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Season preview: Adelaide

Roar Guru
5th February, 2014
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Roar Guru
5th February, 2014
1

It was not a good season for the Adelaide Crows last year, but the arrival of two big names could be the start of big things to come for the men from West Lakes.

The Kurt Tippett salary cap tampering scandal, the suspension of Dean Bailey for his role in Melbourne’s tanking controversy and Tex Walker’s season-ending knee injury all conspired against the Crows as they crashed from getting to within a kick of the 2012 Grand Final to 11th last season.

But the arrival of James Podsiadly and Eddie Betts as dual belated replacements for Tippett, as well as the permanent move to Adelaide Oval from AAMI Stadium, could signal the start of something big for the Crows this year.

Let’s now detail the Crows’ chances in 2014:

Adelaide
Last season: 11th
Most recent premiership: 1998

Notable arrivals: James Podsiadly (Geelong), Eddie Betts (Carlton)
Notable departures: Bernie Vince (Melbourne), Ian Callinan, Richard Tambling (delisted), Graham Johncock (retired)

Leading goalkicker: Tom Lynch (33)
All-Australians: Patrick Dangerfield
Best-and-fairest: Rory Sloane

Given the circumstances, it would be harsh to say that the Crows underachieved in 2013.

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There was the absence of Dean Bailey (and he’ll once again be missed indefinitely by the Crows as he battles cancer) and the season ending injury to Taylor Walker, but in all the doom and gloom some notable stars made their mark in 2013.

Tom Lynch proved to be a good replacement up forward, as evidenced by the 12 goals he kicked against GWS in Round 7 – that haul counting among 33 majors he booted last season in being the Crows’ leading goal-kicker.

Complimenting him in the forward line this year will be two seasoned forwards in Podsiadly, who arrives from Geelong, and Betts, who returns home to his native state after starting his career at Carlton.

The arrivals of Podsiadly and Betts come at a crucial time for the Crows, still reeling from the messy departure of Tippett and whose next best forward, Tex Walker, is not expected to be 100 percent by the start of the season.

The only major losses are those of Bernie Vince (Melbourne) and Graham Johncock (retired), while Richard Tambling and Ian Callinan have been delisted.

Still, Crows fans can expect to see the likes of Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane continue to shine, as well as new imports Podsiadly and Betts – two players who could hold key to Adelaide’s chances in 2014.

They will be relying on a new-look forward line of Lynch, Podsiadly and Betts to manufacture their goals up front, an area where the Crows severely struggled in 2013 due to the season-ending injury suffered by Taylor Walker and the departure of Tippett.

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But can they carry the Crows forward and back into the finals?

Matches to watch in 2014

1. The first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, Round 2
As has already been mentioned, AFL football will move closer to ‘home’ in 2014 after more than two decades at West Lakes.

And what a way to officially unveil Adelaide Oval as the new home of South Australian football with the Showdown – for which Adelaide will be the away team – to act as the official opening ceremony for what will be an exciting season for supporters.

Both Showdowns last year were decided by less than 10 points – and unfortunately Adelaide were on the receiving end both times last year, including in the most recent showdown in which an angled goal from Angus Monfries got the Power over the line.

If those two meetings in 2013 are anything to go by, then expect both Showdowns in 2014 to go all the way down to the wire. Hopefully, the Crows will have their chance to snatch a win from the Power this year.

It has also just recently been revealed that the Crows will wear a guernsey based on the South Australia State of Origin team, further adding to the rivalry.

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2. Adelaide versus Geelong, Round 1
Before the Crows face the Power in the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, they must first tackle a tough assignment when they travel across to Geelong for their only meeting with the Cats.

Adding spice to this match will be the fact that James Podsiadly will oppose the team that delisted him at the end of last season, and given the Thursday night stage that this match has been given, fireworks will be expected.

The Crows have not won in Geelong since 2003 but with Podsiadly, Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch in the forward line, the curse could be about to end.

They can take heart from the fact that they did win their only meeting last year, coming back from five goals down in the third quarter to win by two points. That, however, was at AAMI Stadium.

3. Adelaide versus Collingwood, Round 9
After the Crows, in tandem with Port Adelaide, officially christen the redeveloped Adelaide Oval in Round 2, Brenton Sanderson’s men will play the first ever Thursday night match at the venue when they oppose Collingwood in Round 9.

The Pies have caused the Crows and their fans some grief in recent years, none more so than in 2009 when the Pies, through Jack Anthony, stole victory in a very closely contested semi-final with a goal a minute out from the final siren.

The fact remains that the Crows have not beaten the Pies since the opening round in 2009, and not at home since 2006. This Thursday night showdown could present the Crows the best chance to break the drought.

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4. Adelaide versus Hawthorn, round 17
Port Adelaide may have won the hosting rights to the first match at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, but the Crows will have the honour of playing the first Friday night match at the venue, with 2013 premiers Hawthorn as the opponent.

This match will mark the Crows’ only match in the lucrative Friday night timeslot this year, so the Crows and their fans must embrace it. While the Crows won’t be expected to win, they can expect a reasonable performance against the defending premiers.

The Crows have lost their last three against the Hawks, all of which have been played at the MCG, but the last two have been very close. The home ground advantage will hopefully help the Crows get over the line.

The verdict
After a disappointing 2013 in which the Crows crumbled under the weight of pre-season expectations, hopefully this year will bring better results from an experienced and talented playing list.

The addition of Podsiadly and Betts to a team that features the likes of Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield will be hard to beat when they are at their best, and this is what will have a lot of teams on alert this season.

Unfortunately, as with North Melbourne, I could not find a place for them in my season-end top eight, but I hope that I am wrong with my final prediction and they exceed all that is expected of them in 2014.

Prediction
11th

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