Adelaide were a dominant force through much of 2017, renowned for posting big scores in commanding wins. They were frequently referred to as clearly the best team of the year, a comment that went unquestioned among most.
But the fact is, the Crows won only 15 home-and-away games to finish on top of the ladder, the lowest amount of wins to do so in 20 years. Remember, the Bulldogs won 15 home-and-away matches in 2016, which only put them in seventh. Last season was far more even than it appeared.
When they were on song, Adelaide’s attacking game was so strong, and their scoring so free, that it was easy to admire. They were also defensively sound for the most part, conceding 80 points a game across the season.
Of course, it all crumbled in the grand final against Richmond. The Tigers were able to control Adelaide’s ball movement through fierce pressure and canny defensive system, forcing the Crows to go high and long down the line, or otherwise forcing turnovers through the middle of the ground.
There is no doubt it is a tape that will get played by every opposition before facing Adelaide this year.
B: Luke Brown Kyle Hartigan Jake Kelly
HB: Rory Laird Daniel Talia Paul Seedsman
C: Bryce Gibbs Matt Crouch Rory Atkins
HF: Tom Lynch Taylor Walker Riley Knight
F: Eddie Betts Josh Jenkins Mitch McGovern
Foll: Sam Jacobs Brad Crouch Rory Sloane
Int: Richard Douglas David Mackay Hugh Greenwood Wayne Milera
Em: Sam Gibson Andy Otten Kyle Cheney
The Crows are strong all over the ground, as can be imagined. Adding Bryce Gibbs to the midfield mix will be a huge gain, but it pays to remember they have lost Charlie Cameron and Jake Lever from their grand final side, and Brodie Smith is expected to miss all of the year with an ACL injury.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Adelaide usually fields the biggest team going around each week, with up to four players in each of the forward-line and backline that would be considered a tall.
Lever’s loss will probably be covered by Kyle Cheney or Tom Doedee, while Andy Otten is also in the mix as a swingman, who found himself playing as a forward for most of 2017. Daniel Talia, Kyle Hartigan and Jake Kelly are the three definite starters from a key defensive position.
Meanwhile, if they decide to go a bit smaller, they have options as well. If Rory Laird isn’t the best half-back in the game, he’s in the top two. Luke Brown is the small defender every good team needs to have. Paul Seedsman has never been able to cement a spot at AFL level, but gets his best chance yet in Smith’s absence.
The multi-pronged forward-line will be hard to contain from posting big scores, and we know how each player goes about their business by now.
Eddie Betts provides the spectacular, but it should be noted he showed signs of dropping off in the second half of last year. Tom Lynch is the running linkman, and arguably the most important part of the set up. Josh Jenkins will get out the back and fill his boots against the weaker sides, but otherwise get paid for doing little of consequence against decent opposition.
Taylor Walker had a horror grand final, much like the rest of his forward-line teammates, and he is too often less than the sum of his parts. It will be fascinating to see how Tex responds as both captain and player.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
Mitch McGovern is the one that still has his best in front of him, and was a vital cog missing in the grand final through injury. He’s the best contested mark of his forward brethren, and may well prove the key focal point this season.
The Adelaide midfield was seen as a weakness not so long ago, with not a lot of support for Rory Sloane, but things have changed now.
There is nothing to say Brad Crouch has stopped improving, or Matt Crouch for that matter either. By seasons’ end we may be debating which of the two brothers, Sloane or Gibbs has played the most critical role in the Crows top four assault. Now, there is a treasure trove of riches.
The midfield support cast is also solid – Hugh Greenwood made quite an impression last year, Richard Douglas has been a quality player for a long time, Rory Atkins and Riley Knight are still improving, David Mackay is the lone jobber.
Gibbs, in particular, will find greater appreciation of his talents in a better side. He’ll be allowed a bit more freedom to back his judgement and roll forward in this outfit, and will prove a devastating user in the front half. Expect 25 goals or more from his boot too.
Adelaide’s biggest issue might be overcoming the mental hurdle that comes from being a badly beaten grand final favourite, and the aforementioned conversation about being the best side of 2017, but with no premiership cup to show for it.
Sydney were in a similar situation entering last year, and started 0-6. West Coast haven’t been the same after losing to Hawthorn in the 2015 decider.
The Crows had been so confident of winning the grand final, it hadn’t occurred to any of them they might lose. Sure, they said the right things in the lead-up about respecting the opposition, but in the after-match they wore the shock of blindsided car crash victims.
(AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Booking a seat for the premiership cup on the flight back to Adelaide was another giveaway. What a sorry sight that empty chair must have looked.
A humiliating loss after that kind of hubris can have lingering effects. Already, it has been seen that the Crows were not as sharp in the JLT Series as might have been expected.
Does the grand final loss ignite a burning, gut-wrenching desire to go one better (admittedly an overused trope), or do a majority of players find themselves unable to get “up” again, having lost belief and confidence?
We’ll know soon enough, as the Crows travel to Victoria in Round 1 to take on the dangerous Essendon, before hosting Richmond at home in Round 2. A couple of losses to start the season, and things will be looking shaky indeed.
Two wins, however, and they’ll be off to the races, going a long way to booking themselves another top four berth.
Full 2018 AFL ladder prediction
2. Adelaide Crows
3. Port Adelaide Power
4th: Geelong Cats
5th: Richmond Tigers
6th: Melbourne Demons
7th: Greater Western Sydney Giants
8th: Essendon Bombers
9th: Hawthorn Hawks
10th: Collingwood Magpies
11th: Western Bulldogs
12th: St Kilda Saints
13th: West Coast Eagles
14th: North Melbourne Kangaroos
15th: Fremantle Dockers
16th: Brisbane Lions
17th: Carlton Blues
18th: Gold Coast Suns
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Well said.
stevedeanski
Roar Pro
Have to take issue with this bogus comment: Josh Jenkins will get out the back and fill his boots against the weaker sides, but otherwise get paid for doing little of consequence against decent opposition. Your analysis on this player is really disappointing and unfortunately lazy (but you're not the only one that falls into the trap). A player at 200cm who's kicked at least 40 goals in each of the last four seasons, and who can run quickly (so quick in fact, that it invokes the somewhat lazy analysis that 'he just runs out the back') and relieve the ruckman for crucial minutes each game. In your heart of hearts would you not want him in your team? Other. Yes Tex was rubbish in the GF. I seem to remember one W.Carey had a crap game in the 1998 GF. Crap player? No. It would be cherry picking to say so. I recall finals (2012 semi against Freo, 2015 Elim against Bulldogs) when Tex won the match off his own boot. One might say that he was greater than the sum of his parts on those occasions (again, you're not the only one to fall into the trap. You just don't watch him closely enough, probably watching your own team, fair enough). That's the main gripe i have. You make some other good points. Except i don't really understand what point you're trying to make about the GF. Of course they were confident of winning. So were Richmond. Someone has to lose on GF day Cameron! Despite your comments, they are unlike no other vanquished GF team; no other. You seem to imply that they were different. Your comment about a seat for the cup is a bit weird - it's something Victorians have been saying. Noone knows if it's true or not. I guess it's just another thing that only non-victorian clubs have to do with (Richmond could never have been accused of such, getting to play the GF at their home ground and all). All the Best!
tommo
Guest
Many Richmond supporters have said that the GF win was the best that they played all year. Perhaps the AFL mens tribunal should adopt the same standards to reportable standards as the woman. IE no easy run for the GF. Rance comes to mind
truetigerfan
Guest
Still 'No'. 2018 . . . bring it on! 2nd question? Pointless argument!
Sammy
Guest
They were lucky the swans stumbled?..they played all over the swans 2 rounds out from the finals and only lost due to horrendous kicking for goal from memory. The fact Geelong also belted them in the semi showed that they were not an unstoppable force. No luck from the crow boys in getting to the get. I only say that they did underestimate Richmond on the day considering Richmond had just as good a back half of the season and lead in finals campaign as adelaide
Don Freo
Guest
I don't believe you with the first answer. You don't seem to have answered the second. You might want some think music. ??Yo ho, heave ho!?
Ditto
Guest
I've pegged Adelaide 1st. They will continue to get better. They do need to get tougher, so I'd be inclined to play Fogarty in round 1. If Jenkins can't lead and contest, he plays in the 2's.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Very few, other than their own embittered, whinging supporters, remember or care about these supposed ‘best team’ also-rans. It’s been that way for over a century. 2017 will be no different.
truetigerfan
Guest
Matter of perspective.
truetigerfan
Guest
No.
Blue
Guest
"They were frequently referred to as clearly the best team of the year, a comment that went unquestioned among most." It should have gone questioned. Look at a ladder from Round7 on - the Swans were clearly on top with a percentage of 150+. Both teams were lucky the Swans stumbled and they made the GF - Adelaide will be ruing they didn't make the most of their luck.
Fairsuckofthesav
Guest
Alright lets try to deconsruct the very pro VFL centric narrative that has been constructed around the 2017 GF.: 1 The Crows were cocky the Tigers humble and therefore the moral winners. Correction if you dont go into a GF as minor premiers with confidence whats the point? 2. Booking a seat for the cup was hubris? Where else do you put it? In the overhead locker? Sounds like admin were giving the possibility of a Crows win and the cup due respect. Nothing to do with the players or rhe coaching staff. 3. Tex is arrogant a poor leader etc.Correction he has been voted BEST captain by his peers two years in a row. He had by his standards a poor game but still kicked two goals. 4. Crows were the best team all year. They were minor premiers. 5. Tigers were the better team on the day. 6. Tigers did have an advantage by playing both Cats and Crows on their home ground with the majority of the crowd behind them. Home ground advantage is a proven statistic in AFL. 7. As for the burning of Crows scarves and the chant of F Off Adelaide after the game.. Lets hope the Crows fans show more class than those particular fans should we win this year. 8. That is all.
Vocans
Guest
What piss exactly is it taking? Do you mean disrespect? Got no idea what you mean really.
Vocans
Guest
How would you bring it back? In somebody’s lap, or musical laps? Under the seat in front or in the luggage locker? In the luggage hold maybe? Course it was symbolic. It’s a hell of a symbol itself. Treat it right. One of the family for a year.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
I was accused of the same thing writing about the Crows Cam! Not by anyone specifically. I think it's because they're such a solid team who have no glaring weakness coming into the year, and who were pipped at the line by a team that just shredded them. Given that the write up tends to focus on "what they can improve" which reads as "why this team is no good". I didn't get that impression reading your piece though.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sorry but the best team does not always win the GF. Tigers were the best on the day that mattered, that does not mean they were the best all year – if the Tigers were the best they would have finished as minor premiers also. Dogs the previous year were similar.
AD
Guest
Bit of tough love for the contenders, then? As long as they all cop it equally, I suppose :P
Deladi
Guest
Yep have to agree, Geelong has done this so well and so consistently against Adelaide it scares me. Geelong's also seemed to bring the game forward to the edge of the forward 50 and intercept any incoming balls there. Still think Geelong';s going to beat Adelaide this year due to how well they've figured the crows out.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Yeah, and I think the level of their excellence was the best of any team last year, and was produced more often.
Slane
Guest
I can remember an article last year that was expounding on the brilliance of the Crows. I recall commenting on that article that I found the Crows' gameplan to be boring and repetitive. Needless to say, the Crows fans on this site were quick to tell me how wrong I was. In my opinion, Adelaides number 1 weakness is also really their strength. They attack from the half-back line with incredible speed and precision that takes full advantage of their genious running patterns forward of the ball. If their opponent can stop them from launching into attack from half-back they are absolutely vulnerable. I fully expect the Crows to be around deep into September this year. That being said, if Richmond manage to beat the Crows at home in Round 2 I think that might be a mental blow that the Crows will struggle to shake. I see that game as a chance at Redemption for the Crows. If they win they can wave away the Grand Final defeat as losing to the better team away from home. Lose in Round 2 and the doubts could absolutely creep in.