Where do we need to improve next year?

[CrowBloke]

What else do we need to add?

Replace VB and Godden.
Add a Midfield Coach with flair and Mids-structure-nous.
Have a closed-door, strictly-private Review with Nicks and tell him to adopt some flexibility and Game Day moves (eg Keane off Gunston which stuck out like the proverbial --- it was obvious, but Nicks did nada) and **** off the 2024 and 2025-Finals Game Plan
OR
he's gone, end 2026 at the latest. Get better, quickly, or piss off <== that could apply also (in no particular order) to:
O'Brien (relentlessly rehearse tapping to our blokes without respite/ get Tex or Fog or Dawson to give him kicking lessons, tell him to stay out of our F50; it's not that hard, ffs)
Peatling
Cumming (not enough impact, overpaid)
Pedlar
Taylor
Soligo
Hinge
Rankine (no more 4-game suspensions, thanks)
Berry
Cook
Nankervis
Borlase.

Add some mongrel and unsociability to our attitudes and Game plan.
Throw money @ someone renowned for uncompromising tackling (a Josh Dunkley type) and make him Tackling Coach.
Get a midfield bull eg a Rowell type, or convert one of our blokes into one quicksmart (I'd nominate Fogarty, seriously, and give him license to dish out hard-but-non-suspendible punishment).

Above all, do not be satisfied with the 15th to 1st transition.
Without winning Finals, it's meaningless.

 

[Freomaniac]

There is some recency bias but his record apart from this year has been poor

We make a prelim? Ok we go again and hope 2026 brings more

But this board has strong long term PTSD over what might happen

The main reason Nicks coaching record has been poor, except for 2025 and to a lesser degree 2023, it was because the crows had to go through their 1st long term rebuild.

This crows side in 2025 made finals for the 1st time since making a grand final in 2017.

We can debate about the fall out of the 2017 grand final.

To be honest , crows were not terrible in 2018.

Crows finished 9th to 12th. North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon and crows all finished with 12 wins and 10 losses. Percentage seperated all 4 clubs

 

[Freomaniac]

This was out worst finals series in the history of the Crows & only time we have lost all quarters & conceded the 1st goal of every quarter.

After being one of the most attacking teams all year, we went full defensive mode with strategy & selection... just like we did last season when we went to complete shit.

Tells you everything you need to know that Nicks has nfi. He will never get out of primary school level coaching as he is just not very smart. You can't grow into a job if you are naturally stupid.

I don't think it's the worst team to go out in straight sets.

That crows vs magpies qualifying final wasn't great. Yes crows were defensive but magpies were not brilliant or efficient than in other games as they were in the 1st half of the season.

I think expectations need to be realistic on here. I can see crows make top 4 again.

I am gonna stick with my prediction... Just like I said start of the 2025 season.

Watch the crows get a 14 wins and 9 loss record or even a 15 wins and 8 loss record next season . That's 5th or 6th.

Watch them beat up the injury riddled 8th placed side by 25 to 35 points in 2026.


Book mark it

 

[CrowBloke]

Once the fly and Nicks are merged we will be unstoppable

I am afraid.
Very afraid.

 

[PCORF]

Watch them beat up the injury riddled 8th placed side by 25 to 35 points in 2026.


Book mark it

But what if Collingwood finishes 8th?

 

[PCORF]

What a week to go off the Lions after being on them for another flag all year. Belted by the Suns a few weeks ago, then repaid in full yesterday. May not have the cattle this year, but that's different to not having the game.

Lack of finals exposure saw the Crows and Suns out. Gotta build on the two games experience they got this year. All the remaining finalists have had to do this. Crows MUST win a final in 2026 or Nicks is out. Crows MUST clear out Tex, Smith, Murphy and anyone that's not gonna be part of their next premiership team in 2027. Need to find greater run and speed through the middle against the best.

Didn't snag Nasia the Messiah, but neither did Port, so that's a plus, but no A-graders like Dawson and Ranking wanting to come home either. 2026: Make the finals, win or or Nicks is done. Be Ruthless.

It is also important to develop a Hawthorn, Geelong or Collingwood like mentality too. When things go bad for those clubs, they sit down, take the criticism and feed off it to become better. They never whine and whine and whine. That is why they are always premiership contenders. I said a few years ago that Hawthorn were going to rapidly rise up the ladder again (14-9 last year, 15-8 this year). Right now it is time for the players to take a good break, no camp, nothing like that. Let them enjoy their lives, they need a good break.

We need another player similar to Bailey Smith, Nick Watson (amazing goal the other night what would have impressed Betts and his reaction reminded us what is missing at the team), Jack Ginnivan, Harley Reid, etc. We do have Josh Rachele and I think he is going to take his game to a new level over the next few years. Need a cheeky skilled player.

I think it is best for Walker to retire, or if he plays one more season manage him a lot more or use him as a sub. Yep Murphy out would be a good idea but cannot see it happening under Nicks.

We dropped our two games as we played Collingwood and Hawthorn (who I both tipped to win against us), two teams with good records at AO vs us, it was a combination of many things, inexperience, stage fright, distractions, dealing with favoritism (which I think was extremely unfair) and many more. I'm not shocked we got swept out but I'm disappointed we hardly put up a fight esp in the semi. I expected the games to be closer, 2-3 goals. The top 8 teams were separated by 3 games, from 18 wins to 15 wins and home ground advantage has meant absolutely nothing with only the home team winning twice in the first 6 finals (Geelong QF and Brisbane SF).

Josh Rachele's backward soccer to Keays at the SCG was the play of the year in the AFL for season 2025. Even the Swans fans applauded that.

 

[King Elvis]

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.

Our SANFL team has to be considered a development failure at this stage.

We were better when they were across the league, playing in their best positions for teams that wanted to win.

 

[Freomaniac]

But what if Collingwood finishes 8th?

I reckon you can still beat them, especially if they got injuries.

I do watch crows games. Only 2 games I can think of In the regular season when the crows were terrible.

Both were losses. One was the dockers in Perth. The other was the cats Adelaide when Adelaide had a 4 or 5 goal lead midway in the 2nd quarter.

You back this current crows side to beat most teams at Adelaide oval

 

[FR0GGY]

This is the third of a string of posts written by this bloke who keeps telling us what our problems are and how to fix them, often padded out by irrelevant facts from years gone by.
Note his handle: "Freomaniac" (not Crowsmaniac).

We don't care. Did any of us ask you? He's our problem, not yours.

I do not have any 2012 vibes at all.
2012 and Sanderson are irrelevant to what is happening now.

Gee, thanks.
Do you not see how condescending this comment is?

Yes, you have said a lot, often, about what we "need".
We do not need a Tim Kelly type, thank you.

Why?
Has the Fremantle BigFooty Board closed for the year?
Please apply your superior knowledge to fixing some of Freo's problems, not ours?
Move on.

Honestly why are you having a go at someone with an opinion on our board, he’s no troll and has been around here plenty.
Respectful opinions from non crows biased posters should be encouraged.

 

[CrowBloke]

Respectful opinions from non crows biased posters should be encouraged.

I agree 100%.
Shuestar13 is a good example of respectful opinions, often; he does not state the obvious nor does he have all the answers, or purport to. Nor does he quote 10 and 15 year-old examples to show us how well-informed he is. What has Sanderson got to do with anything relevant to 2025?

Key word is "respectful".
Post after post, the Freonut's been telling us what the Crows did wrong, what they should be doing and making numerous references to facts we all ready know which are irrelevant.
That stuff we've all known and been through and it has no bearing on the last 4 or 5 weeks.

Please tell me, serious question, what is respectful about this:
"There is some upside with some crows players."?
It's dripping with condescension, that and more from a Freo supporter whose own side has many problems he could and should be addressing on his own Board.

Honestly why are you having a go at someone with an opinion on our board, he’s no troll and has been around here plenty.

Opinions I can handle.
"Plenty" of patronising lecturing from an Oppo supporter while we're licking our wounds is intolerable.
It's disingenuous, fake-sincere, "like"-hunting.
I will not accept it.

Disagreement I can handle too.
Thanks and respect to you, for your respectful disagreement .

 

[King Elvis]

Freo is normally alright, but could do without it here

 

[FR0GGY]

I agree 100%.
Shuestar13 is a good example of respectful opinions, often; he does not state the obvious nor does he have all the answers, or purport to. Nor does he quote 10 and 15 year-old examples to show us how well-informed he is. What has Sanderson got to do with anything relevant to 2025?

Key word is "respectful".
Post after post, the Freonut's been telling us what the Crows did wrong, what they should be doing and making numerous references to facts we all ready know which are irrelevant.
That stuff we've all known and been through and it has no bearing on the last 4 or 5 weeks.

Please tell me, serious question, what is respectful about this:
"There is some upside with some crows players."?
It's dripping with condescension, that and more from a Freo supporter whose own side has many problems he could and should be addressing on his own Board.

Opinions I can handle.
"Plenty" of patronising lecturing from an Oppo supporter while we're licking our wounds is intolerable.
It's disingenuous, fake-sincere, "like"-hunting.
I will not accept it.

Disagreement I can handle too.
Thanks and respect to you, for your respectful disagreement .

He’s been around here long enough to show he’s not trolling.
I reckon it’s exactly how it is, there is some up side with some players.
What would you rather him say there?

It seems what your looking for is only positive opinions of the club and players.

There is an easy solution here, and that’s to hit the ignore button, which will work for everyone, you won’t then see any of his posts and the rest of us can read an outsider’s opinion.

 

[AFC979810]

He’s been around here long enough to show he’s not trolling.
I reckon it’s exactly how it is, there is some up side with some players.
What would you rather him say there?

It seems what your looking for is only positive opinions of the club and players.

There is an easy solution here, and that’s to hit the ignore button, which will work for everyone, you won’t then see any of his posts and the rest of us can read an outsider’s opinion.

Spot on. I think Freomaniac is great - as is Shuestar13.

Enjoy listening to an outsiders opinion - especially when it's well considered (even if it's negative).

 

[davos44]

I think the most important thing is to not panic react to our finals performances. The fans, the club, the coaches... everyone. Don't worry about what the ambulance chasing media think or say, their opinions are irrelevant.

Draper, Curtin, Rachele and Taylor should be rotating through the midfield far more.

Laird should play midfield far more but be instructed not to kick.

The gameplan is absolutely fine, some adjustment needed ie. being more aggressive/risky moving forward. Our lack of skill through the middle exposed us. Our gameplan relies far too much on turnover, fine in the regular season but Collingwood and Hawks didn't make mistakes like that. Nor would Geelong.

Jordon Butts should be dangled in front of any club with an abundance of mids like North or the Bulldogs.

Based on Friday Night, surely Sam Draper is still a need?

Peatling and Cumming aren't long term solutions, they will be moved aside in due course I think.

I still feel we should be drafting at this stage, no way known any club is going to let go of talent with Tasmania coming through. It has to be talent need swaps.

This year has been great, we finished too high (if we got to 7th and lost we would feel so much better than we do at the moment). Next year will be much harder, we won't win as many games but the knowledge of what needs to be done in a final will be there.

 

[AFC979810]

Where do we need to improve - how long is a piece of string:

1. Have our prime movers fit and ready to go. Rankine was a massive loss. Rachele was a massive loss. Losing two of our 4 game winners for a finals series makes it incredibly hard.

2. Manage ourselves better for a finals run. Feel like we had a massive list of players out of form / fitness heading into finals compounding our loss of Rankine/Rachele. Fog, soligo, peatling, Keays, ROB, Keane, ANB all seemed to be out of form comes finals.

3. Get a 3rd coach in to help Nicks / Murray with selection and gameday moves. Our coaching room is going to remind of the wheelchair pushers from little Britain.

4. Looking back at the season - I think we need a dominant HBF as our #1 priority. Milera, Hinge, Laird are solid, but unspectacular.

TBH - it's pretty hard to judge on our finals series considering the scandal that was thrust onto the players group.

 

[skittlebrew]

It seems if you don't have a big bodied defensive mid, you're up shit creek. Newcombe run amok against us.

Rowell running amok against most teams. Dunkley could put a lid on him in their game and the outcome reflected it.

Problem is size is not the only variable, you also need line breaking speed - these types of guys don't grow on trees.

 

[moogerfooger]

I think the most important thing is to not panic react to our finals performances. The fans, the club, the coaches... everyone. Don't worry about what the ambulance chasing media think or say, their opinions are irrelevant.

Draper, Curtin, Rachele and Taylor should be rotating through the midfield far more.

Laird should play midfield far more but be instructed not to kick.

The gameplan is absolutely fine, some adjustment needed ie. being more aggressive/risky moving forward. Our lack of skill through the middle exposed us. Our gameplan relies far too much on turnover, fine in the regular season but Collingwood and Hawks didn't make mistakes like that. Nor would Geelong.

Jordon Butts should be dangled in front of any club with an abundance of mids like North or the Bulldogs.

Based on Friday Night, surely Sam Draper is still a need?

Peatling and Cumming aren't long term solutions, they will be moved aside in due course I think.

I still feel we should be drafting at this stage, no way known any club is going to let go of talent with Tasmania coming through. It has to be talent need swaps.

This year has been great, we finished too high (if we got to 7th and lost we would feel so much better than we do at the moment). Next year will be much harder, we won't win as many games but the knowledge of what needs to be done in a final will be there.

Yeah I agree with most of that. I'm bullish about next year. What might look like a harder draw now doesn't always turn out that way. We should expect organic growth from a good number of players. We should be clearing some dead wood and hopefully raising the floor a little more again.

Burgess apparently has a thing for pushing players to play through minor injuries, which could have contributed to what looked like fatigue over the last few weeks. But there's also what looks like a mental fragility and a reactionary attitude from the coaches down. Contrast that with the teams still in it. I think this is our biggest area for improvement. Not as sexy as trading in players but there it is.

I think we underestimate the simultaneous absence of Rankine and Rachele when we talk about how the midfield is slow, unbalanced and "one or two class players short". What if the issue with the midfield is as simple as "we already have the players we need but they just weren't playing when it mattered?" If we can find one or two more all the better.

I thought we'd finish 5-8 after the minor round and was hoping we'd win a final to get into the semis. As it was, we finished much higher than I thought after the minor round but ended up in that range by losing the two finals. 15th to 5th is a big jump and the club should be congratulated for that. Its been a long time coming.

Doesn't change the fact we blew a big opportunity to do more.

 

[AFC979810]

you also need line breaking speed - these types of guys don't grow on trees.

We do have that. He was just a naughty boy.

 

[skam85]

This is the third of a string of posts written by this bloke who keeps telling us what our problems are and how to fix them, often padded out by irrelevant facts from years gone by.
Note his handle: "Freomaniac" (not Crowsmaniac).

We don't care. Did any of us ask you? He's our problem, not yours.

I do not have any 2012 vibes at all.
2012 and Sanderson are irrelevant to what is happening now.

Gee, thanks.
Do you not see how condescending this comment is?

Yes, you have said a lot, often, about what we "need".
We do not need a Tim Kelly type, thank you.

Why?
Has the Fremantle BigFooty Board closed for the year?
Please apply your superior knowledge to fixing some of Freo's problems, not ours?
Move on.

Freomaniac has contributed far more to this thread than any of your word salads ever have, jog on

 

[skittlebrew]

We do have that. He was just a naughty boy.

He does have that, but no chance he can pin down Rowell or Newcombe - he's half their weight.

 

[davos44]

Yeah I agree with most of that. I'm bullish about next year. What might look like a harder draw now doesn't always turn out that way. We should expect organic growth from a good number of players. We should be clearing some dead wood and hopefully raising the floor a little more again.

Burgess apparently has a thing for pushing players to play through minor injuries, which could have contributed to what looked like fatigue over the last few weeks. But there's also what looks like a mental fragility and a reactionary attitude from the coaches down. Contrast that with the teams still in it. I think this is our biggest area for improvement. Not as sexy as trading in players but there it is.

I think we underestimate the simultaneous absence of Rankine and Rachele when we talk about how the midfield is slow, unbalanced and "one or two class players short". What if the issue with the midfield is as simple as "we already have the players we need but they just weren't playing when it mattered?" If we can find one or two more all the better.

I thought we'd finish 5-8 after the minor round and was hoping we'd win a final to get into the semis. As it was, we finished much higher than I thought after the minor round but ended up in that range by losing the two finals. 15th to 5th is a big jump and the club should be congratulated for that. Its been a long time coming.

Doesn't change the fact we blew a big opportunity to do more.

It was definitely a cumulative effect of losing Rankine, Rachele and MM.
Then:
Curtin fell off a cliff (that's okay, he is 20.
Soligo and Berry didn't really step up
Dawson didn't look right after the Hawks game
ROB's form died, he got belted by Xerri, Cameron and Meek in consecutive weeks.

We wont win as many games next year, but I feel we will be in a better position if we win 14-15 games.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Our centre clearance and clearance numbers generally tell you everything you need to know.

We need a clearance bull. A big midfielder that hunts the clearance.

Oliver would be good. Get Pedlar to follow him around and learn the tools. And for Gods sake put players in their drafted position - ie Pedlar and Edwards should be playing midfield if in the SANFL.

Taylor showed what happens when you put a player in their drafted position.

 

[Crow till I die]

From the WCE game onwards, AFC have been getting ragdolled in the midfield. Seemed to have lost hard strength in that area…. burning out from a long season? Who knows?

Then take Rankine out of the situation and we’re looking very crowbotty with little to no intensity.

Is hard core strength a blind spot for Burgess? Most of the team can afford to do what Thilthorpe did to bulk up and go from there… see how many clearances we lose then.

Prob the only one that needs to lose weight is ROB, bloke needs to move 10x better than he is.

You can be as strategic as you want, trade in xyz, but if the strength and intensity isn’t there, you’ll rarely win a final.

I don't think that had much to do with it. To my eye, we got belted at the clearance because we were out positioned. How many times the ruck duel happened and the ball went where we weren't. Also a scrappy shallow hack out of a clearance that fails to clear the zone and is recovered by the opposition who move off from the stoppage shouldn't count as a clearance stat to us imo.

Strength is only a small part, its all positioning and getting the ruck to hit where we are not where we are not

 

[AFC979810]

He does have that, but no chance he can pin down Rowell or Newcombe - he's half their weight.

Hang on. Look at your original post.

It seems if you don't have a big bodied defensive mid, you're up shit creek. Newcombe run amok against us.

Rowell running amok against most teams. Dunkley could put a lid on him in their game and the outcome reflected it.

Problem is size is not the only variable, you also need line breaking speed - these types of guys don't grow on trees.

Are you suggesting we need to get a player that is a big bodied defensive mid, but also has line breaking speed? Can you name me any player like that that exists in the AFL?

I thought your discussion was around our midfield group. We have the line breaking speed with Ranks.

 

[AFC979810]

Our centre clearance and clearance numbers generally tell you everything you need to know.

We need a clearance bull. A big midfielder that hunts the clearance.

Oliver would be good. Get Pedlar to follow him around and learn the tools. And for Gods sake put players in their drafted position - ie Pedlar and Edwards should be playing midfield if in the SANFL.

Taylor showed what happens when you put a player in their drafted position.

Nah. This isnt 1995.

Clearance winners are 3-3 this finals series. We won the clearances in 4 out of the 7 games we lost.

Sydney won the clearances in last years Grand Final and lost by 60. Brisbane won the clearances in the 2023 Grand Final and lost. Sydney won the clearances in the 2022 Grand Final and lost by 75+.

You and elite crow/ George CantStandYa or whatever his name is (soon to change) are obsessed with clearances.

They simple dont matter much in the modern game.