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Fresh off the AFL site - hard to argue with any of it. Damn good article.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=218649
Most experts, tipsters, punters and even - if they're being honest - Crows fans thought 2005 would see Adelaide struggle through the home and away season, miss the finals and most likely be involved in a battle for the wooden spoon.
That gloomy outlook followed a disastrous 2004 that saw the team finish 12th with just eight wins after many had considered the Crows' list well-poised for a premiership run before the season.
Coach Gary Ayres jumped before he was pushed and high-profile recruits Wayne Carey and Ronnie Burns wandered off into the sunset after making little impact in their brief stays at West Lakes.
Add to that the defection of future leader Tyson Stenglein to West Coast and the retirement of favourite son Nigel Smart and it's little wonder rebuilding rather than premierships was on the agenda.
Fast forward to round 17 and the 'Pride of South Australia' sits one game clear in second spot having just sewn up a finals berth with its 12th win of the season.
Apparently no one told rookie coach Neil Craig and his Crows they weren't supposed to be any good this year, so they just went about the business of winning and left everyone else to scratch their heads and ask, "How did that happen?"
Here's how.
1.Neil Craig
A highly-credentialed sports scientist, Craig has also proven to be a gifted leader of men and a shrewd matchday tactician. He has managed to straighten-up Adelaide's gameplan which foundered out wide on the wings for so long and installed an attacking brand of footy that - when executed properly - is breath-taking.
Not afraid to think outside the square, Craig also recruited Australian Olympic cycling guru and long-time friend Charlie Walsh, to help keep his players switched on both physically and mentally.
Reputed to have been approached by a group of senior players who asked him not to accept the West Coast job three years ago, Craig clearly has the hearts and minds of his players and the results are there for all to see.
2. Getting players on the field
Adelaide has been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition when it comes keeping their players fit and healthy this year.
An element of luck is required to avoid collision injuries and the Crows have had more than their fair share of it, with only Graham Johncock spending significant time sidelined after breaking his leg against Melbourne in round seven.
However, Adelaide has largely managed to avoid the soft-tissue injuries that rob players of confidence and form and destabilise the side. Much of that credit must go to Training Services Manager Trevor Jaques and his team.
An excellent case in point is Simon Goodwin. The dynamic left-footer's ability to run with the ball and break through the lines is crucial to Adelaide's play and he has missed just one match this season after missing 12 with a recurring groin strain last year.
Included in this category is the Tribunal. The Crows have not had one player miss a game through suspension this year - not one. This in a year where the new Tribunal reporting process has thrown up more than a few surprises is an effort to be commended.
3.DE-fence!
The Crows have the stingiest defence in the league having conceded, on average, a mere 72 points per game so far this year. Any football historian will tell you that the key to premiership success is a rock-solid defence and Adelaide has got this area covered.
There are a few reasons for this. One is the return of Ben Hart, who has finally managed to throw off the persistent hamstring complaint that restricted him to just six games last year and even threatened to shorten his career.
Another is the emergence of Ben Rutten, and to a lesser degree Nathan Bock. Rutten's ability to hold down the full-back role has released Nathan Bassett to play as a more creative, attacking half-back flanker, while Bock has shown he can play at centre half-back which allows Ken McGregor to move up forward.
Added to that is Craig's philosophy that defensive actions are required all over the ground - not just in the back half. By stressing that sort of accountability to all his players, Craig has successfully eased the burden on his back six and given them the confidence to create attack from defence.
4. Second-tier? Not here!
The up-and-coming or 'second-tier' players we used to hear so much about during Gary Ayres' reign are no more. Craig detested the term and quickly renamed the group - mainly consisting of players with between 30 and 70 games experience - the "backbone" group.
Craig correctly reasoned that the group with the greatest scope for improvement would not be his experienced stars - who already operated at a high output - but his younger players. He felt the term second-tier lessened the importance of their contribution and even provided an excuse.
By emphasising the importance of each and every players contribution, Craig has empowered his playing group and challenged them to take ownership of their own destiny.
5. Great rucking
The previously unheralded Ben Hudson and Rhett Biglands have formed a formidable ruck combination than more often than not gives Adelaide's much-vaunted midfield first use of the ball.
The only team with two ruckmen in the league's top-ten hitout list - Hudson is eighth and Biglands is ninth - the Crows have reaped the benefits of punting on Hudson, who they drafted at the ripe old age of 24.
The club sensed a ruck void coming if incumbent first-choice ruckman Matthew Clarke retired, as he planned, at the end of 2004 and urged him to continue. However, such has been the rate of improvement from Hudson that Clarke hasn't had a look-in since playing the opening round of the season.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=218649
Most experts, tipsters, punters and even - if they're being honest - Crows fans thought 2005 would see Adelaide struggle through the home and away season, miss the finals and most likely be involved in a battle for the wooden spoon.
That gloomy outlook followed a disastrous 2004 that saw the team finish 12th with just eight wins after many had considered the Crows' list well-poised for a premiership run before the season.
Coach Gary Ayres jumped before he was pushed and high-profile recruits Wayne Carey and Ronnie Burns wandered off into the sunset after making little impact in their brief stays at West Lakes.
Add to that the defection of future leader Tyson Stenglein to West Coast and the retirement of favourite son Nigel Smart and it's little wonder rebuilding rather than premierships was on the agenda.
Fast forward to round 17 and the 'Pride of South Australia' sits one game clear in second spot having just sewn up a finals berth with its 12th win of the season.
Apparently no one told rookie coach Neil Craig and his Crows they weren't supposed to be any good this year, so they just went about the business of winning and left everyone else to scratch their heads and ask, "How did that happen?"
Here's how.
1.Neil Craig
A highly-credentialed sports scientist, Craig has also proven to be a gifted leader of men and a shrewd matchday tactician. He has managed to straighten-up Adelaide's gameplan which foundered out wide on the wings for so long and installed an attacking brand of footy that - when executed properly - is breath-taking.
Not afraid to think outside the square, Craig also recruited Australian Olympic cycling guru and long-time friend Charlie Walsh, to help keep his players switched on both physically and mentally.
Reputed to have been approached by a group of senior players who asked him not to accept the West Coast job three years ago, Craig clearly has the hearts and minds of his players and the results are there for all to see.
2. Getting players on the field
Adelaide has been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the competition when it comes keeping their players fit and healthy this year.
An element of luck is required to avoid collision injuries and the Crows have had more than their fair share of it, with only Graham Johncock spending significant time sidelined after breaking his leg against Melbourne in round seven.
However, Adelaide has largely managed to avoid the soft-tissue injuries that rob players of confidence and form and destabilise the side. Much of that credit must go to Training Services Manager Trevor Jaques and his team.
An excellent case in point is Simon Goodwin. The dynamic left-footer's ability to run with the ball and break through the lines is crucial to Adelaide's play and he has missed just one match this season after missing 12 with a recurring groin strain last year.
Included in this category is the Tribunal. The Crows have not had one player miss a game through suspension this year - not one. This in a year where the new Tribunal reporting process has thrown up more than a few surprises is an effort to be commended.
3.DE-fence!
The Crows have the stingiest defence in the league having conceded, on average, a mere 72 points per game so far this year. Any football historian will tell you that the key to premiership success is a rock-solid defence and Adelaide has got this area covered.
There are a few reasons for this. One is the return of Ben Hart, who has finally managed to throw off the persistent hamstring complaint that restricted him to just six games last year and even threatened to shorten his career.
Another is the emergence of Ben Rutten, and to a lesser degree Nathan Bock. Rutten's ability to hold down the full-back role has released Nathan Bassett to play as a more creative, attacking half-back flanker, while Bock has shown he can play at centre half-back which allows Ken McGregor to move up forward.
Added to that is Craig's philosophy that defensive actions are required all over the ground - not just in the back half. By stressing that sort of accountability to all his players, Craig has successfully eased the burden on his back six and given them the confidence to create attack from defence.
4. Second-tier? Not here!
The up-and-coming or 'second-tier' players we used to hear so much about during Gary Ayres' reign are no more. Craig detested the term and quickly renamed the group - mainly consisting of players with between 30 and 70 games experience - the "backbone" group.
Craig correctly reasoned that the group with the greatest scope for improvement would not be his experienced stars - who already operated at a high output - but his younger players. He felt the term second-tier lessened the importance of their contribution and even provided an excuse.
By emphasising the importance of each and every players contribution, Craig has empowered his playing group and challenged them to take ownership of their own destiny.
5. Great rucking
The previously unheralded Ben Hudson and Rhett Biglands have formed a formidable ruck combination than more often than not gives Adelaide's much-vaunted midfield first use of the ball.
The only team with two ruckmen in the league's top-ten hitout list - Hudson is eighth and Biglands is ninth - the Crows have reaped the benefits of punting on Hudson, who they drafted at the ripe old age of 24.
The club sensed a ruck void coming if incumbent first-choice ruckman Matthew Clarke retired, as he planned, at the end of 2004 and urged him to continue. However, such has been the rate of improvement from Hudson that Clarke hasn't had a look-in since playing the opening round of the season.
