After winning their first three games – the opening two against North Melbourne and Collingwood particularly emphatic – it seemed that Adelaide were the real deal under new coach Phil Walsh.
Walsh, who replaced Brenton Sanderson after he was surprisingly sacked at the end of last season, had given the indication there would be a harder edge with the way the Crows would play.
He came across after a lengthy apprenticeship as an assistant coach and high performance manager at a number of clubs, during which he employed a ‘take no prisoners’ attitude. He seemed to have drilled that mentality into his new players straight away.
However, there seems to be a touch of the same old Crows after that wonderful start. They have won just three games since and are in the top eight only on percentage.
Once again it appears that Adelaide are relying on too few players to get the job done for them every week such as Patrick Dangerfield, the prolific Scott Thompson, and Eddie Betts, who is now arguably the best small forward in the competition having kicked 33 goals.
Taylor Walker was a bold selection as captain and like the rest of the team made a huge impression early, kicking 11 goals in the first three outings, but only 16 since.
Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch have been inconsistent as the other talls up forward as well and no matter how well he has performed, Eddie can’t do it all on his own.
Rory Sloane missed several weeks with injury along with Richard Douglas, which weakened the midfield and again that reliance on too few was evident, although Rory Laird has certainly continued making giant strides and has averaged 22 disposals a game so far.
Brad Crouch’s frustrating run with injuries continue. He is a sublime talent, but hasn’t played this year yet and continues to be badly missed.
In defence, Brodie Smith had an outstanding year as a rebounding halfback last season and is in good form again in 2015, but opposition clubs are awake to him more this year and are finding ways to restrict him.
Kyle Cheney from Hawthorn and Jake Kelly, the son of former Collingwood premiership player Craig, have been welcome additions to the backline, but they are not legitimate key tall defenders, which is an area where Adelaide lack depth.
Ricky Henderson was filling centre half back, but he’s another out injured and Kyle Hartigan is still finding his way at this level. Adelaide’s high draft pick last year, Jake Lever, has had a taste in the AFL and has shown he is their future as a key defensive back, while again Daniel Talia continues to enhance his reputation as a star fullback, but once again like the midfield and forward line, he requires more support right now.
As has been the case with the Crows, they are the almost team, especially against the very good sides.
They had their moments against Hawthorn last Thursday night but when push came to shove the Hawks were far too good and they have been exposed by quick sides such as the Bulldogs in Round 4 and the Giants in Round 8.
They also had their chances against Port Adelaide, who haven’t performed well all season and let that one slip too, which might prove costly in what is looking like a mighty battle for the lower spots in the eight considering the log jam of teams all on six wins at the halfway mark of the season.
Sanderson was accused in some circles of not being tough enough on the Adelaide players during his three years in charge. Phil Walsh on the other hand is seen as the bad cop, who is never satisfied. Maybe that’s what the Crows needed.
Board member and club legend Mark Ricciuto certainly thought that as he seemed to be the man who drove Walsh’s appointment, but once again, despite the change in coach, we have a similar result so far in 2015. Several unanswered questions remain as to whether Adelaide are actually good enough.
dan ced
Guest
Almost beating Freo and almost beating Hawthorn. We are the almost team for sure. I say we because I've been a season ticket holder since 1996. They do often find a way to disappoint, and that's why they're always a little underrated. If we beat Hawthorn I was going to lock us in for a finals birth but it could still go wrong. Looking at the teams below us though, I don't think they have the teams to knock us out of finals. Port, and Geelong for instance.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
lol
Vocans
Guest
It is that kind of season, but flattery won't get you Danger. :)
Katfish
Roar Guru
Kelly's kick is getting better each week and apparently he's putting a heap of work into it. The problem with Kelly and Lever this year is that they are took focused on defence (Kelly had just 8 touches against Freo) which isn't entirely a bad thing, but he doesn't consistently provide rebound from defence. Kelly also looks scared to turn the ball over sometimes and more often that not opts for the safe kick rather than the kick to the corridor which starts a scoring attempt. Once again this is not a bad thing, but the Crows need more players (like Smith, Henderson and even Grigg now that Jaensch is out) in the back-half willing (and able) to make these kicks. Lever looks to have a little more composed but both need time before they provide both the defensive and offensive support that the Crows need.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Well I had the crows in my top 4. Still going to stick with them. I don't think they are playing bad football and the way the season is panning out they could still finish in the top 4 or bottom 4. Go figure hey.
vocans
Guest
The return of Henderson and the possible use of Smith in the backs when Crouch is ready might address the rebound issues. Jaensch also offered that but of course he's out for a year (oops, sorry Jaenschy) er . . . 10 months. Kelly looks to have a boot on him but other factors coming from being new might be masking that somewhat. Lever can kick and he will become a rebounding back.
TomC
Roar Guru
I definitely agree that they remain reliant on a small number of players. I think they're still playing pretty good footy, though. They've lost three of their last four, but they were all quality footy matches. They have an interesting draw for the rest of the season. They have gimmes against the Lions (twice) and the Suns, and they might battle to beat the Eagles and the Swans away, but there are plenty of 50/50 games. So they probably still have the scope to finish anywhere from 5th to 12th. I'd back them to make the eight.
Katfish
Roar Guru
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that their problems lie with their backline. Talia has been extraordinary this year but there is no one else back there to help him with the back 7 conceding bags of goals to Schulz, Bruce, Stringer and McCarthy. The bigger problem comes from the lack of rebound offered by Adelaide's defensive group. Cheeney, Kelly, Hartigan (when in the team) and Talia all lack pace and precise kicking. As such the Crows are stagnant coming out of defence, highlighted by their performance against the Hawks where they consistently kicked long down the line. When they did decide to move the ball with pace they turned the ball over more often then not. This inability to move the ball from defence has cost them games against Hawthorn, Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
Vocans
Guest
Fair summary, Dan. Injury rates have increased across the AFL over the last decade and more. Adelaide is one of this year's teams that have not had the mature enough depth to cover the losses you mention and more. For instance, Smith, Jaensch and Henderson are very significant losses as well. Turnovers and missed goals are the main signs and have led to your 'almost' not becoming 'there'. Apparently Laird did some of his own work on that over the pre-season and has reaped the benfits. The future looks good with Lever and Kelly but Jenkins is yet to convince with consistency, and Tex is needing to find something else to his game to cover for his slowness across the ground.