In 2015, the Adelaide Crows will reach a crossroads in their future. Should they rise, they will dare to dream of the grand final berth that has eluded them through three top-four finishes and three preliminary final losses in the last decade.
If they get it right they will lock in Patrick Dangerfield and his supporting teammates Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas. If another failure in 2015 is their fate, it may be back to the drawing board.
The Crows, as shown at times throughout 2014, are a more than capable side, with wins over Port Adelaide in the Showdown (Round 15) and rampant performances against Collingwood (rounds 9 and 18) and North Melbourne (Round 13), not to mention their strong effort against Hawthorn (Round 17).
At their best they can control the centre clearances (first in the league for 2014) and contested ball (second), leading to the third highest points total. If Adelaide can put into place the team defence that Phil Walsh has been talking about to counteract the turnovers and high points against that cost the Crows harshly, then they could be a force to be reckoned with in 2015.
However Adelaide’s moments of brilliance during their 2014 campaign were easily overshadowed by their inconsistencies and wealth of incomplete performances. Despicable losses to Melbourne (Round 7), Carlton (Round 10) and Essendon (Round 14) and poor showings against Richmond (Round 21) and North Melbourne (Round 22) in games that were more than winnable showed that Adelaide were at best making up the numbers of the top eight during their brief stints in a finals position.
Should this trend continue into Phil Walsh’s tenure as coach, there is no doubt that Adelaide fans will have to endure a tough year and will probably suffer more exoduses of players, confirming their status as a club of sustained mediocrity. For Adelaide fans this is simply not an option, but unfortunately it is a very possible outcome.
If history is anything to go by, the future looks bright for the Adelaide Crows. The last time they missed the finals for two or more years in a row, a preliminary final followed. The only time they missed finals for more than two years in a row (three) they won back-to-back flags. The Adelaide Crows are use to success, with the sixth highest winning percentage of any club in the history of AFL.
2015 is a key year in their history. If it is successful the future is bright. If it all goes well an All Australian ruckman is giving first use to an elite midfield of Dangerfield, Sloane, Douglas and the young Crouch brothers, who provide elite supply to a forward line dominated by Taylor Walker, a future Coleman medalist, with the brilliant Eddie Betts at his feet.
The cherry on top is the defensive combination of Daniel Talia and run and carry of the rising Brodie Smith.
If it doesn’t go right a young and incomplete midfield missing the talent of Dangerfield is of major concern. The forward line relying on Walker, who is still recovering from a major knee injury, hampers offensive capabilities and the Crows are suddenly relying on a talented but thin back line to try and hold down the floodgates.
There is no middle ground for the Adelaide Crows. 2015 is success or failure – a make or break year. But with a new coach, good enough list and the pressure on, there are no excuses.
They must and will make it.
Prediction: fifth
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