What Do We Lack To Be Premiership Force?

[J-Ro-20]

we are lacking an elite forward. we can always invent small crumbers or good midfielders, but natural target forwards are so rare.

we have been needing an elite forward since we started our finals runs back in 2001.

sad but true

 

[beartoo]

Lack a quality power forward who presents a dangerous target and the ability to bring the ball to ground. Forward line lacks class and has been an achilles heel for a decade now.

Midfield is average and lacks high quality players. Players Crow fans see as stars appear to be fairly average to opposition fans. McKay for example.

Rucks are solid and defence is sound.

Be interesting to get your considered opinion on Mackay mid-season.
You will be unpleasantly surprised when we meet you.

 

[cmndstab]

Midfield is average and lacks high quality players. Players Crow fans see as stars appear to be fairly average to opposition fans. McKay for example.

To be fair, I think we see Mackay more as a future star, not one that is quite there yet.

 

[Pietmans]

We have not won a game by 3 points or less since a 3 point win over Geelong Round 17 2002 at Skilled Stadium and the last time we won by 2 points was against Essendon in 1998. I think we've dropped 12 straight games by 3 points or less and we have dropped 3 games to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval by 1 point in 1998, 2003 and 2007. The streak is bound to end one day, but when?[/quote]

I stand to be corrected but to my recollection the result is usually after we try unsuccessfully to come from behind to snatch a win. There have been some few instances of the game being snatched away from us when seemingly in control (well in to the last quarter) but these ala the Hawthorn final in 2007 but these have been rare.

To me we lose the game with 15 minutes or less of poor football somewhere earlier in the game and with today's flooding it is very hard to recover enough to snatch a win - especially when you don't have those electric, game turing players (Porps excepted of course).

(We could also be looking at the positives - ie when behind the Crows never throw in the towel and keep fighting to the finish as well as the negatives of narrow losses.)

I think it really reflects the general tone of this thread - the lack of goal kicking forwards. To me taking a good midfielder and just assuming he can go forward and automatically become a dangerous forward is flawed. Good goal kickers - small, medium or large are born not made (eg Walker.) You may as well say that every good CHB or FB can be sent forward to kick 50+ goals. It just won't happen in reality unless they are really exceptional.

We desperately need crumbing forwards who can create goals out of half chances - we still enter the forward 50 enough times to win a game but can't kick big enough scores. Yes, we need to get it in quicker but we also need guys who, given an opportunity (or even half of one) can create a goal. Too many times in those close losses we have had heaps of shots on goal for loads of points! (I'm a bit concerned that the club may be looking more for someone who will be great defensively and hold the ball in, rather than a proven gaolkicker from junior grades.)

Here's hoping that Davis and/or McKernan can become regular goalkicking KPF's as well, because at the moment Hentschell (if he can get back to where he was) and Porplyzia are the only ones we could rely upon until Burton gets back. I'm not so sure that Tippett won't end up in the ruck where he plays his best football IMO.

 

[KUNG FU]

Hodge and Mitchell are ABSOLUTELY AA standard.
Bateman is very very close.

Hodge would be in the top 5 most influential, inspirational leaders in the game.

What are you smoking?

He said we needed two AA midfielders. No qualifications. Therefore he was wrong. Hodge was the only one who comes close, but he played in the backlines during 2008 and was named as such in the AA team. Therefore does not equal a AA midfielder. Do you need a diagram?

My point is that there is no one single way to win a flag, and if there is, it'll be outdated by the next time you have a shot.

 

[danger_to_walker]

We need a game-breaking midfielder with pace who can carry the ball over lines, in the mould of a Judd or Ablett. These are the players who make an enormous difference, particularly in the absence of a dominant forward. A midfielder with pace, carrying the ball over half forward and delivering quickly to the forward line is something we have lacked for a very long time, making the job for our makeshift forward line all the more difficult. Perhaps Dangerfield could be that player.

Of course a Buddy Franklin type key forward wouldn't hurt either!

 

[Shorty86]

KEY FORWARDS!!

put it this way, if craig could stop protecting walker and let him play him what he's paid to do, the crows would be a top 4 side because of their disciplined structured play.

IF:

Walker can kick 35-50 goals

Hentschell can kick 35-50 goals

the Porpaz kicking 25-30 goals

my mate Gilly kicking 20-30 goals

Goodwin/Thompson resting forward kicking 30-40 goals

and getting a contribution from the recovering Birdman, the crows would be a top 4 team, hell they'd be the best side since Essendon of 2000!!!!

maybe they should have traded mcgregor/let him walk when they had the chance a few years back, wasted space sad to say on his salary

 

[TigerHunter]

A couple of forwards who can mark and kick goals. I think the crows have much talent coming through in all but this area. Reliance or persistance with Goodwin, Edwards and McLeod isnt hurting developement yet as the core of Thompson, Van Berlo, Bock, Johncock, Maric, Moran, Tippet, Vince, Mckay are still young.

 

[purple hater]

Matthew Pavlich.

Cant believe the Crows didn't throw everything they had at him four/five years ago. He would have got you over the line for at least one premiership in 05/06.

Surely the guy could have seen how successful such a move would have been for both parties? He always said he wanted to play in his home state, maybe he is too loyal for his own good.

(Yes, Judd is a backstabbing dog. But surely leaving the Dockers doesn't count?)

 

[KingsCrow]

a forward. Thats it. Our midfield is aweosme. young too.



All we need is a forward an it will all fall into place.



I would top myself if Tippett turned out to be that saviour, only to be stolen by the Gold Coast

 

[Crowked]

Based on our best 22 as is ATM....

2 quality key forwards
2 quality small forwards
2 quality ruckman
2 quality taggers/run with players
2 elite midfielders

Basically a forward line and a midfield.


We might have some of this emerge from our list this year, but its unlikely we will challenge the class sides. We have plently of quality youth IMO and by 2010 we should be in the hunt.