Stevens to retire

[ant]

Originally posted by ****
Yeah last year we were effectively without Stevens and Welsh, leaving Perrie and Carey to carry to forward line. Even if we are without Mark Stevens, we can really gain a lot by having a fit and firing Scott Welsh.


****

Yeah, I don't think it's quite the end of the world just yet. While we're a much better side with Stevo in the forward line, if we can get a season out of Welsh, Perrie can continue to improve and provide something, and if we can get more out of Carey this season, then our forward line still has some firepower in it. Plus the other Stevens can provide another option as well.....it's unfortunate for Mark, but with improved delivery by the midfielders, we should still be right amongst it, with a bit of luck.

Despite our good defensive record last year, I tend to worry more about our defence for some reason.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Well Stevo is not out of the woods yet. He will undertake a series of tests in the next 10 or so days before we find out if he can keep playing or not.

Welcome back ant

I agree with you that defence is a bit of a worry as I don't think we have done much to improve it. I was hoping Stevo would be fit and slot back in defence to give us more grunt and options.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Theres a couple of you blokes that have thrown in the towel already!!
I dont believe in No Stevens No Flag

 

[Stiffy_18]

Latest on Stevo: Johnny Reid was on 5AA and he said that we won't be seeing Stevo anytime soon. He will not be doing anything for a while. He might do a bit of weights and swimming and things like that but no football work. Stevo will have a number of tests in the next 10 or so days and once the club gets all the info they will make a decision.

Reidy went on to say that Stevo's knee is worse than McLeod's as it is structurally "wrong" in 4 places. He said he would take macca's knee over Stevo's. He said Stevo is understandably really down and frustraded. He looked forward to playing good footy this year but the club has to move on. From the conversation I gathered that the club is planning for the season without him and would treat any games from Stevo as a bonus.

Moving on to Wizard Cup. Don't expect to see Krueger and Watts. Krueger has a back problem and it will be a while before he starts playing footy (I was told 4-6 weeks on Friday at the trial). We will take it easy with Watts. He might get a few games later on in the year but we want him to beef up and get comfortable in the SANFL first. Reidy reckon's he will fill out nicely. Reminds him a bit of Chad Cornes at the same age in terms of build.

Expect to see plenty of Scott Stevens and Ben Hudson in the Wizard Cup. I get the feeling that Scott Stevens will very much be in our best 22 (from Reidy's interview). Roo will be strongly considered for the sunday's match. Hart is coming along well but is unlikely to play and Smart has come on in leaps and bounds in last 1 and a half weeks and is another couple of weeks away from playing.

 

[Jerome]

Crows concerned for Stevens
5:46:10 PM Tue 17 February, 2004
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
The playing future of important Adelaide key position player Mark Stevens is unclear, after he re-injured his troublesome right knee in a match last Friday.

Stevens, runner-up in the club’s 2001 best-and-fairest, managed just eight games in what was a frustrating year of injury for both club and player in 2003.

The 28 year-old fell awkwardly during a match against Glenelg in his most competitive hit-out for some time, and the club is fearing the injury is as serious as the complaint that sidelined him for seven weeks last year.

“That’s our concern. We’ve been taking special measures in his preparation to make sure we didn’t do any damage to it. But that’s of concern,” Crows football manager John Reid told afl.com.au.

“From our perspective it’s back to the drawing board, back to the specialists and we’ll get as much detail from them as we can over the next week and work out where Mark goes from there.”

“That knee was looked at surgically at the end of the season. He was on a modified program, he seemed to be going okay, but as a result of that game on the weekend he’s fallen on it again and all of a sudden it’s flared up again.”

The club has ruled Stevens out of the imminent Wizard Home Loans Cup competition, and will conduct a series of tests on his knee over the next week. Reid said Stevens was unable to train and had been in discomfort since last Friday’s match.

“We won’t know until we get all the information. All I can say is he’s struggling and he won’t play in the immediate future, but we need to get all the facts before us before we work out what our next move is. But it’s certainly of concern for Mark and ourselves.”

“It’s of concern for the lad of course, and for ourselves we don’t want to go through the same situation this year as we went through last year. He really struggled, we really struggled with him last year,” Reid said.

The re-aggravation continues a run of bad luck for the 1998 premiership player. Stevens kicked 11 goals in the opening month of last season before first injuring his knee. After seven weeks of rehabilitation Stevens injured his ribs in his comeback match in the SANFL reserves.

He returned to the senior side a month later and kicked six goals in the Crows’ two finals matches.

* All the best Stevo!

 

[Stiffy_18]

Does anyone else get the feeling that Stevo will retire before season's end??????

We are really clutching at straws with these tests and scans. Deep down I think AFC believe that unfortunately he is finished.

 

[crowsfan]

This is just terrible news. It's sad to see one of our important players get dealt these set of cards.

Just personally, I wouldn't hold that much great of a hope at this stage. Reports say Stevo's has very little cartilage in his left knee, and its no surprise I think, that it hasn't been fairing so well. The unction of the cartilage in the joint is to help absorb stress, as well as provide a slick surface for smooth movement, and with Stevo playing in such a physically demanding position, it doesn't take a genius to realise that the chances of consistent, pain free, elite sportslevel performances are considerably lowered (if not abolished completely). It might be almost like playing with rheumatoid arthritis in that knee.

Hopefully the prognosis will be good, but I honestly think we are really clutching at straws here, as Stiffy mentioned. Let's just hope other players can fill the impending void as best as we can.

 

[Denno]

Coming from a Brisbane supporter - sorry to hear about Stevens' plight.

I've had plenty of respect for him as an opposition player (believe me, that doesn't come easily! ), and would hate to see him go out like this.

Sounds like he's stuffed, and the Crows are searching for a miracle.

Let's hope they find it!

 

[macca23]

If you heard Reidy today - Stiffy did too - you wouldn't have too much optimism about Mark Steven's future.

He certainly painted a pretty ugly picture about the knee and Stevens' future. He wasn't very confident and it was more what he didn't say than what he did.

I think it's fair to say that he's like all of us - fearing the worst, but hoping for a bloody miracle.

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by topjars
Theres a couple of you blokes that have thrown in the towel already!!
I dont believe in No Stevens No Flag

Don't worry topjars, the heart is still well and truly in it!!

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by napsyd
Don't worry topjars, the heart is still well and truly in it!!

Too true. Still upbeat about our chances & also holding out hope that Stevo finds a cure to his knee problems.

 

[macca23]

The last thing I've done is throw in the towel, TJ.

On the thread ranking our players for the coming year, I only had Stevo at #18 because I thought any games we got out of him would be a bonus.

On a separate thread my prediction is for Adelaide to finish top 3 minimum.

So no - there's no towel chucking here!! Top 3 for mine.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I am not really throwing in the towel but you must admit that it would be that much harder without Stevo. With him in the side he gives a lot more scope and versatility whether its up forward or down back.

If Carey misses a few games through injuries we might be in a bit of strife because there is no ready made replacement to come into the side.

If Stevens is finished (as appers likely) then we are forced to play some tall youngsters which can be good in the long run but not necessarily in the short term. Brett Burton could also make an odd appearence at FF.

I am more worried about 2005 than I am about 2004. Time for a tall youngster to step up to the plate.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
If you heard Reidy today - Stiffy did too - you wouldn't have too much optimism about Mark Steven's future.

He certainly painted a pretty ugly picture about the knee and Stevens' future. He wasn't very confident and it was more what he didn't say than what he did.

I think it's fair to say that he's like all of us - fearing the worst, but hoping for a bloody miracle.

He said all but that Stevo is finished. I think he said it all with "Stevo's knee is much worse than macca's". I think thats just about saying that Stevo will retire.

The positive of it all is that a youngster will be given more opportunities. One of Hentschel, Rutten, Bock, Krueger and Watts will have to step up with Hentschel being the one under more pressure.

2005 is crutial. Hopefully Carey can go around for another year

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
He said all but that Stevo is finished. I think he said it all with "Stevo's knee is much worse than macca's". I think thats just about saying that Stevo will retire.

The positive of it all is that a youngster will be given more opportunities. One of Hentschel, Rutten, Bock, Krueger and Watts will have to step up with Hentschel being the one under more pressure.

2005 is crutial. Hopefully Carey can go around for another year

I think Carey is in for a boomer of a year, which might just make him go around next year.

Watts will be ready next year to become a permanent member of the side, and he'll learn heaps from Carey. He's the one for the long term, although it's asking too much I think for him to be dominant in 2005.

What a pity that Krueger has a stuffed back at the moment as he really was looking promising. He should play games next year too but again probably without being dominant.

Which leaves Hentschel, Rutten and Bock. It really has to be Hentschel doesn't it, because Rutten's too slow and Bock's best footy will be in defence.

Scott Stevens is more of a support player than a KPP, although a damn handy one.

Actually we could be in the sh*t in 2005 when you look closely at it - but only for the one year IMO.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
Actually we could be in the sh*t in 2005 when you look closely at it

Thats what I am worried about the most.

We had this "suttle changing of the guard" plan where we would use this year to develop the likes of Watts and Krueger. At the end of this year Carey was going to retire and that would leave a spot for a tall forward in the side. 2005 was all about nursing through the likes of Watts and Krueger by giving them regular games to get comfortable at AFL level and further develop while getting some experience. By 2006 those 2 boys would have been ready to carry the forward line.

Now however, it would appear that we will throw them to the wolves next year and hope for the best.

And I agree that Scott Stevens is more of a 3rd tall option rather than a true KPP.

Tank 2005 so we get some good priority draft picks. THis would also enable us to get Cooney for free in the pre-season draft

 

[tinman]

Originally posted by napsyd
No Stevens = no flag, me thinks.

Huge call. Who would have thought that we could have won in 96 with no A Jarman, McGuinness or McDermott for the season and, as it turned out with injury, no Roo, Vardy or Modra for the finals?

I wouldn't be giving the season away yet......

Stevens has been an important player for the Crows but I don't think that they will make any rushed decisions. We still have a fair way to go until the season proper starts. If he is still knackered in another 6-7 weeks then I think it will be a different story though.

He has been a very good player for the Crows, but my feelings are that we won't see much more of him at AFL level. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by tinman
Huge call. Who would have thought that we could have won in 96 with no A Jarman, McGuinness or McDermott for the season and, as it turned out with injury, no Roo, Vardy or Modra for the finals?

Huh????????? We were crap in 96.

If yu're thinking 97, I think McGuiness and McDermott were given the boot by then.

 

[tinman]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Huh????????? We were crap in 96.

If yu're thinking 97, I think McGuiness and McDermott were given the boot by then.

Yes, you hvae got me there - it was 97. But after a crap 96 I think I have made my point. Who would have though at the start of '97 that we were going anywhere, losing those players and especially with the injuries we copped later?

Saying we can't win a flag without Stevens is pretty over the top.........

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
The positive of it all is that a youngster will be given more opportunities. One of Hentschel, Rutten, Bock, Krueger and Watts will have to step up with Hentschel being the one under more pressure.
/B]

There is also Parker, but again the financial side of things may come into play.

If Stevo does retire - does he have his contract paid out due to injury? If so, does this contribute to total player payments for the year and prevent us elevating Parker?

I'd say if we do elevate Parker, then we have a genuine option to help combat our defensive problems so thats a real positive. He needs to lift his game by a huge margin after Friday night to get an AFL game tho.

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by tinman
Yes, you hvae got me there - it was 97. But after a crap 96 I think I have made my point. Who would have though at the start of '97 that we were going anywhere, losing those players and especially with the injuries we copped later?

Saying we can't win a flag without Stevens is pretty over the top.........

To my way of thinking Stevens is critical to our forward structure. Balancing all things up I thought we had an outside chance at a flag this year, now I think that the odds have lengthened further. The big unknown is probably Carey and how much of his best he can capture.

I never lose faith in our lads. Of course we can win a flag without Stevens, any team might win it. But logically weighing everything up, I think our reasonably long shot just got that bit longer.

 

[beckybiglands]

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by napsyd
To my way of thinking Stevens is critical to our forward structure. Balancing all things up I thought we had an outside chance at a flag this year, now I think that the odds have lengthened further. The big unknown is probably Carey and how much of his best he can capture.

I never lose faith in our lads. Of course we can win a flag without Stevens, any team might win it. But logically weighing everything up, I think our reasonably long shot just got that bit longer.

Yes I feel very sorry for Mark. He was going to retire after he left North Melbourne, has resurrected his career with Adelaide, progressing from spare parts work-horse to an integral part of our success in 2002.

Forget about his current physical problems, mentaly I would be surprised if can recover from this setback.
With Stevens missing, it depletes our bigmen options - hopefully an opportunity will open up and someone will step up and take their opportunity.

TWT

 

[RaDaR ReiLLy]

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
there are tears aswell.

OMG.....I can't beleive it. I know that he is going to retire tomorrow. I just know it.

if it happens, stay tuned for details of the wake/memorial service that will take place at half time on Sunday. You'll know me, i'll be the one in mourning - known as the Black Widow.

boohoo boohoo boohoo

k
xx

Aww, its ok hun! You will live! Theres plenty more fish in the sea! What about Fergie? That bloke has the moves to please anyone in mourning! And the hair!

I know how it feels to have you very favourite player injured. As i have mentioned before, quite a few of my favourites have been injured over the years. Just remember Welshy and his OP- i was distraught for months! I suppose this is nothing compared to Stevo, But when Brent was injured for 8 weeks it was also hell!

I don't know what I would do if either of these blokes stopped playing altogether, and to go out the way Stevo might I can't help you there

But just think, Stevo might end up doing something for the crows any, like Admin work, or even assistant coaching! So he won't ever be completely out of your life!!

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by RaDaR ReiLLy
But just think, Stevo might end up doing something for the crows any, like Admin work, or even assistant coaching! So he won't ever be completely out of your life!!

I doubt it. Stevo said he has a chain of Boost Juice franchises with Evan Hewitt in Perth so when he retires he will move to Perth to be more involved with his business interests.

At least he has something to fall back on if the news is bad.