Preview The ultimate test: Round 5 Adelaide @ Hawthorn - MCG

[Infra Ted]

Wow I just saw how Hawthorn won. I'd be absolutely livid as a Saints fan.

That umpire should be sacked.

 

[Cap]

Does anyone find the thread title a bit patronising?

I mean it's a test, but hardly the ultimate one.

 

[Lithium]

Think this game will be quite different than our last few encounters.
We're without Lake this time which means you guys can really stretch our defence, and if thats the case is might allow Betts off the chain, someone who we have kept quite in recent years. If a player of his quality gets loose we're in trouble.
You guys are one of the form sides at the moment while were just scaring over the line, we're going to have to really step up out game if we want to win.
Who ever does win though will throughly deserve it, and if you guys do knock us off at the MCG that mean you can do something many others can't, giving you a real leg up come September.

Also how's Tex traveling? Looked a bit injured on the weekend.

Anyway, best of luck for Friday (insincerely) and the rest of the season (sincerely).

 

[NikkiNoo]

And Pyke has the best answer for Rucci about games overseas. Also feenix67 Pyke agrees with you.

 

[TexForPM]

And Pyke has the best answer for Rucci about games overseas. Also feenix67 Pyke agrees with you.

He's so steely. Loving Pyke!

 

[chazwazza]

Wow I just saw how Hawthorn won. I'd be absolutely livid as a Saints fan.

That umpire should be sacked.

 

[Wilko91]

We got quite a few (hurried) centre clearances in the first quarter. They all ended up with Grant Birchall who had 14 possessions by quarter time. Game over after 30 minutes. Hope Pyke shows more courage.

What you meant to say there was that Dangerfield got every centre clearance (Maybe a small exaggeration) in the first quarter and did what Dangerfield does, slam it on the boot. I swear, being at the game, I saw Hawthorn actually let him get the ball and just zoned off on Tex/Lynchy so that Gibson had no opposition and took the intercept mark. Then Birchall got the handball receive and that was that.

We didn't have a defender to go with Hodge, then Bruest got in a lucky couple which got the whole side up and it was a rampage.

Don't really know what happened after that as I was in a catatonic state.

 

[CrowsAlways83]

I've got a bad feeling about this game...

I was reasonably positive going into the Swans game. I thought we had 3 key factors in our favour:

• Adelaide were clearly in good form.
• We finally had a game plan that would trouble the Swans.
• The game was being played on our home deck.

Only 1 of those factors holds true against Hawthorn - we're still in good form.

Right now, Hawthorn are a sleeping giant, just rolling along in cruise control. They're doing enough to win games against the lesser sides, and not wasting one more joule of energy than they have to. However, when a team comes along that has delusions of grandeur, they wake up and squash them like a bug. Take their response to the Weagles as a prime example. It's about maintaining the mental dominance over the rest of the competition - reminding everyone else that they're the King of the Jungle, and making sure that everyone else has the mindset that they're the underdogs.

There is no doubt that Adelaide have a much better game plan this year. It's still not going to trouble the Hawks. Our plan is very similar to the Weagles - no surprise, given where Pyke was working last year. The Hawks have smashed the Weagles in their last 2 encounters. They know how to beat it and they have the personnel to do it.

Unfortunately, I see the "real" Hawthorn turning up this Friday. If that happens, Adelaide will get blown off the park.

My tip: Hawthorn by 40.

I'm not sure how much stock to place in the results against west coast - is it hawks handling it easily, or does it reflect on the eagles players not executing their plan very well (choking?) when playing them?

I know people are worried about certain match ups against the hawks and for good reason, however I feel there are enough points of difference between the form/team/gameplan this year vs last year (including which players the hawks have available) that make it difficult to predict what will happen on Friday night. I want us to back in the new personnel and plan and see what happens to be honest, lets see if our new style can put some scoreboard pressure on the hawks, and make them worry about us, not the other way around.

They aren't in good form despite winning, I think if we bring the same intensity as against the swans we should be in with a real chance. Worst case we get blown off the park and Pyke et al will have more information on how the game plan needs to be improved.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

All those people saying we need to sit on Mitchell are going to be disappointed. We have shown this year that we will not put time into stopping individual opposition midfielders.

Gray had 37 touches in the Showdown. Ellis had 39 and Cotchin 32 for Richmond. Hannebery 38 on the weekend.

We back our 18 to beat their 18. We are happy for them to have the best player on the field if our overall system is working. We don't try to make it a 17 on 17 contest.

Whether or not that is a good policy can be debated. But don't expect a Liberatore on Paul Kelly style tagging job on Mitchell on Friday night.

We have sat on players - just chosen which ones to put the effort into to restrict their influence.

eg. Richmond game we sat on Martin & let Cotchin loose, which worked as Martin's disposals hurt much more than Cotchin.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Even better is that it is 50 consecutive games for us! and a lazy 127 goals so far. So 3 and half goals a game return isn't too bad.

2 & half goals per game is pretty good too.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Is Hodge playing?

Played last week & got 23 possessions, so I see no reason why not.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The interesting thing about those numbers is that not one of those players hurt us. It's strange and I can't quite put my finger on it.

It's as though we are not so focused on preventing rhem from getting it, as we are applying high pressure once they do.

Good point.

Because we put the effort in to quieten the players who we thought would be more damaging.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Good point.

Because we put the effort in to quiet the players who we thought would be more damaging.

As Pyke said we consider the strength and weakness of our opposition (obviously this includes the strongest players on the opposition team) and adapt our game plan accordingly. What I would give to get my hands on one of those playbooks our coaches have...

 

[WWSD]

Not sure why Hawthorn are short-priced favorites to win. I think this game will be a lot closer and Adelaide's form has been superior to Hawthorn's at this stage.

The Crows have the edge up forward and in the ruck. Hawthorn have the edge on the outside and across half back. Hawthorn's form has been far from convincing just scrapping threw against the Saints in a game we probably should've lost.

If Adelaide play to their potential they will win on Friday night. However if Hawthorn get the jump start they will win.

I've been to many Hawthorn vs Adelaide games over the years and thoroughly enjoyed the contests. The Crows have a tremendous support of fans that travel across to Melbourne and they'll be out in force on Friday night.

If the Crows beat Hawthorn this week then they'll rocket up into Premiership favorites and deserving so.

I'm not going to wish the Crows any luck at all because every time I've done that they've won.

 

[little graham]

If we smash them, the lid will be blown so far off you'd need the Hubble telescope to find it

We may smash them. But that is a reflection of where they're at. Those shorter pre seasons winning flags causes, must take it out of the ruthless and toothless eventually? To be honest, they're playing off reputation alone ATM. Read their board, many of the smart posters are aware of that. Their forward and back lines are a mess and their midfield is soft as butter.

Our whole system is working. Our style suits the way this game is rapidly changing. I don't think their astoundingly brilliant coaching group has the time to pull our game apart. When it has so much work to put into its own struggling system this time of year.

If our heads are switched on, they can't maintain scoreboard pressure. Its our game to lose. The question is can we maintain the same even performances across the board or will the younger players get stage fright in front of a big MCG crowd?

Traditionally we find it hard to start away games at the required intensity.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Does Hawthorn having 3 consecutive 6 day breaks influence the game?

 

[DD#23]

I'm not going to wish the Crows any luck at all because every time I've done that they've won.

must have kicked that habit a while ago...

 

[baldandbroke]

Heading over to Melbourne tomorrow from little ol' Hobart with 2/3 of my kids - been 3 years since we lived in Melbourne and we are all jumpin' to get back to the G.

When does the team fly over? Do they have any mini-training sessions or anything that would be a chance for the kids to get a signature on the jumper / cap? Even the day after? Anyone point me to where I would find this info?

Really looking forward to the game ... We'll be screamin' our guts out for the boys

PS - Last week I realised that a bloke I do a lot of work with is Andrew Fagan's brother When we put 2-and-2 together, he told Andrew who promptly sent a great email to my two kids which of course blew their minds ! Classy fella.

 

[SydCrow]

How many cheap shots can we expect? Hodge with an arm guard will do some damage.

 

[skoobydoo]

Form wise we are a realistic chance to take this one. Some things that worry me are -

Centre contests - our midfield not quite strongly there yet

Lapses in the final minutes of any quarter - particularly the final

Our ability to revert from pressing forward to anticipate and cover our defensive half quickly enough. I know we have to tradeoff some of these where long kicks over the top of a press will always be a problem, but surely we can cover our defensive side of contests particularly when structuring against the trajectory of the ball. We didn't do this so well against Sydney.

Sydney pressured our close-in game and Hawthorn will also. They kept us working our possessions inside. Hoping for outside workers (in motion) to provide more options.

Staying disciplined after Hawthorn 'get into us' if the game is really close.

Umpiring.

 

[relapse]

Not sure why Hawthorn are short-priced favorites to win. I think this game will be a lot closer and Adelaide's form has been superior to Hawthorn's at this stage.

The Crows have the edge up forward and in the ruck. Hawthorn have the edge on the outside and across half back. Hawthorn's form has been far from convincing just scrapping threw against the Saints in a game we probably should've lost.

If Adelaide play to their potential they will win on Friday night. However if Hawthorn get the jump start they will win.

I've been to many Hawthorn vs Adelaide games over the years and thoroughly enjoyed the contests. The Crows have a tremendous support of fans that travel across to Melbourne and they'll be out in force on Friday night.

If the Crows beat Hawthorn this week then they'll rocket up into Premiership favorites and deserving so.

I'm not going to wish the Crows any luck at all because every time I've done that they've won.

I do, because we've struggled to match up against Hawthorn for a while now and have been your bunnies since the 2007 Elimination Final (Hawthorn 10 - Adelaide 3) and the Hawks are currently on a six game winning streak against us.

 

[Swooping Crow]

How many cheap shots can we expect? Hodge with an arm guard will do some damage.

Mitchell that smug dwarf campaigner needs to be put in his place

 

[Moonwatcher]

I do, because we've struggled to match up against Hawthorn for a while now and have been your bunnies since the 2007 Elimination Final (Hawthorn 10 - Adelaide 3) and the Hawks are currently on a six game winning streak against us.

There is only one team with a winning streak against Pyke and that is North Melbourne with a streak of 1.

 

[PasswordisTaco]

I've got a bad feeling about this game...

I was reasonably positive going into the Swans game. I thought we had 3 key factors in our favour:

• Adelaide were clearly in good form.
• We finally had a game plan that would trouble the Swans.
• The game was being played on our home deck.

Only 1 of those factors holds true against Hawthorn - we're still in good form.

Right now, Hawthorn are a sleeping giant, just rolling along in cruise control. They're doing enough to win games against the lesser sides, and not wasting one more joule of energy than they have to. However, when a team comes along that has delusions of grandeur, they wake up and squash them like a bug. Take their response to the Weagles as a prime example. It's about maintaining the mental dominance over the rest of the competition - reminding everyone else that they're the King of the Jungle, and making sure that everyone else has the mindset that they're the underdogs.

There is no doubt that Adelaide have a much better game plan this year. It's still not going to trouble the Hawks. Our plan is very similar to the Weagles - no surprise, given where Pyke was working last year. The Hawks have smashed the Weagles in their last 2 encounters. They know how to beat it and they have the personnel to do it.

Unfortunately, I see the "real" Hawthorn turning up this Friday. If that happens, Adelaide will get blown off the park.

My tip: Hawthorn by 40.

Our gameplan against Sydney wasn't the same as it has been this year though. If we can match Hawthorn strength for strength instead of insisting on playing our game (which hawthorn know how to shutdown) like we did against Sydney we won't be blown off the park. In saying that, i'm of course not 100% confident of a win but there's no reason we can't. I'm predicting a very close game but can't quite call a winner until I see selection.

 

[footy4ever]

Crows are a different proposition than the team that played Hawks in the final last year. Hawks are spluttering, and have staggered over the line the last couple of games, winning on their laurels. That shows what a massive team they still are. But be prepared to fall short this week Hawks. Crows by 14, barring the usual shitfully biased umpiring.