New coach, new captain, new CEO and new players. Is this the beginning of a special era for the Adelaide football club or a failure of decision making by the key men at West Lakes?
As the Crows prepare for the 2015 AFL season there is a sense of excitement in the air due to the significant changes that occurred during the off-season.
Brenton Sanderson sacked, Phillip Walsh brought in, Andrew Fagan appointed, Taylor Walker named captain and a speculative trade period were just some of the highlights. So as the season draws closer let’s take a look at how the Crows will perform in 2015.
The off-season
The Hawks were still celebrating their grand final win as the Crows dropped more than one bombshell on the AFL world. The first and most significant was without doubt the unexpected sacking of Sanderson, who in his brief three-year stint at West Lakes had taken his side to just one kick away from a grand final only two years earlier.
After the shock of the decision the focus then immediately turned to finding a replacement with a wide variety of names thrown into the ring. The biggest of these would be Alastair Clarkson, who at one stage had been falsely reported in the media as signing a long-term deal at West Lakes. But it was just another rumour. In the meantime the Crows had been busy and lured Port Adelaide assistant Phil Walsh from Alberton, giving the footy world another unexpected surprise.
So with a new coach and CEO in place it was trade time and the Crows entered the trade period needing to cover three significant holes in their list – key defenders, ruck support and outside speed. Adelaide were able to cover two of these three areas by bringing in Hawthorn duo Kyle Cheney and Luke Lowden in exchange for draft picks.
The Crows would also make one more trade with Geelong, which would see them clinch picks 14 and 35 in exchange for picks 10 and 47. With an improved position the draft came around and would see the Crows pick up young key defender Jake Lever along with Harrison Wigg, Harry Dear and Mitch McGovern.
So after finalising their list only one thing was missing, a new captain to take the club forward. There were many worthy candidates for the top job but in the end it was spearhead Walker who got the nod, thus completing Adelaide’s list for 2015.
Who to look out for
Last season saw several Crows players have breakout years with the likes of Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia and Matthew Jaensch all having career best seasons. So as the season draws closer which players are we likely to see shine for the Crows in 2015?
Brad Crouch
Much has been said of young gun Brad Crouch, who continues to get better with more experience at AFL level. Crouch’s first two years at the Crows were very impressive but something tells me he will have a serious influence on the competition this year. The way he reads the play is second to none as he frequently racks up huge numbers of disposals while also getting on the scoresheet.
In 2014 Crouch averaged 24.7 touches a game at AFL level from only 11 games. These numbers are truly exceptional and are set to get even better in 2015. He is also an imposing threat on the inside as he gets his hands dirty at stoppages and fights hard for possession of the footy to benefit teammates around him.
According to all reports Crouch is killing it on the track this pre-season, impressing his new coach Walsh and teammates alike. The time is now right for Crouch to really come of age as one of the competition’s elite up-and-coming stars and grasp his opportunity to become one of the key men of the Adelaide midfield.
Josh Jenkins
A career best year saw Jenkins finally cement his place at full forward in a talented Adelaide forward line. That being said 2015 is a big year for Jenkins as he aims to become one of the competition’s most influential powerful forwards. At 198 centimetres, 104 kilograms and 25 years of age Jenkins has the attributes to become something special for the Crows inside the forward 50.
I believe Jenkins will continue improving in 2015 as he begins to get a complete grasp on his roll in the side and how he can use his size to maximum effect. His past two seasons at AFL level have seen him boot 24 and 40 goals respectively. His goal kicking continues to improve and we will see Jenkins add to his 2014 tally.
His ability to go into the ruck is also incredibly handy and this skill is something I can see Jenkins really improving in 2015, which in turn would see him become an extremely valuable player in the Crows line-up and put to rest any comparisons to the not so fondly remembered Kurt Tippett.
Prediction
With a new coach at the helm and a young list gaining more and more experience I can see good things emerging at West Lakes in 2015. The talent that lies within Adelaide’s squad is first class with many players only just hitting the peak of their powers.
They may have underachieved in the last couple of years but something tells me that Walsh is the right man to get the best out of this young group of emerging players. With the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Crouch in their midfield, Daniel Talia and Brodie Smith down back and Walker and Eddie Betts up forward they definitely have the firepower to compete with the competition’s best.
Despite their lack of consistency over the last couple of seasons I believe a breakout year beckons in 2015, which should see them firmly entrenched in the top eight come finals time.
Predicted ladder position: sixth
Best 22
FB: Cheney, Hartigan, Brown
HB: Henderson, Talia, Jaensch
C: Smith, B.Crouch, Sloane
HF: Douglas, Jenkins, Lynch
FF: Betts, Walker, Podsiadly
FOLL: Jacobs, Dangerfield, Thompson
I/C: Van Berlo, Cameron, Wright, Kerridge
Vocans
Guest
6 games lost by less than two goals. A really good showing against the Hawks (though I concede they never looked like they'd win it -it was being at that game that told me the Hawks were the real deal for the flag). Despite all the things disrupting their game plan. They should play finals.
Vocans
Guest
What about Jaensch's rebound and boot which was so accurate last year? Another season like that and he takes on some of the reliability of Smith. Smith wants to play mid and I think he'd blitz it. Mackay's hand went up last year and he has the chance to cement his spot this year. I'm clearly biased with Crows-coloured glasses but they should play finals footy this year. Much rests on the new coach as I agree the list is good and has been for some time. But for some time there were strategic injuries and inexperience to contend with and that led to inconsistent performances. I'm with you 4-8; and of course I secretly punt for higher, and not without some reason. I reiterate the backs question, and we need a bag of goals from Betts, Jenkins and, of course, a rejuvenated and newly capped Tex if we are to r,rally hit our straps.
glidagida
Guest
Great article Zac. Got to have Mackay on the wing to start and Smith in place of Jaensch. I think you guys have all missed the coach change philosophy. With the under-performing Crows list as fit as they were under Craigy at the end of 2011 Bugs Bunny could have let the straight jackets off and the team would have finished in the top 8. Add the "in game" tactical + coaching prowess of DB and top 4 was a distinct reality. Without DB's wisdom and without Craigy's fitness the Crows floundered in 2013-4. Direction comes from the coach, team spirit comes from the coach, enthusiasm comes from the coach, discipline comes from the coach. Miss those ingredients and ANY TEAM will flounder. In essence I see the Crows lacklustre 2 years as a coaching failure and not a player failure, or a list shortcoming. Walshy has corrected all of those coaching deficiencies for 2015, and the Crows list is pretty much the same as in 2012 except that Truck leaves a pretty big hole. I expect them to have a mini 2012 all over again, BUT the lack of height in defence will cost some games. That outcome depends on how well Hartigan and Lever come on as 'A' grade players and the game plan. Walsh may surprise everyone with his game plan, I believe he is in the Macolm Blight category. Blighty pulled out some amazing coaching tricks; remember Shane Ellen in '97 and the job that Peter Caven did on Carey in '98? Prediction: Walshy's charges will make the top 4-8.
Don Freo
Guest
But far more realistic.
Vocans
Guest
11th is very pessimistic.
Vocans
Guest
I think you're right about Sanderson being too fast out of the blocks. My impression is that some board members were/are wannabe hard nuts and they went out and got one in Walsh. 3-4 years will not please them, and it doesn't please me. If this team is going places it will show by end 2016 season or not at all. Walsh is aiming at full team defence which is good, and it needs to lift the backs to become as miserly as Talia - Brown is. Last year was very much a story of not enough tall backs fit and in form. Pinch hitting with J-Pod and the like.
jax
Guest
6th place is very optimistic. They are more likely to finish 8th-11th this year with a more serious push into the 8 in 2016.
Gecko
Guest
One of the Crows' biggest problems in the last two years is a lack of a Boak-type captain - someone who really imbues confidence and exerts authority over his team. The appointment of Walker as captain shows they've still got this problem. Who's the next genuine leader at the Crows? They need to fast-track him.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I tell you what Walsh doesn't want to do. Get to a prelim, lose and the following year not make the finals. Had Sanderson not exceeded expectations in his first year he probably would still be at the Crows. He needs to build his list slowly over the next 3-4 years and show a steady improvement. Unless you do this, it would appear you are going to get the **** as a coach today. It's tough though, because I think the Eagles are in a similar position and I like their prospects more than the Crows.
vocans
Guest
Hi Zac, good first post. A lot does ride on Jenkins going that one better, and the same could be said of Tex now that he's got game time behind him after his injury. Tall backs are a problem with only Talia and perhaps Cheney having the recent game time and experience. Shaw has been bedevilled by injury and lack of game time, Otten has recovery to do, and Lever looks likely but needs time and a bit more body. Cameron could surprise but he's still young, so he could be in the best 22, but what of Martin, Grigg, Mackay, Lyons, Matt Crouch and Laird, all of whom could be on the interchange at the very least? With or without the new coaching input, a number of players are due to mature into excellent seasons: Henderson, like Jenkins, has taken time and has always been a better player than he himself realised; Kerridge is heading that way, and it will be interesting how much better Jaensch will play after a great 2014. VB is going to be very hungry, and the coach reckons he might get a freer role. Smith could be devastating from the mids, even more than he has been from the back. He's an elusive, fast, clever and highly skilled bugger who reads the play as well as anyone in the game. It might be strange to say with All-Oz Talia there, but the backs are the concern. We need talls to combat some very significant forward tall set ups in a number of other teams if we are to be consistently near the top 4 or so. I don't know how long it will take to get Walsh's game plan settled into the team - I hope it is quick, otherwise we'll have to wait for 2016 until we really know how the changes have panned out. I have no idea what Danger and Sloane will do over the next couple of years, but success is sweet and both seem possible one club players to me.
Crows need to play finals as a minimum for the upcoming season. With a decent run with injuries they should be right around 4-6. Go CROWIES!!