Jonathan Brown took a swipe at the Adelaide Crows this week, questioning their ability to play tough, “unsociable” football – a term made popular during the recent years of Hawthorn’s reign.
But Hawthorn weren’t respectably tough, they were dirty, so I don’t want to see the Crows play the way the Hawks did.
I want Adelaide to build their own brand of football, which – in gameplan alone – they’ve already done this year.
That said, Brown’s comments are warranted.
On paper, the Crows should have won a premiership under Neil Craig, but didn’t because Craig had no answers when Plan A wasn’t working. To compound the problem, he refused to make changes on-field when the chips were down.
Sure, hindsight is 20-20, but Don Pyke’s words in the media after his side’s last two losses placed almost all blame for the breakdown on a players’ inability to execute the gameplan. Yet when things aren’t going to plan, Pyke’s ability to execute the kinds of changes coaches are paid to make has been found wanting.
Of course, he’s not going to talk tactics with the media, but I’ve no reason to believe he’s delivering a different message to the players.
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The loss to North Melbourne didn’t bother me so much, it was more the manner in which it occurred, with a Craig-like commitment to a failed gameplan. However, in the press conference, Pyke threw his players under the bus, blaming poorly executed plays and non-contributors.
That’s fine if you’re going to spend time one-on-one with those players, working out how to fix the problem, but if you say things like that and then rock up to training with indignance, the players will check out.
Is that what we saw during the Melbourne game? I hope not, but the possibility is far from ruled out.
In the interest of fairness, a few changes were made during the Melbourne game. Pyke threw Rory Sloane around to see if a different position would shake the tag. It didn’t. His comment about that at the press conference: “It just didn’t work for him tonight.”
Late in the game, Pyke put Andy Otten forward (where he’s been so good this season), but it was too little too late.
So sure, the Crows may be soft, but big hits don’t win football games, they only earn you a nervous seat before the match review panel. Thus, Brown’s comments are accurate, but irrelevant.
Adelaide aren’t any softer this week than they were when they annihilated their first six opponents (including the unsociable Hawks), so something else has changed.
I just hope it isn’t the players’ faith in a coach who is facing his first stint in the hot seat.
Champs
Roar Rookie
Extremely well said Craig, thanks for commenting!
Champs
Roar Rookie
JK Legend, I don't know you mate. But I'd hazard a guess to say that Tex has probably kicked more goals than you have at AFL level. And, in fact, he's the second highest goalkicker for the Crows this year. Behind only the undeniable genius of Eddie Betts. So perhaps think before you post...
Champs
Roar Rookie
Sorry Runt, but I can't find the bit where I said anything about their success? I'd love their success. Just don't want to earn it the way they did. Take one look at Hodge's little dummy spit last night late in the Collingwood game. Dirty isn't admirable in my view.
Champs
Roar Rookie
Excellent points, Sammy. And your prophecy regarding Brisbane, lets hope, has come true.
Champs
Roar Rookie
Dear Powerboy, Firstly, if ambiguity in regard to which team you support was what you were looking for in a username, you've missed the mark ol' chap. In that vein, I find your distaste for Adelaide a little surprising, I must say. You'll be comforted to know that I never read the Advertiser. And can I say, your presumptions about my lifestyle are borderline offensive. Perhaps only the limited intellect of a Power supporter could sink so low to assume that they know someone simply because they've read one of their articles? Then again, perhaps not. Most of all though Powerboy, I find it difficult to understand what you mean when you imply that a statement made regarding the playing list of a particular team in any way betrays an underlying malaise? Surely a comment as pointed as the one I made is, in fact, the opposite of malaise. I've actually pointed specifically to what causes my discomfort - that with a list like that it was stubborn coaching that meant the Crows didn't take the biscuits during those years. This clarity, I think you'll find, is the exact literary opposite of malaise. But as you point out, this is a grand old site. And it's kept alive by people sharing their opinions. So please don't interpret my retort as a sign that I would rather you didn't reply. Keep it up champ. Yours truly, Josh
Champs
Roar Rookie
Agree completely Matt. Disagree that Brown was talking about strong contests. He was talking about mongrel. Which the Crows have lacked for oh, I don't know, about 19 years?
Champs
Roar Rookie
Fair call. I guess I was speaking more holistically than just margins. I've no doubt those losses were crushing for the Hawks and Port.
Champs
Roar Rookie
Fair bit has changed for Sydney mate!
Rex
Guest
Gold Coast Suns HAVE to wear the clash guernsey - it's in the contract ...... well it's not in the contract because we didn't think of it - but dammit, it should be so I'll cry and sook and lie that it was so the afl can make those meanies wear the alternate colour!! PB - get over yourself!
Basil
Guest
To move away from you?
dan ced
Guest
Yep, kept trying to do what was successful in the first 6 games when they were on top.. but crisp disposal isn't always possible in some conditions (wind, dew, rain, etc). They did not slow it down vs Melbourne.. they kept turn it over trying to link up too fast, and over-handballing. At least against North after the Q1 disaster they held their own, Melbourne was an embarrassment that I dislike reliving in my mind. I actually left with 10minutes to go and I've only done that on 1 or 2 other occasions in 20 odd years of membership. I hope they show some composure again Brisbane, and I'm glad they dropped Jenkins who has been soft since returning form injury.
Mark
Guest
Betts is the best small forward in the game, dopey.
Powerboy
Guest
None needed Birdman. It's collective consensus that counts in Crowland, Don't get off-side in the city of churches. It's worse than being a papist! For a good laugh have a read of the local rag for today and read the letter from the CEO requesting that coterie members require their guests to keep their barracking for opposition teams to a polite murmur. It seems the rah-rah Demon boys put a few noses out of joint last week.
Birdman
Guest
"Yeh, but they introduced the 3rd man up rule because of Luke Hodge and his knees" evidence please.
Gecko
Guest
Same thing will happen with GWS if the opposition can get on top of Ward.
Powerboy
Guest
Touched a nerve, Basil? I Love Adelaide! Unfortunately, all of my great Croweater friends live interstate. Hmmmm....I wonder why....
Basil
Guest
Oh how I am gushing at your superior intellect Powerboy. Please don't stop. Enlighten us further and rescue us from the darkness that we, the great unwashed, inhabit.
Powerboy
Guest
Born and bred there, fella..... If anyone should know.......gotta love the comedic genius of Roo and Tex as they flog tin sheds....or Captain Bickley playing straight man to a used car salesman....
Craig Delaney
Guest
I think the Crows kept trying to win the shootouts in the last two games, when they needed to slow it down and reestablish the basics. They seemed fixated on reproducing their best flowing footy in every situation. This brought about many turn overs leading to scores against, or scores stymied. When Melbourne were at their peak pressure it was pointless to try to match and more than match it. Perhaps teams are capable of greater manic force than that, but it would be next to impossible to sustain. The Crows could have tried slowing it down, frustrating the all or nothing Demon force, which actually thrived in the shootout. That kind of energy feeds off more of the same both in your own team and in the opposition. The worst for it is meeting a solid brick wall. It often just dies out like a moth exhausted at the flame. This is not softness. It is inexperience in players and coaches. It will be interesting to see what level of energy the Demons can bring to the next round. The Roos didn't reproduce their effort against Sydney. I don't think any team can operate at fever pitch game in game out. Makes plan B etc that much more important.
Craig Delaney
Guest
Perhaps a clue is to be found in JK's last monniker? :))