Where can we improve

[bigman]

A win like we saw on saturday can often paper over some of the cracks, although I must say it was great to be there and see the great men MCleod and Carey play.

We clearly lost the centre square and the stoppages, although i was very happy with Huddos effort. We will not win many games with Shirley and Skipworth in the middle et al as happened on occasions yesterday.

I may be too early with my comments, but unless skippy can improve quickly he will spending the rest of his career in the SANFL. He looks out of his depth and does not appear to have enough pace for a player of his size or any real tricks.

We need to get a couple of class midfielders - one to extract the ball out of tight situations - the other to use the ball well to our forwards and who has lightning pace.

I was impressed with Schuback. He uses the ball well and unlike Skippy can kick the ball well over long distances. His thumping kicks resulted in at least two goals for others.

Bock continues to tease and suggest significant potential for the future. He looks very good on occasions but at other times he can disappoint. If he can improve in all areas and have a greater impact on the game he will become a valuable player at both ends of he ground depending on the match ups with opposition teams.

 

[Stiffy_18]

We have to improve in EVERY aspect of the game. You name it we are lacking at it.

Yesterday we were made to look good by extremely ordinary hawthorn outfit. Even Torney himself said we generated a lot of attacking moves from their clangers.

 

[marvin]

Originally posted by bigman
We clearly lost the centre square and the stoppages, although i was very happy with Huddos effort. We will not win many games with Shirley and Skipworth in the middle et al as happened on occasions yesterday.

I thought that it was smart of the coaches to basically run with a Hudson/Shirley/Skipworth midfield in the final term. The game was over, and the last thing we needed was for Clarke or Roo or Edwards or Macca to cop a Crawford style injury.

Apart from that, I didn't see Shirley and Skipworth together in the middle that often on Saturday.

 

[Tyson20]

Originally posted by bigman
I may be too early with my comments, but unless skippy can improve quickly he will spending the rest of his career in the SANFL. He looks out of his depth and does not appear to have enough pace for a player of his size or any real tricks.

i have to agree 100% with your comments on Skippy...how many chances do the likes of Shirley and Skipworth need before they show anything!

and Stiffy is correct...great sides improve everyweek and we NEED to continue the progress we made on Saturday at the G and nothing less than an 8-10 goal win this Saturday @ AAMI will b needed to show us exactly where we are headed! We're at least that much better than Carlton...arent we??

 

[napsyd]

Frankly I would think we are unlikely to see as dominant a performance as that from us again this season.

We basically didn't lose one position except for maybe tap outs, although tap outs to effect might have been interesting.

Our forward line was dominant and even the woefully out of form Welsh looked OK on occasions.

Basically, we were made to look significantly better than we actually are.

How can we improve? Consistency for one. And for two and three for that matter.

The return of Goodwin, Burton and Bode would also bring improvement, however this would require the dropping of a number of kids (probably). Is that a good thing? Are we so vain as to strive for eighth at all costs? Are Goodwin, Burton and Bode our future? None are too old. All are excellent players. What about Biglands and Ladhams? This makes for tough selection decisions. This is THE tough problem IMO.

Finishing eighth probably means more to Gary Ayres then the Adelaide Footy Club at this moment in time.

 

[ok.crows]

Basically agree with napsyd.

Improvement needs to come primarily from getting some consistency, but also:

Shirley, Skipworth, Massie and either Mattner or Doughty out for Goodwin, Reilly, Burton & Begley.

Bock is maybe worth persisting with, and just maybe Mattner as well.

Biglands needs to show a lot before displacing either Clarke or Hudson.

Matbe Rutten can put some selection pressure on Bassett.

 

[Tyson20]

Originally posted by ok.crows
Matbe Rutten can put some selection pressure on Bassett.

you've got to be kidding me...

this selection will b the end of Ayres if he agrees with you (which there would be no way in hell Gary would b thinking like that...)

as much as Bassett can sumtimes b out muscled, it happens rarely...he gives it his all EVERY week and to suggest Rutten could replace him is mind boggling...

 

[Stiffy_18]

I agree with napsyd. I think we won't put in a performance as dominant as that for the rest of the year. We were made to look better than we are by a very ordinary side.

I would play youngsters at all costs. The likes of Hentschel, Schuback, Reilly, Bock, Jericho, Hudson and Watts should get plenty of game time this year. Schuey was a fantastic on saturday. Reilly must be settled on the wing. I have no problem with Goodwin, Burton and Biglands coming back in as long as 4 youngsters out of the lot I have mentioned are in the 22 and getting good game time. These blokes are the future of the club and the sooner they come on the better for the club.

 

[napsyd]

Ayres is now in the uncomfortable position of deciding whether to coach for Adelaide's future or his.

So far he has been above reproach IMO in showing faith in many youngsters even when the board, media and supporters have been breathing down his neck looking for results.

A new tenure at Adelaide may or may not now be out of the question, but Ayres probably realises that grabbing a spot in the eight might convince another club to give him a chance, if Adelaide aren't turned around in their view.

Stiffy, I hope he persists with the youngsters too. For him to do so though may mean putting the club before his career. Tough call.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by napsyd
Ayres is now in the uncomfortable position of deciding whether to coach for Adelaide's future or his.

So far he has been above reproach IMO in showing faith in many youngsters even when the board, media and supporters have been breathing down his neck looking for results.

A new tenure at Adelaide may or may not now be out of the question, but Ayres probably realises that grabbing a spot in the eight might convince another club to give him a chance, if Adelaide aren't turned around in their view.

Stiffy, I hope he persists with the youngsters too. For him to do so though may mean putting the club before his career. Tough call.

So far this year Ayres has ALWAYS put club before himself and I don't think that will change. He was even asked the question after the win against Hawthorn, that was along the lines you are now back in the hunt for the finals is that on the agenda. His comment was basically that he has writted off finals already and is only focusing on Carlton.

Gary has integrity and has put his head on the chopping block this year by putting club before himself. I don't think there is a coach out there that would do the same thing. I don't think Gary's view of the year will change at all. I am pretty sure he will still be playing handful of youngsters in the side.

Its great to see youngsters taking that step. It has been the most enjoyable think this year. Nowdays Hentschel is already pencilled in the 18. Huddo is improving with every game and the likes of Schuey and Bock are showing good signs.

 

[napsyd]

Agree completely Stiffy.

But if that's the case, I hope the club are at least considering the possibility of Ayres coaching AFC in 2005. Not sure if he should be the one or not, but he has earnt consideration at least IMO.

Gary has ALWAYS had to earn respect from a generally doubting supporter base.

If the board are not considering Gary they are doing themselves and us a disservice.

 

[Alex99]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I agree with napsyd. I think we won't put in a performance as dominant as that for the rest of the year. We were made to look better than we are by a very ordinary side.

I would play youngsters at all costs. The likes of Hentschel, Schuback, Reilly, Bock, Jericho, Hudson and Watts should get plenty of game time this year. Schuey was a fantastic on saturday. Reilly must be settled on the wing. I have no problem with Goodwin, Burton and Biglands coming back in as long as 4 youngsters out of the lot I have mentioned are in the 22 and getting good game time. These blokes are the future of the club and the sooner they come on the better for the club.

Agree 100 %

We will be wasting time if we play ronnie burnes over J Schuback and B Reilly.

IMO l would give Bock 2 more games and then drop him or maybe try him in a different position for F Watts. F Watts needs to play some games with carey and stevens this season. For the next 8- 10 years Bock, Jerrico and Watts are going to be our keys forwards

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Agree with the comments that we should persist with playing the youngsters, though obviously can't play them all at once, so need to manage them carefully (ie. play some for a few games, then drop them back to the SANFL when required). Hentschel has done enough to play for the rest of the year (unless he hits a really rough patch). Schuback needs to play for the next weeks. Would like to see Reilly given a month off a wing. Watts could perhaps come in for Bock in a few games time. Would also like to see Rutten later in the year.

The talk of finals is way, way too premature. Particularly given we still haven't won 2 consecutive games for a long time. Hopefully we change that this WE!

 

[maccas_no1]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
We have to improve in EVERY aspect of the game. You name it we are lacking at it.

Yesterday we were made to look good by extremely ordinary hawthorn outfit. Even Torney himself said we generated a lot of attacking moves from their clangers.

For the record Hawthorn had 58 clangers AFC had 31 which is way too high.

 

[Tyson20]

AFL football is riddled with players that produce more clangers than not...its whether a team can punish the other team on there mistakes which we did to effect on Saturday!

and playing a few youngies is going to lift the clanger count anyway!

i do agree 31 is high...and particularly as Burton wasnt playing

 

[Damp Squarie]

Where we can improve.

Standing on the Mark Part 1

Id like to see players put up both of thier hands and wave them.
This simple ploy creates confusion in the kickers mind because the kicker gets fleeting glimpses of a target but nothing solid.

When we zone well enough for the opposition backman to kick short we then need to LOCK it in the 50.


Standing on the Mark Part 2

I know its not eutopia but it is very obvious at times we stand the mark with short crows when they kick for goal.

Manning up becomes a problem I know...but obvious set shots for goal may fail to make the distance with an up and under kick .

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Originally posted by napsyd
Ayres is now in the uncomfortable position of deciding whether to coach for Adelaide's future or his.

So far he has been above reproach IMO in showing faith in many youngsters even when the board, media and supporters have been breathing down his neck looking for results.

A new tenure at Adelaide may or may not now be out of the question, but Ayres probably realises that grabbing a spot in the eight might convince another club to give him a chance, if Adelaide aren't turned around in their view.

Stiffy, I hope he persists with the youngsters too. For him to do so though may mean putting the club before his career. Tough call.

First I'm sure the decision to play youth and regenerate wasn't taken by Ayres in isolation from the football dept.

Secondly decisions of this nature do not chop and change based on either a few wins or losses.

Ayres future will be determined by how competitive the club is with playing the number of fringe and first year players we are at the moment.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Where we can improve?
I think its fair to say our younger players are improving each week!

Hentschel has grown in confidence being left to the back half-Dont move him YET or he wont improve.

Bock has provided a target and has impoved overall in 3 games Ive seen him play- will only get better

Shuback is back for good I hope and adds another penetrating left foot we have been lacking

Jericho is worthy of Rising Star status with his risk taking flair and will improve as he bulks his hips

"Rock" Hudson is no slouch but has a long way to learn the craft ala Clarke

When will Fergus Watts get a gig? Itll be tough to get in.

Rutten will be better for a long run in the SANFL but has shown he has the smarts to grab AFL by the throat... If he can improve his aerobic ability we will be laughing.