Murray MiddletonRound Fifteen
July 13th 2008 11:51
On Saturday afternoon Adelaide played Collingwood at the MCG. Halfway through the second quarter Adelaide led by almost five goals. The Crows were playing the type of football that their coach – Neil Craig – has built his reputation on. They were playing numbers behind the ball, which stifled the opposition, and were peeling away from the stoppages in numbers. Their spearhead, Brett Burton had just kicked his fourth goal, leaving the Crows on the verge of an upset victory.
After Burton kicked his fourth goal the Crows lost their way. They were already struggling to cover the loss of Jason Porplyzia in the first quarter. To make matters worse, Brett Burton injured his anterior cruciate ligament; an injury that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. Collingwood ran over the top of the Crows in the second half to record an important victory. By the end of the round Collingwood was only two points away from fourth position. In contrast, Adelaide were left clinging to their place in the eight.
The season started promisingly for the Crows. They made the pre-season grand final, which they narrowly lost to St. Kilda. A transition was taking place. The likes of Goodwin, McLeod and Edwards – all of whom played important roles in the Crows flags in 1997 and 1998 – were playing as permanent forwards. The younger brigade of Van Berlo, Thompson, Knights, Reilly and Porplyzia seemed ready to take control of the midfield. On top of this, Sellar and Tippett were playing promising football as key forwards.
Over the first ten weeks of the season Adelaide were one of the fittest sides in the competition. They were sitting comfortably in fourth position and seemed to be an outside chance to win the premiership. Since then the Crows have suffered some crucial injuries and have struggled against quality opposition. They have not beaten a single side in the eight. During their round fourteen encounter with Geelong there was a clear gap in class between the two sides. In light of Burton’s injury on Saturday, it will be a tough ask for the Crows to make the finals in 2008.
Neil Craig was famously in charge of Adelaide’s fitness regime when they won the 1997 and 1998 finals. On both occasions the Crows suffered a mid-season slump before finishing the year full of running. The players endured a heavy training load in the middle of the season before the fitness staff eased off on the eave of the finals. Last season Adelaide suffered a similar drop in the middle of the season before making a last-minute charge at the top eight. Had Lance Franklin have missed his set shot in the elimination final, who knows how far the Crows would have gone?
If such a finish is going to happen this season the Crows must put together a viable forward structure. The Crows have had an unhealthy reliance on Burton this season. His injury will force them to be less one dimensional. In recent seasons they have struggled for match-winners up forward. The likes of Fevola, Richardson and Riewoldt – all of whom play for sides below the Crows on the ladder – would all be handy acquisitions. The loss of Scott Welsh and the long term injury of Trent Hentschel have also destabilised their forward structure. It is time to take risks. This is the only way that the Crows can compete with the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.
Andrew McLeod will return from his knee operation in the coming weeks. Although he has played some great football behind the ball in recent seasons, it is time the Crows had a clever forward. McLeod is capable of playing as a crumbing forward out of the goal square. Nathan Bock, alongside Scott Thompson, has been Adelaide’s best player this season. He has played some great football at centre half back and will probably gain All-Australian selection. However they need him to step up to play centre half forward. He is aggressive at the contest, has a good engine and can take a contested mark. He must become a match-winner. Rutton and Bassett can take the key defensive roles.
Simon Goodwin started the season in great form up forward. In recent weeks he has been played further up the ground. For the remainder of the season he should play as the other forward pocket. James Sellar must be given an opportunity up forward. He is a great athlete and will have the element of surprise on his side; something that worked wonders for Justin Westoff last season. Richard Douglas has kicked two goals or more on six occasions this year. He is worth persevering with as the third small forward because he tackles hard and applies good defensive pressure. This will complement the attacking instincts of Goodwin and McLeod.
The final piece of the puzzle is Trent Henstchel. He suffered a horrific injury almost two years ago and has struggled in his comeback this season. There is a good chance that he won’t be able to produce the form that made him the Crows number one target up forward. But it is time to find out. Scott Stevens and Ken McGregor are honest players, but neither poses a genuine threat to the opposition. Tippett is making good progress, but needs more support. The Crows are on the brink of losing their place in the eight. It is time for Neil Craig to be innovative, which is something he loves.
After Burton kicked his fourth goal the Crows lost their way. They were already struggling to cover the loss of Jason Porplyzia in the first quarter. To make matters worse, Brett Burton injured his anterior cruciate ligament; an injury that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. Collingwood ran over the top of the Crows in the second half to record an important victory. By the end of the round Collingwood was only two points away from fourth position. In contrast, Adelaide were left clinging to their place in the eight.
The season started promisingly for the Crows. They made the pre-season grand final, which they narrowly lost to St. Kilda. A transition was taking place. The likes of Goodwin, McLeod and Edwards – all of whom played important roles in the Crows flags in 1997 and 1998 – were playing as permanent forwards. The younger brigade of Van Berlo, Thompson, Knights, Reilly and Porplyzia seemed ready to take control of the midfield. On top of this, Sellar and Tippett were playing promising football as key forwards.
Over the first ten weeks of the season Adelaide were one of the fittest sides in the competition. They were sitting comfortably in fourth position and seemed to be an outside chance to win the premiership. Since then the Crows have suffered some crucial injuries and have struggled against quality opposition. They have not beaten a single side in the eight. During their round fourteen encounter with Geelong there was a clear gap in class between the two sides. In light of Burton’s injury on Saturday, it will be a tough ask for the Crows to make the finals in 2008.
Neil Craig was famously in charge of Adelaide’s fitness regime when they won the 1997 and 1998 finals. On both occasions the Crows suffered a mid-season slump before finishing the year full of running. The players endured a heavy training load in the middle of the season before the fitness staff eased off on the eave of the finals. Last season Adelaide suffered a similar drop in the middle of the season before making a last-minute charge at the top eight. Had Lance Franklin have missed his set shot in the elimination final, who knows how far the Crows would have gone?
If such a finish is going to happen this season the Crows must put together a viable forward structure. The Crows have had an unhealthy reliance on Burton this season. His injury will force them to be less one dimensional. In recent seasons they have struggled for match-winners up forward. The likes of Fevola, Richardson and Riewoldt – all of whom play for sides below the Crows on the ladder – would all be handy acquisitions. The loss of Scott Welsh and the long term injury of Trent Hentschel have also destabilised their forward structure. It is time to take risks. This is the only way that the Crows can compete with the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.
Andrew McLeod will return from his knee operation in the coming weeks. Although he has played some great football behind the ball in recent seasons, it is time the Crows had a clever forward. McLeod is capable of playing as a crumbing forward out of the goal square. Nathan Bock, alongside Scott Thompson, has been Adelaide’s best player this season. He has played some great football at centre half back and will probably gain All-Australian selection. However they need him to step up to play centre half forward. He is aggressive at the contest, has a good engine and can take a contested mark. He must become a match-winner. Rutton and Bassett can take the key defensive roles.
Simon Goodwin started the season in great form up forward. In recent weeks he has been played further up the ground. For the remainder of the season he should play as the other forward pocket. James Sellar must be given an opportunity up forward. He is a great athlete and will have the element of surprise on his side; something that worked wonders for Justin Westoff last season. Richard Douglas has kicked two goals or more on six occasions this year. He is worth persevering with as the third small forward because he tackles hard and applies good defensive pressure. This will complement the attacking instincts of Goodwin and McLeod.
The final piece of the puzzle is Trent Henstchel. He suffered a horrific injury almost two years ago and has struggled in his comeback this season. There is a good chance that he won’t be able to produce the form that made him the Crows number one target up forward. But it is time to find out. Scott Stevens and Ken McGregor are honest players, but neither poses a genuine threat to the opposition. Tippett is making good progress, but needs more support. The Crows are on the brink of losing their place in the eight. It is time for Neil Craig to be innovative, which is something he loves.
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