relied on Hudson who also came back from a serious knee injury....

I thought his article had merit but there could have been different answers...he chose Rucci answers

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Is our list any better now than it was at the end of 2004? IMO, No it isn't.

 

[mymansyd]

Is our list any better now than it was at the end of 2004? IMO, No it isn't.

Agreed, about the same. No better, no worse.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Is our list any better now than it was at the end of 2004? IMO, No it isn't.

Better youngsters, but offset by our gun players now 30+.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Better youngsters, but offset by our gun players now 30+.

But thats to be expected.

Youngsters need time to develop and the aging stars were aging when Craig took over. I would say that in terms of youth, we are better off now that we were at the end of 2004 but you are right in saying that our guns are close to retirement and some have already retired.

The only problem is that we don't have genuine cream of the crop youngsters coming through which is understandable considering the picks we have had in that time. Mind you wasting pick 8 on a player that will not be here next year doesn't help

 

[*PAF]

...
Which of Adelaide's next-generation players seriously advanced his career this season, beyond natural progression from experience and time? Only one - Nathan van Berlo.

Griffin, Douglas, Reilly, Thompson and VB
...

Depends on your definition of youngsters.
Thompson (DOB: 14/03/1983) will be 25 before the start of next season and Reilly (DOB: 12/11/1983) 24 in 4 or 5 weeks.

Not sure just how well Griffin and Douglas have done as yet.

 

[jarmanagic]

Some interesting point in that article but it shouldnt be forgotten Craig followed on from "there is no tomorrow" Ayres. Little talent developed under him. As a result we have our aging stars and (considering draft picks) a good crop of 24 and under players, but very few 25-29 yo (prime of career) players, just 5 Massie, Shirley, Kenny, Bode Doughty Mattner, might not be there tomorrow) and no really good players in that group

I think Craig has done very well and the future brighter than many think, trade week not encouraging so far though

 

[johnnypanther]

Some interesting point in that article but it shouldnt be forgotten Craig followed on from "there is no tomorrow" Ayres. Little talent developed under him. As a result we have our aging stars and (considering draft picks) a good crop of 24 and under players, but very few 25-29 yo (prime of career) players, just 5 Massie, Shirley, Kenny, Bode Doughty Mattner, might not be there tomorrow) and no really good players in that group

I think Craig has done very well and the future brighter than many think, trade week not encouraging so far though

i think our major problem is that overly large group of average untradeable
26-28yo that we have. And after this trade/delisting period it seems they will virtually all still be with us.

They have not been good enough over the last 10 years, they have never had any trade value for us, they have denied opportunities for us to play youngsters, they are not good enough to be the next leadership group when our current crop of 30+ players retire (the younger group under them is and always has been better than them), yet we persevere with them when its quite apparent that we wont win a premiership with them. They have stifled our list development for years. I know we cant clear them out all in 1 go but we havent even cleared them out gradually over the last few years and now we're going to either have to clear them out at the same time as our 30+ group or (perish the thought) keep them whilst the over 30s retire.

Sorry for the ramble but i'm just frustrated about this group i've been harping about for years.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

i think our major problem is that overly large group of average untradeable
26-28yo that we have. And after this trade/delisting period it seems they will virtually all still be with us.

They have not been good enough over the last 10 years, they have never had any trade value for us, they have denied opportunities for us to play youngsters, they are not good enough to be the next leadership group when our current crop of 30+ players retire (the younger group under them is and always has been better than them), yet we persevere with them when its quite apparent that we wont win a premiership with them. They have stifled our list development for years. I know we cant clear them out all in 1 go but we havent even cleared them out gradually over the last few years and now we're going to either have to clear them out at the same time as our 30+ group or (perish the thought) keep them whilst the over 30s retire.

Sorry for the ramble but i'm just frustrated about this group i've been harping about for years.

It's a fair point that those players are not good enough to form the core of a successful side.

However, i see no reason why we cannot get rid of some of them this off-season IF our trades involve 1-2 players coming here. We could then delist a few blokes while still only having 5ish picks. There is no good reason to still have Perrie, Bode, Doughty (and maybe even Torney) on our 08 list for starters.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Depends on your definition of youngsters.
Thompson (DOB: 14/03/1983) will be 25 before the start of next season and Reilly (DOB: 12/11/1983) 24 in 4 or 5 weeks.

Not sure just how well Griffin and Douglas have done as yet.

My definition of youngsters is anybody not yet old...I mean Thompson and Reilly have to be in that bracket given that they have potentially 6 or 7 seasons as midfield combatants.

Griffin and Douglas are youngsters who will be youngstars

 

[Glenno23]

How about Knighta gets chucked in there too? (for youngsters to have advanced)

A career best year and Rucci (and others here) failed to mention?

 

[ruscy002]

How about Knighta gets chucked in there too? (for youngsters to have advanced)

A career best year and Rucci (and others here) failed to mention?

Yup, definitely took a step up this year. Was impressed with his game in the semi against the Hawks, really looked comfortable out there under finals pressure.