Why is the Adelaide Footy club the way it is? Let-down after Let-down

[dani_giuls]

I partially agree we were, however, I also do wonder if pairing Tex's 300 with the first final made too big of a deal of that match. Not only is it their first final, but it's a big milestone as well which adds further that further emotional element to the game.

It's quite likely they learn from it and get better, but even then, the other side of the coin is there is no guarantee that there is a better shot.

Some teams would have gotten themselves up for one of your clubs all-time-legends 300th game + finals + all the media attention we had in the weeks leading up to it. Switch things around and you know Collingwood would have come out firing with that "us against them" mentality.

We just crumbled. I am hoping, really hoping, it is because we have a lot of inexperience in the team. But I feel for as long as I can remember our games (I was only 11/12 in 97 & 98) we have crumbled under pressure. I felt like this year was the first time that may have changed....until last week!

 

[Peter Doherty]

I've always hated how in big expectation games at home, if a player makes a mistake the whole crowd let out a loud groan. The crowd get so anxious and start screaming for free kicks that aren't there and creates a terrible atmosphere.

Many of our chokes have been at home.

While I'd definitely prefer home games (and finals) than away, they can come with their own issues.

 

[Macca180]

Honestly all this pain is going to make the victory one day more and more special.

Winning and AFL premiership is flipping hard.

But yeah finishing top and not making gf is a hard swallow.

Finals are just a different beast.

 

[Golumless]

Some teams would have gotten themselves up for one of your clubs all-time-legends 300th game + finals + all the media attention we had in the weeks leading up to it. Switch things around and you know Collingwood would have come out firing with that "us against them" mentality.

We just crumbled. I am hoping, really hoping, it is because we have a lot of inexperience in the team. But I feel for as long as I can remember our games (I was only 11/12 in 97 & 98) we have crumbled under pressure. I felt like this year was the first time that may have changed....until last week!

Finals aren't about getting up for (unlike a nothing matchup in the minor round) they're about finding a way to lessen the extra mental stress that comes from the territory. We didn't, and whilst our pressure was good for a half, it was shown in how we had moment after moment where we tried too much with our ball movement.

Nowdays? Sure, but that Collingwood side has a lot of players who have failed many tests.

 

[relapse]

Hope a non supporter is ok to post…

I had some mild doubts leading in, just with the teams collective lack of experience in finals, being without two of your most dynamic players in Rankine and Rachele and the heavy workload on the likes of Dawson, Soligo, Curtin etc. Then with who you copped as an opponent first up

Truly hoping that you can get it done this week, your club deserves to be in the final four and a final at the G would be a fantastic opportunity and hopefully hold you in good stead for the next few years.

Potential silver lining if you finish this week… should be a stop sign on any contract extension for the coach. Excellent minor round result, but what matters is now. Good that Balme was in the box last week…

Basically if we lose on Friday then the pressure goes straight back on to Nicks in my opinion

It will then make 2026 make or break for him, if we falter and go backwards and don't make the 8 then it will be time to pull the pin.

At this stage the only way to salvage something is to win on Friday and then be semi competitive against Geeloing in the Prelim.

 

[skam85]

Basically if we lose on Friday then the pressure goes straight back on to Nicks in my opinion

It will then make 2026 make or break for him. If we falter and go backwards and don't make the 8 then it will be time to pull the pin on him.

At this stage the only thing to salvage something is to win on Friday and then be semi competitive against Geeloing in the Prelim.

Then every year becomes make or break and he does something just enough to earn a stay of execution.

And before we know it, a decade has passed with our Temu Ken and 56 "Sack Nicks" threads

 

[relapse]

Then every year becomes make or break and he does something just enough to earn a stay of execution.

And before we know it, a decade has passed with our Temu Ken and 56 "Sack Nicks" threads

Personally I have wanted him sacked since about half way through 2022.

I think the club has shown tremendous faith in him, however it's getting to the pointy end now where he has to get some runs on the board.

A straight sets exit after finishing minor premier is only going to bring on more doubt and pressure.

 

[Shuestar13]

Please don't use this word.

I’m sorry. It is an annoying corporate buzzword and I know one of Neil’s sayings? But I hope you know what I meant lol.

Basically if we lose on Friday then the pressure goes straight back on to Nicks in my opinion

It will then make 2026 make or break for him, if we falter and go backwards and don't make the 8 then it will be time to pull the pin.

At this stage the only way to salvage something is to win on Friday and then be semi competitive against Geeloing in the Prelim.

Absolutely, completely agree. Making the final four is a bare minimum from where you finished the home and away season. A 1-2 finals record to start with will have him under some pressure, but certainly a lot better than going straight sets.

Needs to back it up next year otherwise that’s it. I do get the concern re the same thing happening as Ken… But Ken won three of his first five finals, the second loss being under a kick against the eventual premiers away. He built his whole career on those first two years. Matt’s had to build from the ground up, has done a good job to get the team where it is now - but if he fails in the finals, most football heads would understand that you may need to look for someone else who can take the group to the next level.

You would hope so anyway… It should be make or break next year. Will be year number 7. That’s a fair while.

 

[1990crow]

Rankine let us down.

 

[CrowinNT]

Rankine let us down.

I don’t believe one player can be blamed at all
Look at our team selection v Collingwood
How was our mental preparation ?
So many players were really down
What major changes - game changes did we make ?
That’s on the coaching staff
Edit: Where was our attacking footy and risk taking

 

[Jetwa5h]

Finals aren't about getting up for (unlike a nothing matchup in the minor round) they're about finding a way to lessen the extra mental stress that comes from the territory. We didn't, and whilst our pressure was good for a half, it was shown in how we had moment after moment where we tried too much with our ball movement.

Nowdays? Sure, but that Collingwood side has a lot of players who have failed many tests.

Need a camp.... maybe

 

[PCORF]

I've always hated how in big expectation games at home, if a player makes a mistake the whole crowd let out a loud groan. The crowd get so anxious and start screaming for free kicks that aren't there and creates a terrible atmosphere.

Many of our chokes have been at home.

While I'd definitely prefer home games (and finals) than away, they can come with their own issues.

What really got to me in the week building up is why are we always favourites, esp against a storied side like Collingwood, the kings of the competition, the team that loves playing at Adelaide Oval. You have to always show up against that side and there is no room for error. The media always underestimates Collingwood and I think our favoritism is so unfair on our club. Tipping Collingwood was daylight for me. They were probably a bit bored but the Adelaide Oval trips lifted their confidence (should have won in R23). It was also the first game we lost all 4 quarters in this year, we were clearly outplayed and some players I heard were unwell too but of course they gave it what they could. Rankine out did not help. Once the season ends I want this team to bounce back and give it their best shot in 2026, hopefully we can build like Brisbane from 2019 onwards and we are not the Crows of old (but it all depends on injuries, confidence, etc, could still struggle if we are injury hit etc)

 

[PCORF]

Edit: Where was our attacking footy and risk taking

Too afraid to take the game on and the Pies really took advantage defensively. Some players were down as well.

 

[Peter Doherty]

What really got to me in the week building up is why are we always favourites, esp against a storied side like Collingwood, the kings of the competition, the team that loves playing at Adelaide Oval. You have to always show up against that side and there is no room for error. The media always underestimates Collingwood and I think our favoritism is so unfair on our club. Tipping Collingwood was daylight for me. They were probably a bit bored but the Adelaide Oval trips lifted their confidence (should have won in R23). It was also the first game we lost all 4 quarters in this year, we were clearly outplayed and some players I heard were unwell too but of course they gave it what they could. Rankine out did not help. Once the season ends I want this team to bounce back and give it their best shot in 2026, hopefully we can build like Brisbane from 2019 onwards and we are not the Crows of old (but it all depends on injuries, confidence, etc, could still struggle if we are injury hit etc)

Season isn't over FFS.

 

[MRB37]

Too afraid to take the game on and the Pies really took advantage defensively. Some players were down as well.

With how hard our players were pushing back it felt like we went into the game expecting another I50 thrashing and wanted to stack their backline with extra help.

Our players wasted a lot of tickets pushing really deep into the D50 and then left the half forward zone completely unguarded. Then when we did win it we're starting from way back and have to work even harder to get it forward.

Everything about it screamed wanting another game where both teams score under 60 and hoping we could eek out a close win again.

 

[1990crow]

With how hard our players were pushing back it felt like we went into the game expecting another I50 thrashing and wanted to stack their backline with extra help.

Our players wasted a lot of tickets pushing really deep into the D50 and then left the half forward zone completely unguarded. Then when we did win it we're starting from way back and have to work even harder to get it forward.

Everything about it screamed wanting another game where both teams score under 60 and hoping we could eek out a close win again.

And that's poor coaching.

 

[FR0GGY]

Basically if we lose on Friday then the pressure goes straight back on to Nicks in my opinion

It will then make 2026 make or break for him, if we falter and go backwards and don't make the 8 then it will be time to pull the pin.

At this stage the only way to salvage something is to win on Friday and then be semi competitive against Geeloing in the Prelim.

From us, but not the club imo.
They are more all in on him than Wayne’s world.

 

[cleanhands]

From us, but not the club imo.
They are more all in on him than Wayne’s world.

 

[adelaidecrows]

The cancerous era the OP should be focused on is 2008-2019. That was truly a disgraceful era of mismanagement, greed and self inflicted wounds that drove player culture into the ground. We all noticed how close the playing group became post Walsh death but we saw how quick it was ripped apart post 2017 GF. Which means the playing culture and club culture overall was in the toilet before Walsh, we just had a band aid placed over the crack that stopped the bleeding for awhile.

I dont think people really grasp how much the club changed in that 2019-2020 off season. The place was essentially gutted. Which by default killed everything about that era other than the playing list and even then the club made decisions to oust players before Nicks arrived.

The Collingwood result was disappointing, but not once did I see a comparison to losing Crows teams of the past. Ive been watching the Crows since I was 11 Years old in 1991. I had the same Crows feeling all through the previous era and then back when Craig was Coach. This is different.

 

[Croweater78]

Season isn't over FFS.

LOL you think we're coming back from last week? Nicks was totally out of his depth. A year wasted. We better not extend him next year.

 

[Croweater78]

The cancerous era the OP should be focused on is 2008-2019. That was truly a disgraceful era of mismanagement, greed and self inflicted wounds that drove player culture into the ground. We all noticed how close the playing group became post Walsh death but we saw how quick it was ripped apart post 2017 GF. Which means the playing culture and club culture overall was in the toilet before Walsh, we just had a band aid placed over the crack that stopped the bleeding for awhile.

I dont think people really grasp how much the club changed in that 2019-2020 off season. The place was essentially gutted. Which by default killed everything about that era other than the playing list and even then the club made decisions to oust players before Nicks arrived.

The Collingwood result was disappointing, but not once did I see a comparison to losing Crows teams of the past. Ive been watching the Crows since I was 11 Years old in 1991. I had the same Crows feeling all through the previous era and then back when Craig was Coach. This is different.

I get what you're saying but the fact that last week's result was so Crows like and predictable really begs the question whether much has changed.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I get what you're saying but the fact that last week's result was so Crows like and predictable really begs the question whether much has changed.

you get there must be a winner and a loser in every AFL match. Just because we lose its not same old same old. I can say with certainty we will lose a gf again at some point in the future, are you going to say same old same old. Ridiculous.

 

[Croweater78]

you get there must be a winner and a loser in every AFL match. Just because we lose its not same old same old. I can say with certainty we will lose a gf again at some point in the future, are you going to say same old same old. Ridiculous.

If we don't win a GF in between losing another one.....yes, it will be same old same old. But let's be real....this year was a GOLDEN opportunity to make a GF. They're not just handed out. No guarantees we even make the 8 next year.

 

[adelaidecrows]

If we don't win a GF in between losing another one.....yes, it will be same old same old. But let's be real....this year was a GOLDEN opportunity to make a GF. They're not just handed out. No guarantees we even make the 8 next year.

you cant have it both ways. You cant say they are hard to win but then label it same old same old if we dont. Thats not how it works. different eras, different players, different coaches, different support staff etc. its not the same.

 

[Croweater78]

Good clubs win them more often than 27 years in between. That's the point.