Wish List for 2007

[CaptainDangerfield]

INJURIES:

Minimal injuries to key players.

KPP'S:

Bock: As much as I would prefer to see Bock back at CHB we need him at CHF.

Stevens: Has been surpisingly good all year. Needs to do some serious work with the Weights over summer.

Rutten: Not as good as 2005 but must stay at Full Back.

Welsh: Should only come into cover Roo if he suffers injury.

Kenny: If he is to play must play deep in the forward line. To slow for CHB or CHF. Must learn to keep his feet.

Pez - Love the big guy but it's obvious we won't win a flag with him playing CHF. Should only be used to cover injury to Bock.

Meesen and or/Gibson: Must be given QUALITY time either up forward ( Meese/Gibbo ) or down back ( Gibbo ). Both also have natural aggression which we lack in abundance in Kenny, Rutts, Stevens, Welsh. Just on Gibson, surely given our lack of KPP depth, this kid should be pesisted with for at least one more year. Is a mountain of a kid who is super aggressive.

MIDFIELD:

Mattner: It's all very well to try and teach the kid a defensive lesson by playing him in the backline but he must be moved back PERMANENTLY to the wing where can use his greatest strengths to our advantage. One of Craigy's most confusing coaching moves of the year.

Van Berlo: For a half yesterday he gave us a glimpse of what he's made of. Should be our primary tagger next year with the couragous/big hearted Shirley as our backup.

Reilly: How quickly we forget. Was best on ground vs Freo. Must be pesisted with. His attack at the contest has itensified in leaps and bounds this year.

Doughty: Wing or Half Back.

Johncock: Could be the emerging 1st tier midfilder we so desparately need. His work in traffic is phenomenal. Let's hope he has a chat in his cousins ear over summer.

Thommo: Must find concistency.

Knights: Must be given QUALITY gametime in 2007. Has what it takes.

Porp: see Knights.

BACKS:

No real need for too many changes here. See my comments re Bock.

RUCKS:

Huddo: Welcome back son. Must be come our first choice ruckman in 2006. Forget what it was like to have a ruckman who can have an impact around the ground.

Maric: Number 2.

Meesen: If not forward then our third choice ruckman.

Biglands: Must be retained to cover injuries, especially to Huddo.

YOUNGSTERS:

Pfeiffer: If he is as good as people say, then bring him in and play him either as on a back flank or wingman.

Vince: I like the look of the kid but in a side suffering a serious lack of leg speed his opportunities may be limited. To slow for the midfield and behind Bode and Porp in the small forward role.

Obst: Hmmmmmm, miles off.

TRADING/DRAFTING:

At the risk of stating the obvious we need to concentrate on only drafting GENUINE midfielders and KPP's. We desperately need midfilders with genuine leg speed and grunt.

IMO one of Craigies and the recruitment department failings is that we still are desperately thin in our under 22 stocks. When he took the job, Craigy said this was something that needs to be addressed. With all our 2005 and 2006 rookies likely to be delisted it still remains a problem.

Beau Waters - I would be offering this kid a deal he can't refuse.

 

[Mad Dog]

1. Pace
2. Pace
3. Pace

 

[KUNG FU]

I don't know what else to post, other than:


to SpringChoke

Douglas & Meese must be given the chance to play every game.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

1. Pace
2. Pace
3. Pace

Midfield PACE:

Johnock
Douglas
Pfeiffer
Mattner
Goodwin

Midfield GRUNT:

VB.
Shirls
Johnock
Mattner

Midfield AGGRESSION:

Johncock.
Waters.

 

[KUNG FU]

I definitely agree on Mattner playing midfield. He looks lost when he has to create run from the backline and gets stuck in traffic, which has happened a couple times in the last few games. If he was breaking through from the midfield, he'd be able to deliver it straight into the pocket.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

Mattner needs to put his brain into gear before he attempts his line breaking runs.

I think we need to get Stiffy in the midfield.

I'd return Bock to CHB as he is quicker on a fast leading forward, although if you have a midfield like West Coast's delivering the ball it is difficult for any backman.

I'd play Meesen in Bock's forward position and see whether he can cut it. He could also do the rucking in the forward line. I'd play Hudson and Biglands as well as we cannot afford to be down to one ruckman only like we were yesterday. Also Biglands gives the opportunity of a forward player if someone's form is down.

I'd like to not have the injury run we had this year. Perrie and Welsh's year was stuffed by their injuries so I wouldn't be too harsh in judgements. As well, you have to have replacements if you are going to get rid of players.

Our draft position indicates we are not going to get any KPPs and we'll just have to try to supplement what we have got.

 

[swanfan]

Give me a home, among the gum trees......sorry wrong board

 

[noddy]

I just wanna win another flag.



or 3.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Good post Springy.

Thompson needs to work on his skills to reduce his clanger count. Must continue to bring through the next gen of midfielders - particulalry Douglas should play most of next year.

Also, would like to try out Meesen, Pfeifer.

 

[KUNG FU]

As a general observation, I think everyone has put too much emphasis on losing Biggie yesterday. Clarke still won the hitouts 19-16 against Cox and Seaby did not have an impact at all. Sure Cox got a lot of possessions around the ground, but neither of our ruckman could have restrained him much yesterday. The only ruckman that has a chance of doing that in the future is Meese IMO.

 

[KUNG FU]

Good post Springy.

Thompson needs to work on his skills to reduce his clanger count. Must continue to bring through the next gen of midfielders - particulalry Douglas should play most of next year.

Also, would like to try out Meesen, Pfeifer.

I say at least 10 games each. Almost the perfect replacements for Clarke & Hart.

 

[sum0005]

maybe young Davey from South Adelaide may produce that speed, and pace through the midfield, would love to see him in Crows colours

 

[King Elvis]

I definitely agree on Mattner playing midfield. He looks lost when he has to create run from the backline and gets stuck in traffic, which has happened a couple times in the last few games. If he was breaking through from the midfield, he'd be able to deliver it straight into the pocket.

Is that Mattner's fault, or is it more a problem with our forward line?

He gets it, runs hard through the CHB line, get's around the centre/CHF line and realises we have bugger all to kick to.

 

[KUNG FU]

Is that Mattner's fault, or is it more a problem with our forward line?

He gets it, runs hard through the CHB line, get's around the centre/CHF line and realises we have bugger all to kick to.

I just think his pace is more useful in the midfield, where he can splice the pack and then deliver the ball into the pocket (to MEESE!)

 

[Crowman32]

1. Pace
2. Pace
3. Pace

Spot on. We definately have to get pace into the midfield. Bring in Johncock and Mattner to the midfield for starters. We also should be playing Douglas and Knights at every opportunity. I would also like to see Pfieffer get a taste of AFL footy next year. In regards to the Ruck i think Hudson has to be our number 1 ruckman and i would have Meeson as our number 2 ruckman who could possibly push forward. Biglands would only be a back up ruckman IMHO.
Clarke finished off the season well but we still miss a ruckman who can find the footy around the ground. Hudson can do this and i believe Meeson can definately do this and perhaps develop similar to Cox in the next 3 or 4 years.

 

[kimirocks]

Waters would be a great fit for our club. Are we likely to get him, probably not, but there's no harm in trying. Great post Springy

 

[Adelaide Cows]

Mattner needs to put his brain into gear before he attempts his line breaking runs.

He needs a two bounce limit set on him, that way the forwards would have some idea when to lead.
As it is, they lead, he takes an extra bounce, looks up and low and behold no ones in position any more, takes another bounce and bang....holding the ball.

But you are right midfield is his spot two bounces from the midfield and he wont have to worry about the forwards just the big white sticks. He also seems to be the best tackle breaker and evader in the side at present.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Needs

Midfield - need some real class, pace and grunt in there. We have to many slow downhill skiers and not enough quick, put your body in the line and get the hard ball midfielders. We need to rotate some real quality talent there. I think its time to give Stiffy a run in there even if its only for half a game. He has all the tools we are looking for (aerobis capacity is questionable but he covers a hell of a lot of ground from HBF/BP so I doubt its a HUGE concern). Douglas, Porplyzia, Knights and possibly Pfeiffer should be given more of a run in there. Douglas and Pfeiffer offer some pace but we really are struggling in pace department IMHO.

Key forwards - We need a gun but we won't get one so we need to keep backing in what we have until better prospects come along. We need to draft a key forward or two to develop.

Rucks - I think we are pretty much set in this area. I don't think we have ever had this much depth and potential in the ruck in the history of the club.

Backs - I think we are set here as well. Rutten and Bock will be there for years to come and players like McLeod, Bassett, Torney and some youngsters can provide a lot of run and give us a lot of flexibility IMHO.

Now how do we structure. I think Hentschel will be a MASSIVE loss that we will really find hard to cover. His height and ability will be sorely missed IMHO. Our key forward might not be guns but they are workhorses that give it their best every time they cross the white line. Sure they will be prone to a stinker here and there but overall they do whats asked of them.

This talk that we can't win with Perrie and Welsh in the forward line is a great load of crap. It wasn't our forward line that cost us, it was our midfield. No forward line will function if the midfield doesn't deliver. Thats a simple and proven fact. Our forward line almost pulled it off yesterday despite getting some rubbish their way and midfield struggling to remember what a football looked like.

This talk that Roo and Welsh cannot play in the same forward line is another load of crap. Both of them offer us a lot of flexibility and goal kicking ability. People think that Welsh is only this leading forward out of the square. Well here is a fact for you, he is a lot more than that. Welsh has shown in the past that he is more than capable of playing as a roaming HFF. In fact he has played that role more and more late last year and even this year with us. He gave us some real spark across HF yesterday in the first half when he came on. The way I would structire the forward line next year would be something like this

F: 32. Mark Ricciuto _ 16. Ken McGregor _ 10. Matthew Bode
HF: 24. Brett Burton _ 22. Ian Perrie _ 17. Scott Welsh.

This forward line would be very balanced and pretty potent IMHO. Roo as the leading forward, Kenny as the stay at home forward for the long kicks since he is our best contested mark and Bode as a crumbing opportunist planted at his feet.

Accross HF you have Sarge as a leading CHF who will provide a contest and create a lot of space behind him. Welshy and Burton as roaming forward that drop back into the space and lead up the ground. Those 2 should be given a lot of freedon and they would be difficult to match up IMHO as both are great in the air and on ground level and have some size about them. That forward is as potent as we could possibly put together next year. A nice blend of workhorses mixed in with some X factors and marking ability.

Now midfield is my biggest concern. Goodwin and Edwards head the list but after that there is a lot of question marks and inconsistency. I have given up on Reilly being the sort of player I hoped he would become. He is more of a Doughty type player and not the Kane Johnson type we hoped for.

Thompson REALLY needs to step up here and become more consistent. At his best he is as good as they come but there is a big gap between his best and his worst. Thats a bit concerning IMHO. As said previously I would give Johncock some real time in the midfield. There is nothing to lose here IMHO and plenty to gain. Van Berlo, Douglas, Porplyzia, Knights and maybe Pfeiffer should be given more run in the midfield next year. Obviously you can't play them all at once but there has to be some sort of rotation with the younger players to introduce them into the midfield. Form will determine who gets time and who doesn't but opportunities are there for them to take the next step up. I am hoping that Van Berlo, Knights and Porplyzia will take it to the next level next year. Mattner need to return to the wing and give us more drive from there.

In the ruck, its a no brainer IMHO. Hudson will lead the rucks and be of huge boost to our midfield in the grunt department. He will once again be amongst the leaders in clearences and hard ball gets. Biglands will be his back up unless overtaken by one of the youngsters. You can bag him all you like but he does offer some real flexibility, pace and a bit of crash and bang. His ability to be a handy forward will give him the nod over the other 2 boys. Maric and Meesen will get their opportunities. I doubt they would play every game but both shoudl get some games at AFL level next year. Meesen most likely as a first option as a back up KP who can pinch hit in the ruck (to start off with)

Defence, I expect to stay pretty much constant. I would like to see Bock return back to CHB, Rutten at FB, Bassett as the 3rd tall and Torney and McLeod on the flanks. Other spot to be contested between veteran Hart and young up and coming players like Pfeiffer, Van Berlo and maybe even Reilly.

There will be some backbone players that had a good season this year that will drop back next year just as Skippy did this year and one or 2 players do every year.

We are not far off but we are just not quite there. I seriously see midfield as our biggest concern. Add a couple of quality players into that mix and it just might be enough to tip the scales into our favour.

And of course to go all the way, you need to have luck on your side and we definetly didn't have that this year.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

Excellent post, Stiffy

Said all I had to say earlier but took longer to say it

This is what we need-concrete ideas not just bagging players

 

[crowsarethebest]

I wouldn't want to offer a lot for Waters. He needs to tightenn up his kicking. Very sloppy. He misses easy targets under no pressure. YOu can't question his toughness/ Hardness though.

 

[conVINCEd]

Needs

This talk that we can't win with Perrie and Welsh in the forward line is a great load of crap. It wasn't our forward line that cost us, it was our midfield. No forward line will function if the midfield doesn't deliver. Thats a simple and proven fact. Our forward line almost pulled it off yesterday despite getting some rubbish their way and midfield struggling to remember what a football looked like.

F: 32. Mark Ricciuto _ 16. Ken McGregor _ 10. Matthew Bode
HF: 24. Brett Burton _ 22. Ian Perrie _ 17. Scott Welsh.

Our forwardline may have just about pulled it off but only because of a Burton cameo in the first half and Bock, with two efforts from Bode that resulted in two goals. Perrie and Welsh offered nothing, yet you want Nathan to go back to defence.

Thats crazy, IMHO. We need to utilise Stevens at CHB, because a.) he allows Bock to play forward, and b.) we need some young height down there considering Bassett, Torney and Hart aren't exactly spring chickens.

As for the forward line you've listed - thats what our preferred line-up was this year apart from Hentschel. How are we going to improve in the future if we continue to play the same guys - what happened to our need to include young guys in our line-up?

Neil and the assistants some tough decisions to make and a few guys like Perrie, Welsh, Hart and Doughty might be in trouble. Doughty is solid, but he ain't going to be a superstar, he will be 28 next year and we desperately need to give our young mids some serious gametime.

As you said we DESPERATELY need pace in our midfield. We were slaughtered in the second half yesterday. Our only attacking drive comes from defence, mainly because of Johncock and McLeod, and we have to change that so our midfield not only wins the clearances (which Hudson should help with next year) but provides quality drive from there as well. Macca should stay in defence, but Johncock definitely needs to spends some time in the guts, and the pace of Mattner should be looked at as well.

I'd like to see Pfeiffer and Knights played in defence in an attacking role that Johncock will leave at times to play in the guts. That is where Stiffy, Macca and Goodwin learnt their trade and we need to 'replace the pace' that we'd lose out of defence if Stiffy and Mattner where moved up-field.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Our forwardline may have just about pulled it off but only because of a Burton cameo in the first half and Bock, with two efforts from Bode that resulted in two goals. Perrie and Welsh offered nothing, yet you want Nathan to go back to defence.

Thats crazy, IMHO. We need to utilise Stevens at CHB, because a.) he allows Bock to play forward, and b.) we need some young height down there considering Bassett, Torney and Hart aren't exactly spring chickens.

I'd agree with Stiffy.....Bock can pinch hit but realistically he's more a natural backman.......you can see he prefers to run in a straight line and he has a rather large turning circle...gets caught a bit.

Stevens at CHB ......gee I'm an admirer of Stevens when everyone was carving him up....but lets not get carried away here with his capabilities.....he's a stop gap NOT our CHB permanently.

 

[Truck Rutten]

Some really good posts here guys

I like Stiffy18's proposed forward setup, and I think with the cattle we have, this is probably our most potent and versatile combination.

I too would like to see some of the young guys (Douglas, Knights, Vince, Pfeiffer, Meesen & Maric) get some serious game time next year, but it's the old problem of only 22 spots in a team. If we work on yesterday's team as a base, but with Huddo coming in for Clarke, and Roo in for ? and Ken in for Scotty S, with Bock going to CHB, it's hard to see these younger guys breaking into the team for too many games. We've seen that Craigy has a lot of faith in his players, and will persevere with the incumbents, even if their form is mediocre, as long as the team is winning. Obviously there'll be injuries which will create opportunities, but I do worry that again next year, these crushers will be deprived of chances if the guys already in the team are displaying adequate form. It's a concern with Meesen clearly wanting to play AFL footy, that he'll still be 4th or at best 3rd in line for a ruck position.

It's a tough call but I think Benny Hart does need to be gently pushed into retirement. No doubt he's still capable of playing some good footy, but he's either going to be keeping a younger player out of the team, or taking up a spot on our list if he's playing with the chooks.

I'd like to see us pick up Alwyn Davey. He's looked really good in the little I've seen of him on tv, and he could come in and play straight away, and give us some real pace. What sort of a pick do you think it would take to get him?

 

[brown_2000au]

It is widely accepted by adelaide fans that Meeson is being prevented from playing due to your surplus of tallented ruckmen. Why then are you so adimant that he should never be traded. For a ruckman of his quility there would be a lot of interest and could provide you with the runners that you require. Im sure richmond would be happy to deal with players such as Meyer (adelaide boy), Hartigan, Jackson or Rodan being offered as possible trades.

 

[Stiffy_18]

As for the forward line you've listed - thats what our preferred line-up was this year apart from Hentschel. How are we going to improve in the future if we continue to play the same guys - what happened to our need to include young guys in our line-up?

And please enlighten me in exactly how many game did we have the forward line I listed?!

NONE.

That forward line IS as good as it will get and in order for us to go step further we will need Bock at CHB. He is much stronger in one on one contests than Stevens and that is crutial in finals series. Bock back there gives us more flexibility with match ups. I cringed when I saw Stevens take on Lynch for a period of time yesterday and Bassett going over to Hansen. With Bock and Rutten back there we get a hell of a lot more flexibility and drive from defence.

A forward line I listed above WILL work and be quite damaging.