Thoughts On The West Coast Game

[CaptainDangerfield]

Called frustration, you might be satisfied with that performance, I wasn't.

Craigy can't work miracles. Were we a genuine contender at the start of the year?? Let's look at the facts:

-Our best ever player in Roo, was showing serious signs of wear and tear.
-Our only A grade midfielders, Goody and Edwards, were all the wrong side of 30.
- We were going to be with out our best forward in Trent H for the entire year.
- We were going to be without our second choice ( considering Huddo was coming back from a knee ), you could argue our first choice ruckman in Biglands, for the year.


And then to top of it off, we have had a disasterous run of injury. Craigy can only do so much with the cattle he has at his disposal.

 

[bus24]

Craigy hasn't done too badly this year, given the circumstances, but some of his matchday moves are very questionable. Always have been.

 

[maccas_no1]

You are going ahead with this? Adelaide won that first quarter by quite a lot, West Coast were gifted their score adelaide has won 10 of 13 first quarters this year.
They did attack the goal square no players were there it was and easy mark for the opposition.
Time after time what you say doesn't relate logically to what happened on the field what is up with that?
These other forwards aren't going to do that no, but what you said doesn't support you.
They were well outplayed as the opposition didn't need to flood just stand their position and get 2 on ones with our forwards down the ground.

We lead at 1/4 time with the breeze by 6pts dont say gifted this gifted that........that is the fact the AFC lead at 1/4 time by 6pts. That is not grabbing the game from the start and saying this is our game and we are playing it on our terms.

 

[crowman_23]

Craigy hasn't done too badly this year, given the circumstances, but some of his matchday moves are very questionable. Always have been.

I think that is the main argument here. We are all only too aware of how awful our run of injuries have been, and how many important players we have missing. But I do agree, his game day coaching, ie. making positional changes, has always been questionable. And with his main strength being all of his preperation and his amazing sport science knowledge, we may have to settle that this will always be the case with Craig.

 

[maccas_no1]

Perrie didnt play today...why you blaming him?

the poster I quoted said Perrie would have made a difference today, i'm saying he wouldnt as he cannot kick over a friken jam tin there is no point to him playing up the ground because he cannot deliver the ball with any precision.

 

[macca23]

Scott Welshes out of bounds on the full was a turning point, we until then were just about holding our heads above water... after that heads dropped and the floodgates opened. Really disappointed with the structure and ball handling today.

I agree with you.

In spite of all of our other sins for the day, that was the psychological turning point where it all turned to manure after such a poor effort in what should have been a mere formality.

 

[maccas_no1]

So you want to build the forward line as from next week around a player that definitely won't play again until at least next year.

Plus Perrie, who didn't even play today gets a real bollicking from you.

C'mon Maccas - time to give it a rest.

We hope Hentschel will be back next year and from all signs of his current progress he will, so Im saying from next week (Roo is who plays Hentschels position for the remainder of 2007) start rebuilding and looking at the potential young forwards on our list and start playing them and finding out just what we have available.

Meh to Perrie and Welsh they have had ample time and if the AFC persist with the rubbish they continue to show well they are not identifying with the problems that exist on our list.

Im not going to blame Craig for the problems we have because as Springy pointed out in his post, with the cattle he had available it was never going to be a very proporous season from the start, I think he still needs to work on his match day coaching, but what coach doesnt???

 

[Kickin_Goals]

We lead at 1/4 time with the breeze by 6pts dont say gifted this gifted that........that is the fact the AFC lead at 1/4 time by 6pts. That is not grabbing the game from the start and saying this is our game and we are playing it on our terms.

How about I do, as it is the case where as what you say generally fails to be the case in regards to the on-field happenings.

How a team approaches the game and the result on the scoreboard are different things, If not for horrible disposal and ridiculous calling the the first quarter result would have set the tone of the game however it came to be fruitless.

West Coast however managed a lead after favourable turns they defended it had momentum and thus our team that does not contest well on the scoreboard due to inept goal kicking were no chance and the Eagles were confident enough to just play defense for the last.
Having a lead makes a big difference to Adelaide's play if they are winning contested ball and nothing is coming from it then what is the point?
They fall into a second guessing style of play.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Craigy hasn't done too badly this year, given the circumstances, but some of his matchday moves are very questionable. Always have been.

It boils down to the cattle he has available to him. Last year, up until when we suffered a shocking run of injuores before the finals, he was the second best coach in the compeition. Not bad for a guy whose match day coaching supposedly leave alot to be desired. Doesn't say much for the other 14 coaches in the competition.

 

[bus24]

On another, more sooky note. How many throws did the WCE get away with today

 

[macca23]

On another, more sooky note. How many throws did the WCE get away with today

I saw a couple blatant ones, but I guess the maggots were on the blind side.

One thing that did irritate me was the number of marks that Kenny dropped - because Glass was holding or chopping one of his arms. Did it cleverly just past shoulder level so it wasn't so noticeable.

 

[NikkiNoo]

But Macca Kenny obviously was armless for most of the game as that was the only reason I could see for the ignorance by those in green.

What really got me angry was when Kerr did the high tackle on Knights and he looked over to check where the umpire was and then dropped his elbow onto knights head where the ump couldn't see

 

[ThePeckers]

It annoys me that West Coast always beat us, but i put it down to a few things. We pride ourselves on our running game, and keeping possesion. Something WCE do much better.

But there is one thing which West Coast do really well, free kicks. West Coast win basically everygame when the free kick count is there way. They say its because they go at the ball hard, I can't think of a crows player who doesnt go for the ball hard though. Adelaide this year are giving away to many frees.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Today we were beaten by a side who is quite simply, better than us. They have a lot more talent than us and it shows. They were missing 2 of their best players, Judd and Cousins, yet we still lost. Doughty, McGregor, Shirley, Mattner, Perrie, Welsh, Bock, Stevens etc.. Their not going to win us games. Their not gonig to win us premierships. They are solid players at best, has a good game every now and then -which keeps him in the side then they just go back to their old selves against quality opposition. I might be a bit harsh on Welsh though, he's been our best forward but his worth has been inflated by the fact that he chips in with a few cheap goals when the game is done and dusted. He did win a game off his boot a few weeks ago though but it is a rarity.

Our midfield was shocking, we got thrashed. If you compare West Coast's midifled even without Judd and Cousins they still are better than us. And gee their youngster are good. They've got, Morton, Hurn, Rosa, Butler, Waters, Selwood, Priddis.... All are young guns who would be in our side.... And their just WCE's *2nd tier* midfielders. Sheesh. And their older players in the midfield aren't that old either. Stinga (we really miss him), Fletcher, Embley, Braun, Kerr, Judd, Cousins... They have more than half a side that can rotate in the midfield. If Cousins and Judd were in today, we would've got belted. Until we get more quality players, we will never go anywhere. Craig's done a pretty good job with our list. If no one steps up next year, I doubt we'll make the 8. The games moving on at a rapid speed, with the same game lan, we went from looking a million dollars to being an average team.


Our forward line needs tonnes of work, no quality crumbers and no quality forwards. Heck, Stevie Milne would be a handy addition to our side. Lets hope Tippett, Sellar and Griffen (give him a good run forward) develop.

 

[just maybe]

pretty poor from a 'supporter' are you sure you arent one of those who supported the port magpies in the SANFL?

I've been here longer and have more knowledge of the game than you ever will, **** off.

 

[ThePeckers]

Just pray that West Coast get knocked off by someone else in the finals and we dont have to play them. I've been to 2 prelims and 1 grand final all to see my most hated team win everytime. I am sick of it!

 

[just maybe]

Perhaps you should follow Richmond then. Would be well suited.

Gutless response from a moderator. Did you have a party after finally getting me banned from the Cricket Board? After countless stupid, unjustified infractions you couldnt explain?

 

[just maybe]

]It's not as though our players underperform against WC, it's a more a case of they are beaten by more talented opponents.

Untrue. They've been beaten by bottom 8 sides, FFS.

It's underperformance.

 

[just maybe]

So...is it the squad or is it the squads mental lapses against WC? Or are you saying we lack mental toughness against all opponents?

Both.

When we get the pressure put on us, our skills fall apart. Like the St Kilda final two years ago.

Against free-running sides like Fremantle, we have more chance. But under pressure, we automatically resort to fumbly, wide, ugly transitional play that results in the abject disaster we saw today.

 

[Dandy_GO]

What really got me angry was when Kerr did the high tackle on Knights and he looked over to check where the umpire was and then dropped his elbow onto knights head where the ump couldn't see

It's a good thing the umpire didn't see too, because he would have paid "Head in the elbow" against Knighta because hey, it's Daniel Kerr and he's such a brilliant player that we have to protect him to a far higher degree than other players in the competition no matter what because it's in the best interests of the game for he is such fun to watch and a fantastic chap to boot.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Maybe they just want to give Kerr a knighthood next week If Posh spice apparently can be listed why not good ol Daniel?

 

[Adelaide Cows]

This time last year our skills were seen as second to none in the competition, this year with an injury interupted, unsettled season we cant string two good passes in a row.

Can only hope we can settle the side and up the skills before finals time.

Our skill level is what cost us the game nothing else.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Was pleased with Johncock today (except for that terrible handball) and it's the best he has looked since coming back from his ankle injury. In our last tough game (against Geelong) Porplyzia fumbled everything that went near him so I was pleased that his sure ball-handling was back today. Was our best forward in the first 3 quarters against quality opposition - very pleasing. Some glimpses from Reilly too - "better for the run."

Cox was awesome again - bigger body than Griff, bigger motor than Hudson. To Huddo's credit he got involved in the packs and at ground level and at least had a bit of an impact. Griff is probably due a rest.

Those three terrible shots at goal will tarnish Thompson's game but I thought the rest of his game was very good. He straightened us up a number of times by steering us back into the corridor and won a fair bit of the footy in traffic. His field kicking was as good as his goal-kicking was poor. A real couldabeen game from Thommo. Of the rest I thought van Berlo and McLeod were very good and Knights, Torney and Edwards were the best of the rest.

Our KPP's all got thrashed. Bock kicking into the man when he was 30 metres out is simply unforgiveable. It's like taking a wicket off a no ball in cricket. Hopefully he gets the mandatory carton fine for his effort.

One question this game raises is the merits of our "play on at all costs" attitude. It is obviously designed to encourage us to take risks, to move the ball quickly, give our forwards the best chance of scoring and to stop us receding into our shell. However it removes the opportunity to finesse, to make decisions and doesn't show any faith that the players will know when to go and when to whoa. On numerous occassions we take a mark, play on straight away, then think. Too late by that stage and we ran ourselves into trouble many times today.

The loss also under-lined an issue that has emerged this season - our poor form at AAMI Stadium. My theory is that it is the damn wind that we struggle most. Anyone who has played footy will know just how much the wind raises the level of difficulty when kicking the ball - that was clearly evident today. If your kicking skills are average then you will be exposed in windy conditions and, conversely, the quality of the more polished kickers is obvious (Reilly, VB). A number of our players were found out today. Give me the sterile confines of the Telstra Dome or Queensland's "beautiful one day, perfect the next" climate any day. Our skill level is exemplary at those venues. Maybe we should sell off some of our home games?

Another theory I have is the existence of the Stevens Cycle:
1) Starts in defence, plays rubbish.
2) Once the game is lost gets moved up forward and kicks a couple
3) Next week he starts up forward, plays rubbish
4) Second half gets moved down back and looks ok
5) Go back to 1)

Geez West Coast are a good side though. Plenty of outs, looked to be in average form last week, away from home but still they found a way - 3 goals each from Le Cras, Seaby and Jones! And Hurn is going to be a gun.

 

[kogatheninja]

i enjoyed the game.

 

[Genesis67]

Geez West Coast are a good side though. Plenty of outs, looked to be in average form last week, away from home but still they found a way - 3 goals each from Le Cras, Seaby and Jones! And Hurn is going to be a gun.

Aye, most WC fans are very pleased with how Shannon is coming along. Already, there is some chatter amongst fans as him being a possible WCE captain one day.

Can I make one observation pls guys? And excuse me if it comes across as rude, its not meant to.

Its been said by a couple of other posters, but as an opposition fan, Scott Welsh really doesnt frighten me. I'm kinda at a loss as to how he still gets a game tbh. Griffen seems to have some skill (damn you lot for stealing him! ), worth maybe playing him as your second key forward behind Bock, and playing Maric in the ruck?