Where do we need to improve next year?

[Syd Crow]

I agree crows need a quality midfielder or 2.

I do watch the SANFL as well as I live in SA.

But this a a random but serious question to the crows fans on here.

Is there any Mature aged SANFL midfielder aged 20 to 24 that can have an impact like Tim Kelly did at the cats In 2018 and 2019?

Because this is what the crows need right now.

Also using a 1st round pick on a promising outside mid that can eventually turn into a good outside mid like Nasiah Wanganeen Milera or even a Brad Hill or Stephen Hill would help

Any mid we pick in draft has to do well as forward in the SANFL first. And we all remember what happened when we selected a mature age SANFL mid. I felt sorry for Brett Turner.

 

[crowsarethebest]

1. I would target a ruck/forward. Can see why we were into Draper (dons ruck). McAndrew is a break glass option only as first ruck. I would target a younger kid from another club whos had a few years in the system who can either lead the line, or play with ROB and split time forward/ruck.
2. I think the structure of our forward line is off. For me in finals you need to be good at fround level as the heat gets turned up. You don't need your key forwards to mark the ball, they just need to create a good contest so there's no intercept marks. It's why Mason Cox

46

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

has made a career for himself. We're too tall up top and the forward pressure isnt good enough when it hits the deck. As good of a player as tex has been, he needs to retire. If he does play next year - it's either FOG or Tex, can't play both. Instead of replacing tex with another tall i would then rotate Curtin/Dawson to play 3rd tall up forward.
3. We need an elite inside mid (or 2). Beggars can't be choosers, as much baggage as Oliver has and he may not get back to his best, but realistically he's our best bet. Suits our needs and a big upgrade on Berry.
4. We need a few wing options. Either blood a kid that we have in the SANFL or draft a mature age gut running speedy option ala Isaac Smith

7

Isaac Smith

Age

36

Ht

188cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

8.4

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.7

4star

D

19.4

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.3

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.5

3star

CL

1.3

4star

D

19.2

5star

K

10.6

4star

HB

8.6

5star

M

7.6

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.6

3star

/Holmes. Cumming needs to play HBF

 

[spenze]

The sad bit will be that we resign Nicks just before the first match.

It will be announced at the B&F

 

[GrommoT]

I think Burgess needs to make a small adjustment and not play our guys until they're crippled. It only magnifies one of Nicks's worst traits.

 

[Freomaniac]

1. I would target a ruck/forward. Can see why we were into Draper (dons ruck). McAndrew is a break glass option only as first ruck. I would target a younger kid from another club whos had a few years in the system who can either lead the line, or play with ROB and split time forward/ruck.
2. I think the structure of our forward line is off. For me in finals you need to be good at fround level as the heat gets turned up. You don't need your key forwards to mark the ball, they just need to create a good contest so there's no intercept marks. It's why Mason Cox has made a career for himself. We're too tall up top and the forward pressure isnt good enough when it hits the deck. As good of a player as tex has been, he needs to retire. If he does play next year - it's either FOG or Tex, can't play both. Instead of replacing tex with another tall i would then rotate Curtin/Dawson to play 3rd tall up forward.
3. We need an elite inside mid (or 2). Beggars can't be choosers, as much baggage as Oliver has and he may not get back to his best, but realistically he's our best bet. Suits our needs and a big upgrade on Berry.
4. We need a few wing options. Either blood a kid that we have in the SANFL or draft a mature age gut running speedy option ala Isaac Smith/Holmes. Cumming needs to play HBF

Riley O'Brien is a good ruckman even though he is 30 years old.

Crows will find him important for the next 2 or 3 years.

A 21 or 22 Jonathan Griffin type ruckman would be handy.

I liked him at the crows and Fremantle. He wasn't great. He tried hard and averaged around 20 ruck hit outs a game

 

[Freomaniac]

Do not extend him, let's see how the season goes. No finals and seeya Nicks.

Matty Nicks is out of contract next season isn't he? Curious how it will pan out

 

[Freomaniac]

Any chance Zac Merrett wants to come across the border?

Hawthorn with Will Day and Zac Merrett in their midfield will win the flag.

To be fair, if we had those two, we'd probably come close as well.

I think we just need to play Draper in round 1, and keep him there.

Pump games into the lad and only drop him if he's really underperforming.

I like the idea of getting Bailey from Brisbane. He's a real talent. Isn't he from S.A.?

I had a crows mate suggested this.

Would crows trade their 2025 1st round pick and 2026 1st round pick for next season to get him?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

We will never win a flag under Nicks, so clearly this is our biggest issue.

We need another decent experienced midfielder & develop all of Draper, Edwards & Curtin for more inside action... which is unlikely to happen under Nicks.

We need a new coach before he wastes this squad.

 

[Soggy2112]

I think the two big areas are midfield depth and moving the ball from defence to inside 50.

Berry, Soligo and Peatling have a lot to prove next year and I think one of them will not be in the team if we are to be successful. Draper needs to be set and forget and see what happens (as we did with Curtin this year), and Curtin needs at least 25% CBAs. We should also look to add someone in free agency/trade. Windhager, Steele, Oliver and Merrett are all decent options I think who have had whispers around them.

The movement from defence is definitely a strategy/system fix. We have great users in defence with Worrell, Keane, Milera, Hinge and Michalanney. We have excellent marking options with Thilthorpe, Dawson and Curtin and to a lesser extent Cumming, Fogarty and Walker, we have some excellent ball users across half forward in Rachele, Taylor and Rankine, and some elite runners who are smart in Keays and Neal-Bullen. The tools are there so I don’t see any reason we can’t fix this issue.

At the end of the day, you don’t win 18 games by accident. There is plenty to work with here.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The sad bit will be that we resign Nicks just before the first match.

Surely the board have learnt from previous mistakes.

 

[Freomaniac]

We will never win a flag under Nicks, so clearly this is our biggest issue.

We need another decent experienced midfielder & develop all of Draper, Edwards & Curtin for more inside action... which is unlikely to happen under Nicks.

We need a new coach before he wastes this squad.

I guess your biggest fear is a repeat of 2015 to 2018.

Make finals in 2015 to 2017. Lose the grand final due to a horrible midfield.

Crows in 2018 were not terrible. The Kangaroos , Essendon, power and crows got 12 wins and 10 losses. Only percentage seperated 9th to 12th.

Some Port fans did brag about finishing above your mob by mere percentage.

 

[Freomaniac]

I think the two big areas are midfield depth and moving the ball from defence to inside 50.

Berry, Soligo and Peatling have a lot to prove next year and I think one of them will not be in the team if we are to be successful. Draper needs to be set and forget and see what happens (as we did with Curtin this year), and Curtin needs at least 25% CBAs. We should also look to add someone in free agency/trade. Windhager, Steele, Oliver and Merrett are all decent options I think who have had whispers around them.

The movement from defence is definitely a strategy/system fix. We have great users in defence with Worrell, Keane, Milera, Hinge and Michalanney. We have excellent marking options with Thilthorpe, Dawson and Curtin and to a lesser extent Cumming, Fogarty and Walker, we have some excellent ball users across half forward in Rachele, Taylor and Rankine, and some elite runners who are smart in Keays and Neal-Bullen. The tools are there so I don’t see any reason we can’t fix this issue.

At the end of the day, you don’t win 18 games by accident. There is plenty to work with here.

Soligo, Berry and Peatling are all solid mids.

Sam Berry is an interesting one. He isn't elite but is a solid mid. Contacted until 2026. Got this feeling he will sign a 2 year extension until 2028 then becomes a free agent.

He looked ok In the Showdown when crows belted Port by 90 points late in the season.

He is also from that 2020 draft class with Tilthorpe, Pedler and Brayden Cook.

I mean the only problem about certain quality players the crows need, you might have to pay overs, especially if they are under contract

 

[hugecannon]

Berry should be traded to anyone who wants him, or becomes an SANFL player.

He just isn’t good enough.

 

[VKCrow]

Need to improve between the ears

 

[Syd Crow]

Need to improve between the ears

We have the technology.....Listen to the fly Matthew.....

 

[GreyCrow]

Berry should be traded to anyone who wants him, or becomes an SANFL player.

He just isn’t good enough.

Didn't Collingwood come sniffing around him last year?

 

[Scorpus]

Didn't Collingwood come sniffing around him last year?

They won't now

 

[beartoo]

Our major problem is our head coach. Get someone that understands match-day tactical coaching and we may well succeed with the players already on our list.

 

[Soggy2112]

Soligo, Berry and Peatling are all solid mids.

Sam Berry is an interesting one. He isn't elite but is a solid mid. Contacted until 2026. Got this feeling he will sign a 2 year extension until 2028 then becomes a free agent.

He looked ok In the Showdown when crows belted Port by 90 points late in the season.

He is also from that 2020 draft class with Tilthorpe, Pedler and Brayden Cook.

I mean the only problem about certain quality players the crows need, you might have to pay overs, especially if they are under contract

Berry used to be a tackle machine, which is precisely what we could have done with the last two weeks, but he only managed 3 in total.

If he can get back to that he has a future. However, while not a bad player, his other attributes are not enough to justify a spot in a premiership contention side.

If a team like West Coast came knocking I’d be looking to take the value and run.

 

[Crow_68]

Get rid of Godden and Wright.
Use the SANFL for the sole purpose of developing players, not to run the likes of Boyle, Murphy and Schoenberg through the guts. I don't care if our SANFL team doesn't win a game, just let the players play to their strengths and in their natural positions.

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Midfield. We have too many 5th or 6th mid types. Berry, soligo, peatling, Curtin, Cumming, taylor. All 5th or 6th mid

1. Dawson.
2.
3. Rankine
4.
5. Soligo
6. Curtin

I hope Curtin, Draper and Soligo can continue development and fill that line up. But by the time they do, Dawson will be 30 and hopefully moving forward for a few years. Indy Cotton is a wildcard and would love to use our pick 15ish this year and next years first to perhaps move up and grab sharp

 

[ThePrideOf]

You would suggest John Longmire or a premiership coach.

Would you seriously chase after Adam Simpson? He had his 10 years as eagles coach. 2 grand finals In 2015 and 2018. He got a flag in 2018.

Like John Longmire, I think the year off did him good. He seems refreshed

Longmire is a winner!

He knows how to win and he lives and breathes success.

Nicks just isn’t that guy. He’s an assistant at best.

Look at the teams playing tonight the speed and fluidity they move the ball in finals. Even good coast is giving it a Red hot crack.

Unlike us the slow insipid performance we barely let out a puff!

Lots of work to prove that it just wasn’t a fluke and a soft draw with a great run with injuries to see where we are really at!

I feel we will bounce down next year

Unless we fundamentally fix oue centre square structure and add some speed

 

[PCORF]

Matty Nicks is out of contract next season isn't he? Curious how it will pan out

Yep, important to see how the season goes first.

 

[Doctor B]

 

[George CantStandYa]

We finished minor premiers so the improvement will have to be in the finals if we make it.

Will we have a similar injury run? Nah
Will we have a similar draw? Nah
Will we have Tex or the same output? Nah
Will our current midfielders be able to take the next step in 2026? Nah
Will we get the uplift in performance from our current players like we saw this year? Nah
Will we have the same coach? Yep
Will we have mental scarring? Yep
Will we have the same spud ruck who will be a year older and new ruck rules that will work against him? Yep

The only thing that can possibly improve us are new recruits and they’ve got to include some mids.

So odds are we will regress.