The Adelaide Crows’ 2018 season came to a close in a similar, all-too-familiar manner to that of years gone past; a promising home-and-away season led to a disappointing, abrupt end to the year in the finals, and controversy followed as highly-regarded players fled for other clubs.
The Crows, though, were as good as any team for the majority of last season. They fell at the final hurdle. Richmond dominated the finals series, and have proven it to be no fluke, starting the 2018 season 6-1.
However, Adelaide made terrific strides in their midfield, which was previously questioned, and solidified their defence, while their forward line remained as good as any.
Yet, they are without many key components of the 2017 team, and at times have looked vulnerable against quality teams such as Collingwood. Brodie Smith, who is recovering from a torn ACL, could potentially return with 2-3 rounds remaining in the season, and be ready for a finals tilt.
Brad Crouch continues to rehab from groin soreness, which has yet again interrupted his season before it ever got going. Rory Sloane appears to have overcome a nagging foot injury, while the club is confident that they have got to the bottom of the hamstring crisis that saw several players miss weeks with hamstring injuries.
We know of the controversial exit of intercept defender Jake Lever, but perhaps the biggest loss for the Crows is that of Charlie Cameron. The live-wire forward has excelled in Brisbane, playing mostly up forward.
The Crows pressure was terrific last season in large part due to the prolific speed of Cameron, and their ability to retain the ball inside their forward line served them well. But, seven weeks into the new season and that strength has turned into a glaring weakness.
It is common knowledge that the Crows have a tall forward line, but questions have arisen as to whether they are too tall. In their Round 4 loss to Collingwood, they played five tall forwards, and lacked any real forward pressure. The recent addition of young Jordan Galluci into the forward line has inserted some pace, but in the heat of the finals, they may still be lacking in that area, especially if they have players carrying injuries, as they have in the past two seasons.
In the grand final loss, the Crows midfield was hammered, and although their forward line was rightly criticised, the game was won in the midfield. The addition of Bryce Gibbs, as well as the health of the physical Cam Ellis-Yolmen, could rectify this to an extent.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The biggest concern could be the defence. Third year defender Tom Doedee has mostly filled the void left by Jake Lever, while the Crows have used a combination of Paul Seedsman, David Mackay and Wayne Milera more recently to cover the loss of Brodie Smith. But the return of Smith is huge; he provides a good marking presence for his size, great speed and the best user by foot in the team.
The backline, which has plenty of taller and slower players such as Daniel Talia, Jake Kelly and Kyle Hartigan, looked vulnerable against the Tigers, and a smaller forward line could again cause them trouble.
That said, most defences have struggled to contend with Richmond’s mosquito fleet, and the Crows don’t really have any alternatives, aside from potentially throwing Mitch McGovern behind the ball as an extra to control the air, which Adelaide has experimented with this year.
Overall, Adelaide need to control the game in the centre, and allow their high marking forward to dominate. They have been less effective at catching teams on the slingshot this season, and the majority of their goals have come in a more conventional manner.
But this team is building; they are slowly getting healthy, and they are right up there with the likes of Geelong, GWS and Sydney in premiership contention. Richmond, though, are at another level, and beating them at the MCG could prove one hurdle too far.
Mattyb
Guest
What on earth does Essendon have to do with the previous comment on a sporting website?
Neil from Warrandyte
Guest
So what you’re saying Cat is that tigers fans are more adept at navigating the Ticketek website then cats fans- wow that’s remarkable.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Guru
Thanks for your reply GJ. Regarding Doedee, he has certainly played much better than what Lever has this season, but let's not forget that at times last year Lever was genuinely in the conversation for an AA nod. I'd say that Doedee this year isn't quite as good as Lever last year. Regarding Hartigan and Kelly: you are right, they don't exactly lack pace, more composure when they are under pressure, and especially against a team's smalls like Richmond. I will say though that Hartigan did an incredible job on Robbie Gray as you mentioned, but Gray was really battling with soreness, and once Hartigan beat him in the air, Gray wasn't nearly his old self on the ground. I didn't mention Murphy because currently he is not in the Crows best 22, but could have given him a mention anyway. Probably should have mentioned Knight too, you're right. Thanks again for the comment.
Cat
Roar Guru
It is a loss when you compare it to where it should be played. It isn't MCG or nothing. If the game is AT KP the Cats make ~$850k by moving the game to the MCG the Cats make only $500k maximum. That is a loss of $350k. If the crows i below 50k Geelong loss money. They write a check to the MCG. This from 2011 show the differences:
41% vs. 90% and that was written back when KP held 20k. It holds 36k now. From 2013:AD
Guest
"The Crows have cover in ruck and CHB, just not with players you would know because you dont follow them or their SANFL side" Yeah, I've been a Crows season ticket holder since round 1, 1991 (and was at the first ever game - the trial against Essendon - prior to that), so I've seen a bit of them. Thanks for playing, though - you can have the Roar home board game as a consolation prize.
Vocans
Guest
That will always mean they choose their home ground, if available.
RT
Roar Rookie
Wrong again? I am not sure where I was wrong the first time. Your are playing with words if you say a 500k profit is a loss. Sure it is not as big and it is significant as 850k, but if you claim Geelong make a loss at the MCG it sounds like something else.
Cat
Roar Guru
You are wrong again. If the game vs Richmond is ~85k Geelong will net approximately $500,000. Any game in Geelong with ~30k nets approx $850k. Any way you cut it it's a loss. If like a few years ago where the weather was bad and so were the Tigers and the crowd dips below 50k then the Cats actually get $0 from the game, which is a net loss of $850k per game. For Geelong only crowds 50k or larger sees them get money from the game. No crowd size will ever net as much as a game in Geelong. And no it isn't 'only' about money. I have contended for years that the largest contributor to 'home ground advantage' is crowd noise. A game is Geelong is always going to be 90% in favor of Geelong. A game at the MCG against Richmond is more like 30-35% in favor of Geelong which is not advantageous at all.
Cat
Roar Guru
Finals (not GF) is first come first serve. Sure members get first crack – they did for H&A seats too – but if Richmond fans manage to get through the crappy tickmaster process before Geelong fans do then they get the tickets. There is no cap on how many tickets a supporter base can get (other than ground capacity). The Grand Final is allocated. Doesn't matter who rings up first each clubs supporters has access to the same limited number of tickets.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sydney entered into the agreement to play some home games and finals at Homebush. No other team played home games there. You are comparing apples with steak. Playing a final at a teams alternate home ground is not the same as moving a game to the oppositions home ground. No one else called Homebush home, only Sydney. Homebush is also In Sydney, the same city that Sydney calls home, the same city their other ground is in.
RT
Roar Rookie
Cat, so you think the 'need experience' thing is overrated and think Geelong should get compensated for playing home games at the MCG. So it sounds to me that your only motive here is how much money Geelong make out of home games. So lets go back to having suburban grounds with small capacities where they can jack up the ticket prices and still sell out. Then everyone makes more money but of course it turns in to a TV sport because the majority can't afford to go or just can't get in. I would rather bigger stadiums where more people can go. BTW Geelong will make plenty of money playing Richmond at the MCG. It is Etihad where they lost money.
RT
Roar Rookie
Cat, pretty sure you are wrong on allocation of finals tickets (ignoring anything like MCC reserve). Finals tickets are sold to members of competing clubs at the same time. Perhaps more get set aside for the home state but I think that would only be as limited numbers will travel.
Cat
Roar Guru
Rubbish. Take away the two MCG 'home games' and Geelong would still be playing 5 games at the 'G this year. Plenty. Besides, this whole 'need experience' thing is hugely blown out of proportion. Do you think guys like Selwood, Hawkins, Taylor, Ablett and the other experienced players still need to learn how to play there? How many games does it take for a player to learn how to play a ground? Is that knowledge reset every offseason and start from a zero base?
Cat
Roar Guru
Wow, 0-1 in finals in Geelong in 150+ years. A sample size too small to say anything. Cats play seven games at the MCG this year. Two are 'home games'. I don't see where this 'not enough experience' is going to happen even if the Cats got to rightfully play 11 home games in Geelong. How about this compromise – If the AFL require the Cats to play home games in Melbourne the AFL compensate Geelong for the millions of dollars of lost revenue. Other teams all get paid to move agree to move home games, why not Geelong?
RT
Roar Rookie
"as is now" - no the current situation is the higher ranked team earn a final in the home state not their home ground. Just ask Sydney who played at Homebush. Anyway good luck with your proposal!
Cat
Roar Guru
The GF is allocated equally to each supporter base. Other finals are not.
RT
Roar Rookie
No my logic doesn't say that. You mention the form they are in right now. Well that form doesn't translate back in time to the start of the year. They did not play that well in round 1 so losing the next week to Adelaide was hardly a surprise. Regardless no team wins every week. Adelaide (and their coach) fell to pieces in the GF last year and Richmond were relentless. That is what counted, not the ground. If they played like that at AO then it would not have been any different. I suspect the club has realised this and will be better prepared next time. It is time the supporters realised it as well.
vocans
Guest
Finals can be at home grounds if they are earned by table position, as it is now. So, for example, the Cats at Kardinia Park. But the GF at the (neutral) G.
Cat
Roar Guru
Until and unless teams relocate out of Melbourne, it is what it is. There is no feasible way to make a side side travel more. Melbourne sides still get 11 homes games. They still have to play the other 8 Melbourne sides. The only thing that could and should change is no team should be immune to having to travel to Tassie to play Hawthorn or North Melbourne. This won't significantly change anything though. Sixteen teams having to play away in Tassie on rotation might mean one additional game every second or third year outside Melbourne for Melbourne teams.
Rex
Guest
how do you think richmond would go if Riewoldt and Rance went down for any significant amount of time?? Any and every club has some players they would struggle to cover without impacting performance! The Crows have cover in ruck and CHB, just not with players you would know because you dont follow them or their SANFL side. (O'Brien in ruck, Keath, Hartigan at CHB) The cries from the East when Leaver left were that he was irreplaceable however T Doedee has come in and replaced him absolutely seamlessly - in fact the stats would suggest TD is the better player. If the Crows can continue to bank points and get quality players back, fit and firing toward Sept then they are as good a chance as any to have a big crack come finals. Need to get there first!