Thoughts on the Freo win.

[CrowTwig]

Bode: Well the kid has produced when the heat is on several occasions now and he deserves the respect that his "gut busting" efforts have done for the team. As they said on TV last night his thinking on the ground has matured alot and he is panicking less and I would agree.

Am I seeing things?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Revitalised Crows dash Dockers' dream

Ashley Porter, Adelaide
September 10, 2006

Adelaide's Jason Torney hangs onto the ball as he and Docker Josh Carr indulge in a little mid-air wrestling at AAMI Stadium yesterday.
Photo: David Mariuz

ADELAIDE 1.3 3.8 5.12 10.16 (76)
FREMANTLE 4.2 5.2 7.4 7.4 (46)
Goals: Adelaide: N Bock 2 R Biglands 2 J Torney 2 M Clarke B Reilly S Welsh I Perrie. Fremantle: J Farmer 2 M Pavlich 2 T Cook R Crowley H Black. Best: Adelaide: B Reilly S Thompson N Bassett J Porplyzia G Johncock M Mattner T Edwards J Torney. Fremantle: H Black M Johnson P Bell J Carr D Headland S McManus.
Injuries: Adelaide: Nil. Fremantle: A Grover (back). G Polak replaced in selected side by P Hasleby. Reports: Nil
Umpires: R Chamberlain M Ellis S McInerney
Crowd: 42,208 at AAMI Stadium

FREMANTLE'S 12-year dream to win a final remains just that after being cast aside by a resilient and ultimately classy Adelaide by 30 points at AAMI Stadium yesterday.

Held scoreless in the last term in what was for most part a tense qualifying final, the Dockers' nine-game winning streak came to a grinding halt.

They were by far the in-form side of the competition, and to be held to their lowest score for the season — after leading for 82 minutes of the game — was an outstanding effort by the Crows.

It has rekindled Adelaide's belief that it is good enough to win the premiership, and raised despair among Dockers fans desperately searching for their first finals win, having been left at nought from two.


The Crows gave them every chance to advance to a preliminary final with appalling kicking for goal early, but the home side, revved up by 42,208 fans, was ultimately rewarded for its persistence.

After kicking 5.12 in three quarters, Adelaide kicked 5.4 to nothing in the last, and left no doubt it is far from a spent force, having been racked by injuries and sickness.

As coach Neil Craig later stressed, this was a great team effort, but the emotion and heroics of the day were best exemplified by two kids with 13 AFL games between them, Richard Douglas and Jason Porplyzia.

At three-quarter-time, after Adelaide bravely outscored Fremantle by two points against a strong south-westerly, Douglas, holding his bloodied nose, urged the other players on the bench to get right into the huddle and encourage their teammates. The response, amidst a deafening crowd, was as significant as Jason Torney's fearless mark in front of Fremantle's goals in the dying moments of the third team.

Then, eight minutes into the last, Porplyzia also took a courageous mark in a pack in the back lines. He chased the ball 150 metres, and with his fourth effort somehow got the ball out — by the edge of the boundary, which led to Ian Perrie kicking a goal to give Adelaide a 16-point lead.

This was a game about belief, and while Fremantle started with every ounce of strength and endeavour, it ultimately was sapped by a relentless and disciplined Adelaide defence, led by Scott Stevens, Graham Johncock and Ben Rutten.

Adelaide's preparation came under enormous scrutiny during its recent poor form, but there was no doubt that it clearly outran Fremantle in the last quarter.

Many also believed Stevens should have been replaced by the emergency Ken McGregor, but he stood up to the challenge admirably, and was a key reason for the win with a terrific effort against Des Headland. Johncock curtailed the brilliance of Jeff Farmer, while Rutten overall had the measure of Matthew Pavlich.

Adelaide's first quarter was woeful, but Fremantle failed to make it pay dearly, leading by only 17 points at quarter-time, 4.2 to 1.3. After that, the Crows kicked 9.13 to 3.2.

It was significant that Adelaide had kicked 3.12 midway through the third term, yet trailed by only three points. At that stage, Fremantle coach Chris Connolly had a three-man forward structure kicking with the wind, and most times, the Crows were able to pick up the crumbs and work the ball carefully into attack.

Fremantle's strength lay in defence where Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin and Shane Parker were outstanding. Their work-rate was exceptional, and was largely responsible for the quality forward thrusts. But the Dockers at times also handballed too much, especially going with the wind, and as the pressure intensified, the hurried short kicks were picked off.

Emphasising Adelaide's work-rate, and its controlled play against the wind in the third quarter, was the fact that overall it had 60 more kicks, but only one more handball. The Crows also took 20 more marks.

It was a tough, gruelling encounter, expected of a final, and it showed with 42 free kicks — Adelaide 26 and Fremantle 16. The worst decision was when Nathan Bock kicked off the ground from 15 metres and was awarded a goal, but a replay clearly indicated the ball was touched, placing Adelaide within four points with minutes remaining until three-quarter-time. It was a defining moment, but then Adelaide seemed intent on assuming the momentum anyway.

Fremantle will learn from this experience — it played quality football for most of the game — but a pertinent point from this encounter was that Adelaide was allowed to run back into its best form.

The win against Melbourne the previous week was very good, but this time, it went much further. Also, Perrie, who was very ordinary for three quarters, including missing a goal from five metres in the opening minutes, was able to run into better form in the last term.

Craig's philosophy is based largely on Malcolm Blight's "star" theory that he learned while he was his assistant coach in the premiership years of 1997-98. It's about the dangers of focusing on too few players to win a game because come the finals, if they have a bad day, you're shot. Yesterday could have resembled the old schoolboys' footy team line: "All played well."

For Fremantle, it lives for another final, against Melbourne. The Dockers' dream continues.

Gee it gives you goosebumps!!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Crows' cry can be heard in howling win

Greg Baum
September 10, 2006

IN THE Victorian-centric view of the AFL that is now in mournful vogue, Melbourne is home and everywhere else is away. Truthfully, there are degrees of home, and degrees of away. It is a subtlety all had better learn to appreciate.

Fremantle was somewhere between Melbourne and home yesterday, but could hardly have been more lost, lonely and away.

It was confronted by a four-fifths full AAMI Stadium that Adelaide coach Neil Craig said was a palpable force in the game when it was there for the winning. "It sounded more like 52,000 than 42,000," said Craig. "I couldn't hear myself talk at three-quarter-time." Ruefully, Fremantle coach Chris Connolly acknowledged Adelaide's extra man.

The Dockers were also met by a blustery south-wester. It was as mighty an influence on the game as the crowd .

Craig called the wind "flukey and difficult", Connolly "howling". Nomenclature notwithstanding, the Dockers did not deal with it, managing one shot at goal into the wind for the match, gained from a free kick. Adelaide kicked 3.7 into the wind.

Nathan Bock's first goal was a physiological impossibility, except perhaps to sports science boffin Craig, kicked into and across the wind from the forward pocket. Another to Bock a few moments later meant that the Crows began their wind-assisted last quarter four points in arrears. As night follows day, an onslaught ensued. Adelaide kicked the last seven goals.

Craig again made fine points, saying Adelaide's first quarter defending into the wind had been poor. The Crows had rushed their football, he said, and defenders had made faulty position. So it was that Fremantle kicked the first four goals of the match.

It was merely a point of re-negotiation. The Dockers would kick only three more goals for the match as the Crows, who remembered their smothering, self-disciplined best against Melbourne last week, reasserted it. In such frame of mind, it does not matter how many stars it is missing, for the team is greater than the sum of its parts anyway.

The most telling force was the Crows' defence. It has rediscovered its vocation. It was the meanest in the competition until a slump allowed Sydney to sneak in by 10 points as the league's No. 1 defensive team after 22 rounds. Adelaide played as if it does not consider the business finished.

Ben Rutten and Scott Stevens accounted for Matthew Pavlich. Graham Johncock beat Jeff Farmer. Stevens is a classic Adelaide story, not even a middling name elsewhere in the competition, narrowly retained yesterday ahead of Ken McGregor, but equal to the task on Pavlich.

Even when it had the wind, Fremantle was unable to see or imagine a way through the Adelaide lines. If the United Nations was so effective at disarming in hot spots, it would be proud.

Of course, in modern footy, no defence can be considered in isolation, any more than can an attack. Adelaide so dominated the middle of the ground that Fremantle crossed its 50-metre line once in the first 25 minutes of the second quarter. At first, Adelaide wasted the ascendancy, kicking eight behinds. But the waves of attacks wearied the Dockers until they collapsed.

In the last quarter, Jason Porplyzia typified the Crows' one-attitude-fits-all game. In one passage, he ran back hard to mark in defence, then chased the ball up the ground, gathered it again on the boundary line on the half-forward flank and passed it to Ian Perrie, who kicked the sealing goal.

The combination of crowd, conditions and defensive mastery turned AAMI Stadium into a black hole for Fremantle. Now it will play at home and set the terms against a team that travels about as well as Guinness.

The moral strength of the home perspective ought not to be underestimated in the decentralised AFL. Fremantle was the bookmaker's favourite for this match, but the loyal and learned of Adelaide were confident. The Crows' home has been its castle all season, and a couple of successful guerilla raids by opponents did not make it any less of a fortress.

The view becomes rosier still for the Crows. Two weeks' rest gives them a chance to deal with niggles. Convalescing Mark Ricciuto, in crisply pressed civvies, was on the ground with the team at final siren, and among them as they disappeared up the race, every centimetre still their captain. Craig doubted he could be ready by the preliminary final, but the sight of him alone is a moral force. Assuredly, the Crows are back in town — their town

To the supporters at the game last night who have been criticized for their lack of "willing" the boys home......what a fantastic aknowledgement of your great support which DID make a difference!!!

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Who to drop should Roo/Mcleod/Burton be fit? I'd rather not bring in all three - but who of those would you leave out? I think Douglas, Massie are in danger of losing their spots and perhaps Shirley. And of course what of Kenny Mac?

I am not a big fan of Shirley and never have been but he has earned his spot well and truelly this year.

He played a great game yesterday, kept Bell fairly quiet.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Pigs will fly before Shirley gets dropped this year. Some people are just living in the fantasy land. Ask Craigy whether or not Shirley is integral part of our midfield rotation

Shirley will NOT be dropped. You can bookmark that.

 

[jenny61_99]

Pigs will fly before Shirley gets dropped this year. Some people are just living in the fantasy land. Ask Craigy whether or not Shirley is integral part of our midfield rotation

Shirley will NOT be dropped. You can bookmark that.

hey - I wouldnt drop Shirley either... but I am racking my brains trying to figure out WHO would go if we bring in McGregor, Roo, McLeod AND Burton. VERY difficult decisions to be made IMO.

 

[tribey]

Sure Del Santo is flashy, footy smart and on his night can tear a team apart better than Reilly can.....but Del Santo also HAS NOT produced in the big games when the pressure is on like Reilly did tonight.

Sure if you're ignoring Dal Santo's 31 touches in the QF vs us last year.

Reilly had a very good game for a change, but let's not turn *******.

 

[tribey]

Pigs will fly before Shirley gets dropped this year. Some people are just living in the fantasy land. Ask Craigy whether or not Shirley is integral part of our midfield rotation

Shirley will NOT be dropped. You can bookmark that.

If he had blonde koalabear hair to go with his blue eyes or racked up 10 kicks a match seagulling off a flank he'd be hailed a future Brownlow Medallist, I'm sure.

 

[AJ_No.4]

Thompson: The man who disappointed me the most last night........his casualness turned the ball over and missed vital shots.

Has a LONG way to go IMO to leave the Backboner group and was shown up last night by several of our "crushers" in desperation at the contest (forgetting Thommos effort in the forward pocket)

The only bad thing about his performance yesterday was his disposal, but I think everyone should see past this as he put in a 4 quarter effort. Was our best midfielder yesterday. Gave Josh carr an abosulte bath.

 

[King Elvis]

The only bad thing about his performance yesterday was his disposal, but I think everyone should see past this as he put in a 4 quarter effort. Was our best midfielder yesterday. Gave Josh carr an abosulte bath.

30 touches - 9 clangers.

Number of clangers is disappointing, but he did he best to be our tough, hard midfielder and this time he did it without losing his cool, and the conditions weren't great and he had that little bastard Carr trying to put him off his game.

I thought he played very well though - not a perfect game, but a real step in his development.

 

[AJ_No.4]

He actually made a few - bombing away with his kicks - each time resulting in a turnover and at least one goal. Like I said though, all is forgiven because we won!

apparently from the sunday mail he made 2 clangers and there was plenty more ahead of him in the clanger count. i just think it is more of the fact that his name is scott stevens and he will always have knockers.

IMHO Johncock's 3 clangers were a lot more damging in yesterdays game than Steven's.

But all is forgiven..... he shutdown the Pav yesterday!!!

 

[WaynesWorld19]

The only bad thing about his performance yesterday was his disposal, but I think everyone should see past this as he put in a 4 quarter effort. Was our best midfielder yesterday. Gave Josh carr an abosulte bath.

Lets look at facts here....we won so these things are glossed over....if we had lost I'm sure your perspective would have differed.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Sure if you're ignoring Dal Santo's 31 touches in the QF vs us last year.

Reilly had a very good game for a change, but let's not turn *******.

Im sure if you go far enough back in history you'll find something to support your cases

Please don't quote me stats as these days they are as useful as **** on a bull

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

30 touches - 9 clangers.

Number of clangers is disappointing, but he did he best to be our tough, hard midfielder and this time he did it without losing his cool, and the conditions weren't great and he had that little bastard Carr trying to put him off his game.

I thought he played very well though - not a perfect game, but a real step in his development.

I think the clanger count with Thompson can be a bit misleading. He is a risk taker and not everything he tries will come off. He is also a midfielder that gets relatively few of his possessions in the back half. I mean, Ben Rutten is statistically our most efficient kick. Mostly because he understands his limitations well and kicks medium to short distances to players on their own. He doesn't take many risks or try to hit targets in the corridor. Does he do the most damage to the opposition though?

It is the difference between a positive error and a negative error. You need players like Mattner, Burton and Thompson in your side who are going to take risks, make the odd error, but have the ability to break the game open for you.

I'd hate to see Thompson change his game and take some 'smarter' or safer options. If he was safer he certainly wouldn't have tried to pass the ball Nathan Bock leading wide into Tony Hall pocket.

 

[noddy]

I think the clanger count with Thompson can be a bit misleading. He is a risk taker and not everything he tries will come off. He is also a midfielder that gets relatively few of his possessions in the back half. I mean, Ben Rutten is statistically our most efficient kick. Mostly because he understands his limitations well and kicks medium to short distances to players on their own. He doesn't take many risks or try to hit targets in the corridor. Does he do the most damage to the opposition though?

It is the difference between a positive error and a negative error. You need players like Mattner, Burton and Thompson in your side who are going to take risks, make the odd error, but have the ability to break the game open for you.

I'd hate to see Thompson change his game and take some 'smarter' or safer options. If he was safer he certainly wouldn't have tried to pass the ball Nathan Bock leading wide into Tony Hall pocket.

Top post & i agree whole heartedly

Those who dare win.

 

[Damp Squarie]

I liked the way we ran out the game strong. Sure we had to come from behind to get the points but aside from a "windy" start where we were caught napping and our atrocious goal kicking it was another 4 quarter assault.

I tipped 'em to win and I just thought Freo were ripe for the picking with all the hype they'd endured.

To all you Freo supporters...Stiff bickies!!
Johncock and Stevens just tore youre stars apart....I thought it was gunna be the other way

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I liked the way we ran out the game strong.

Me too. Huge confidence boost to the players (and the coaching staff). Would have reaffirmed that we are on the right track.

 

[birdmanptr]

Make no mistake about it that was one of the great wins of all time from our club. I can't remember the last time I felt so proud of 22 players in an AFC jumper. They attacked every contest, from quarter time onwards, like it was their last. Given our outs and our recent form, we had no right to win this game. Only a true AFC supporter, and football enthusiast, knows exactly how special this win was.

THE GOOD:

Reilly - Jesus where has been keeping his A game. Fantastic effort from the much maligned.

S Stevens - Is this really the same gut most, including myself, has as definitie delisting at years end.

Porp- What a pair of hands this kids has. I thought he made a huge difference when he went into the forward line.

Bassett - Great game.

Torney - Best game he has played for the club.

Biglands - The much malinged one. Good game with two crucial goals and alot of crashing of packs.

Goody/Edwards - reliable as ever.

Bock - Needs to stay at CHF for the rest of the finals. Bring Kenny back in and leave him at FF where he can use his greatest strength, his marking prowess.

BODE ?????????????????????

 

[King Elvis]

I think the clanger count with Thompson can be a bit misleading. He is a risk taker and not everything he tries will come off. He is also a midfielder that gets relatively few of his possessions in the back half. I mean, Ben Rutten is statistically our most efficient kick. Mostly because he understands his limitations well and kicks medium to short distances to players on their own. He doesn't take many risks or try to hit targets in the corridor. Does he do the most damage to the opposition though?

It is the difference between a positive error and a negative error. You need players like Mattner, Burton and Thompson in your side who are going to take risks, make the odd error, but have the ability to break the game open for you.

I'd hate to see Thompson change his game and take some 'smarter' or safer options. If he was safer he certainly wouldn't have tried to pass the ball Nathan Bock leading wide into Tony Hall pocket.

I agree mate.

30 touches is a great effort.

A few clangers, but on a windy day, with finals pressure, it's not the end of the world.

 

[tribey]

Im sure if you go far enough back in history you'll find something to support your cases

Please don't quote me stats as these days they are as useful as **** on a bull

Ah, the "not listening nyeh nyeh" defence.

 

[beartoo]

Haven't seen much about Clarke and Biglands in this thread. Thought both played good games, especially the Doc who took that 9 foot three inch fella apart. Biglands was hard at it all day, and didn't you just love that impersonation of a ballet dancer in the 1st Q?

 

[King Elvis]

Haven't seen much about Clarke and Biglands in this thread. Thought both played good games, especially the Doc who took that 9 foot three inch fella apart. Biglands was hard at it all day, and didn't you just love that impersonation of a ballet dancer in the 1st Q?

Clarkey is playing great - like a man throwing everything at it with nothing to lose, he has been excellent.

Swayze needs to do more of that work - he's not a good enough ruckman to be in the team purely for his ruckwork, so he needs to earn his keep in general play and with a few goals here and there. I think he's second on the list of Ruckman Goal Scorers this year?