The Adelaide Crows had another disappointing season in 2014, despite a strong recruitment drive. Inconsistency was the problem, and hopefully new coach Phil Walsh can turn them into a top four side.
There are plenty of side stories in the background, however, so let’s take a look at how they may pan out over 2015.
1. They are restricted
The they is Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane. The restricted is the reality the AFL must come to, that the home of both Dangerfield and Sloane in 2016 rests solely with the Adelaide by virtue of holding the rights of both as restricted free agents.
Since last week’s announcement naming Taylor Walker as Adelaide captain, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive that both Dangerfield and Sloane will be in Victorian club colours in 2016. However, the reality is that Adelaide have the final say. They will have the right to match any contract put on offer.
Given the talent that Adelaide have lost over the past five years they should have cap space to cover at least one and possibly both players, even if a rival club makes a lucrative offer. Hawthorn, Richmond and Geelong are three of the hot suitors for the Adelaide duo, but creating an offer that puts Adelaide out of the market is unlikely.
A deeper glance at the Adelaide list and the reality is there, that this is a list that needs Sloane and Dangerfield and can find the way to pay them what they want. The mainstream hyperbole in this case may be just that, and Adelaide may still yet keep its key core together beyond this year.
2. Off-season affecting in-season
The hiring of new head coach Phil Walsh has ushered in a new era at the Crows based around hard work and accountability. However, for all of the preaching of Walsh around hard work, his energy and the team’s effort could still be undone by the impending uncertainty around the 2015 free agency period. History has shown that off-field talk can very quickly derail on-field performance of the player in question, but also the team as a whole.
With Adelaide considered an inconsistent side coming into this season based on past performance, the last thing an inconsistent side needs is additional scrutiny. If Adelaide finds themselves battling for form at the midway point of the season, regardless of how much hard work they have done, mentally first and physically second the team may come undone.
3. Losing All-Australian rebound
Brodie Smith was one of the revelations of 2014 with his dare, dash, run and rebound from the back half being one of the highlights of the Adelaide season. Smith was rewarded for this breakout season with All-Australian selection a justification for the significant role that Smith was playing in a modern game plan. It is somewhat surprising then that the pre-season talk is that of Smith moving towards the midfield.
Smith has trained with the midfield group over the past couple of years, but after a career best season last year, one has to question the thought process behind taking an elite defender and rebounder away from a position he had dominated last season. Either Adelaide have real belief in the succession planning they have or they believe that Smith is more important as a midfielder. Regardless it is a potential high risk, ballsy move from a first year coach.
4. The 2014 recruits one rear on
Another one of the real highlights of the Adelaide season in 2014 was the performance of its two high profile recruits in Eddie Betts and James Podsiadly. The duo combined to play 43 out of a possible 44 games and contributed 77 goals on the scoreboard. It would be safe to say that both exceeded expectations in their first season in Crow colours.
Given that former coach Brenton Sanderson played a large part in bringing this duo to the club, how they respond to a new coach and how they back up outstanding seasons is a key for Adelaide making a finals push. The performance of Betts especially could very easily be tied to whether Adelaide play finals football in 2015.
5. Hawthorn’s 2014 depth is Adelaide’s 2015 hope
In a whirlwind final few minutes at the trade deadline, Adelaide were able to secure the services of both Luke Lowden and Kyle Cheney from Hawthorn. Both Lowden and Cheney were depth players at Hawthorn and generally trading for depth has a habit of backfiring on clubs. In the case of Lowden and Cheney though, they are coming from the two-time defending champion and a team that was highly regarded because of an ability to overcome injuries.
As aforementioned, Adelaide did nail the trade period 18 months ago and the hope is that Lowden and Cheney will be another win for the Crows. Lowden played just one game for Hawthorn last year, but seems valuable insurance for the singular Sam Jacobs ruck option and also potentially gives Adelaide a different look as a tall forward.
Cheney, meanwhile, has become somewhat of an AFL journeyman with this being his third club. Cheney did play nine games last year and has shown some versatility as a defender. Given a lack of depth in the Adelaide back half, hopes could be high for Cheney being a 2015 regular and like Lowden, giving the Crows a slightly different look.
6. Inconsistency lingering
Last year Adelaide showed a habit to win tough back-to-the-wall games, while dropping what appeared to be penciled wins on paper. The AFL world should know within the opening six weeks whether Adelaide are again going to be a team based on inconsistency or whether the 2015 Crows are legitimate.
North Melbourne at home to start, followed by Collingwood away, Melbourne at home, Western away, Port Adelaide at home and St Kilda away represents a testy challenge for how Adelaide has previously played. Theoretically Adelaide could win all of those matches, yet the fashion and identity of any potential losses will probably tell more about the 2015 of the Crows.
7. The sliding doors of Phil Walsh
For more than a decade Walsh has been regarded as one of the best assistant coaches in the land. Walsh has finally made the plunge towards head coaching after a series of life events that have led him to Adelaide. One of the key influencers in this decision appears to be his former boss and now crosstown rival Ken Hinkley.
What is noticeable very early on is that while Walsh very much beats to his own drum he is bringing an aura of Port Adelaide to Adelaide. Just like Walsh has encountered a series of sliding door moments in his life, Adelaide could be about to face a sliding door to their crosstown rival. The upside of playing an ultra modern, hard running, hard working game plan is a top-four finish and so far the downside is unknown. Is there more room on the upside? This could be a sliding door where Walsh and Adelaide find out.
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