The Crows are looking as bad as any team can look at the bottom.
It seems as though the players are scared of the ball and the club is more worried about their off-field image than the necessary rebuild.
Adelaide are going to the past with lifetime member and club legend Mark Riccuito on the board, which has opened up a can of worms regarding some of the off-field issues for the club, such as that infamous camp and player relationships with the board members.
The Crows are going backwards in 2020. This is my four-step plan to rebuild the team on the field and off it.
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Step 1: trade for picks
Trade Bryce Gibbs, Rory Sloane and one or both of the Crouch brothers. If the club wants to rebuild, it must do a full rebuild, not just a one-player job. Get rid of those who look past their prime and have the potential to cause conflict for the club.
Trading likes of Sloane and Gibbs, for example, will help get better picks in the upcoming draft. It might also be able to secure swap deals, as both players are highly rated in the AFL.
Trading Gibbs will also the club move past certain angst, like that now-infamous tweet from a couple of weeks ago that caused a storm in a teacup. This will position the Crows with good picks for Gibbs. If he goes to Carlton, they may be able to get a draft pick and a player.
Trading current captain Rory Sloane can help the side get a fresh start. Even though he might want to stay for the long-term pain, this will not benefit the club’s future. It might be risky, but if you want to get a rebuild right, this is what you need to.
If Sloane leaves, there is the suggestion he would go to Geelong to link up with mates Patrick Dangerfield and Josh Jenkins, but the Cats would have to give the Crows both draft picks and players. This could be a great way to maximise this deal.
As for the Crouch brothers, who both want to go back to Melbourne, could go to one of the big Melbourne clubs like Collingwood or Richmond be a destination? Who would give the Crows serious compensation for like-for-like draft picks and players?
Step 2: An external review of the board
This is quite a straightforward step. Any struggling sporting team needs to undertake a review to improve, and the Crows are no different. One way to do this would be an independent review of the off-field issues and into the on-field downfall. This review could help the club grow and build into a challenge against archenemy Port Adelaide.
Simply reviewing last season won’t be enough given the side couldn’t move past the 2018 preseason camp and various beefs with management, so a proper external review by non-football people this is a must.
A review will clear the air in the boardroom. As we know, this has worked in other sports, with Cricket Australia’s Argus review resulting in the national team moving No. 5 in the world rankings to No. 1 in just two and a half years.
It would help the club understand where it’s at on a business level and also on the field. Undertaking a review could help the club find its new direction.
Bryce Gibbs. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Step 3: Get back to playing attacking football
The Crows have been too defensive this year. The side have not been able to kick forward and kick goals. It’s like they’re just a swarm of defenders. As we saw on Saturday afternoon against the Eagles, in which Adelaide kicked a score of only 34, they are one of the lowest offensive teams for the year.
With a total of just 249 points over the six rounds to date, clearly the young forward line cannot complete against quality defenders, making scoring tricky.
To make matters worse, the absence of Taylor Walker has not helped the offence and structure. They’re struggling to gain any confidence without their best player in the side – he’s someone who leads the forward line in the goal-kicking department.
At the moment the only bright spot in this rebuild is Brodie Smith, who looked good against the Eagles with 31 touches. It looks like he’ll be a bright player, but he’ll need his forwards to kick goals if they want to win games.
My question is: where is the offence? Also, where is Darcy Fogarty? A small forward who has a big presence for a young player, he’s played well in previous seasons, including with a five-goal haul against the Eagles last year. He looks good at AFL level, so why wouldn’t you play him now?
The Crows will need to draft a similar player – they should even try to get Western Bulldogs academy player Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who will be the No. 1 pick if the Bulldogs pass on him at this year’s draft. It seems unlikely according to reports, though you never know. He has been compared to Lance Franklin in the way he plays as a forward. They need to convince him and get him across to the Crows.
We have seen in many past drafts that mistakes have cost clubs. Look at Richmond, for example – they passed up on Lance Franklin for Richard Tambling. These decisions can cost clubs, and Adelaide will need to take a risk if they do not want Tex Walker growing tired of carrying the forward line when he returns from injury.
Step 4: Go to the draft and draft big
The more draft picks, the better for the club. I know you will say 18 years old is not the answer for the Crows, but look at Sam Walsh, Matt Rowell and Cam Ranyer. They’ve all lived up to the expectations and have helped turn around their clubs.
Adelaide’s next picks in the draft, if they pick them well, will help the side go through the full rebuild it needs to return to playing great footy. If they follow the Carlton or Gold Coast model, which are both working well at the moment, this could be a great example of how a full rebuild should be executed.
In addition to this, drafting players who can play attacking football will create a new style for the Crows. They should look for midfielders, a key fullback to replace Daniel Talia and two key forwards like Tex Walker and Eddie Betts, a combination that has worked well in the past.
Look to the Gold Coast Suns and draft multiple players in key positions, which is helping that Queensland side improve and creating great chemistry and an attacking game style. It’s built them a competitive team and delivered match wins. Following this plan could make the Crows competitive in the upcoming season and could see them return to the top eight rapidly.
This is the four-step plan to rebuild the Crows. Any Adelaide fans reading this, give me your thoughts on whether or not it could work.
Deemania
Guest
Luke Edwards will not be anywhere near West Lakes, i can guarantee you that.
Deemania
Guest
The Crows are breaking all sorts of records and only have themselves to blame, talk about self destruction within the four walls of your own club. The major pitfalls of your problems have stemmed from 12 players leaving your footy club from band camp. No one wants to play for your club after the shenanigans of band camp, good luck attracting players of high quality. First things first try actually winning a game this year, speaking of the olympics your club actually brought up the 5 olympic rings for losses against Brisbane, six pack of donuts against Freo( only realistic chance of winning a game this year). What milestone will they be notching up against the saints??? The magnificent 7 ????????????????????????????
AD
Guest
That only reviewed the football department, which is only half the problem. It didn't look at the club management which is still in place. How any organization can have 3 seasons (including this one so far) like the Crows have had without any heads rolling at the top is beyond me.
ICanP1ssHigher
Guest
If Adelaide don't win a flag for another 40 years. Then they'll be like Melbourne.
Nic
Guest
Walker hasn't played a 4 quarter game in more than 2 seasons. Has no presence, doesn't take a contested mark or bring the ball to ground and wheels around from 80 metres out like the Queen Mary....a 1 trick pony. Dubbed a superstar by the great unknowing supporters at Adelaide and the media flunkies....not his fault but ill deserved. Adelaide's biggest problem for sometime now has been their appalling management ....Fagan...no background....Chapman......businessman only..... and Roo just doesn't know when to shut up.....it's been nothing to see here for too long....going to take a while for this rabble to reconstruct the whole club...let alone the list.
HR
Roar Rookie
There was a new kid playing in the West Coast game too that I hadn't seen so far this year - went by the name of Mackay, I think. :silly:
HR
Roar Rookie
And that list isn't even accounting for the loss of Phil Walsh or Dean Bailey - both situations which are obviously quite different in nature to the coaches you have mentioned, but I think that they had a significant impact.
HR
Roar Rookie
Ah, but Adelaide have only been doing it for the last couple of years. Melbourne haven't managed a Premiership since the last time the Olympics were in Tokyo.
DeeMania
Roar Rookie
You ain't gonna end up like Melbourne champion, the numbers your lot are putting up are worse than Fitzroy. Guess what Fitzroy did in their last season, Champion they won a game. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: I'd be looking very closely at your own backyard.
Lachie
Guest
I agree. This piece is well under researched. Great to see the young up and comer Brodie Smith finally getting a game. Lol
JB
Guest
TBF, Ben Hart spent 3-4 years as an assistant to Nathan Buckley. Mathew Wright spent 3 years playing at Carlton before returning in a playing/development role for the SANFL team. Marty Mattner played 5 years in Sydney and then spent 3 years as a development coach before returning to Adelaide as the senior coach of Sturt in the SANFL, taking them to 2 premierships. However, Camporeale was shown the door as a result the review last year. The previous year Francou and Kaesler went the GCS. The year before that Teague went back to Carlton, Van Berlo to West Coast. Posiadly started his own business, and left the previous year. Darren Milburn went back to Geelong. The club also lost Allan Stewart as senior development coach and mentor. The Pyke/Burton regime let good coaches go and didn't replace them. And as I said, post review Nicks being appointed after the draft, along with Adam Kelly as the new GM of Football, it was too late to find new additions. It's hard to believe that they don't already have new coaches in mind to come to the club. I don't think Riccuito is even close to their biggest problem right now
Woof
Roar Rookie
"Their current assistant coaches consist of Mick Godden (2nd year AFL coach coming from the SANFL) looking after the midfield. Ben Hart as forward coach. Mathew Clarke as ruck coach in a part time role. And Brent Riley and Mathew Wright filling in and looking after defence (both previously in SANFL and development roles)." There's part of the problem - is there any other AFL club whose coaches AFL experience was only at the club they are coaching? Add Riccuito to the list - the bloke acts the way he used to play footy, crash and bash, no subtlety or sense of strategic thinking. New blood needed - including a mentor for Nicks.
Timbo's rules
Guest
Adelaide's engine room stinks right now. Last Saturday Matt Crouch took the ball out of the middle and drove it forward. Twice. Doubling the amount of times he's done it in his career. He has a long way to go but a good sign for the future. He is going nowhere because the compensation won't match the value he brings. I rub my hands at the thought of pick 2 to 5 for Brad Crouch but that rates him way higher than his actual ability. More likely pick 19 which gets shunted down to 24 after father son picks. Again you keep him for that value. Sloane won't get much and you lose your inspiration. Gibbs will go for a 2nd rounder at best, more likely retirement. So the Crows are stuck with building the long hard way. This year they get pick 2 coz father son has pick 1, then they are forced to match the bid for Edwards using GWS pick 16 to 18, unfortunate but that's how it works. A few years at the bottom unless the Crouch Brothers can be taught about the value of effective disposals. Life sucks if ur a Crow.
timbo's rules
Guest
It was 5g that did it
Punt on me
Guest
Dave has in depth mind boggling claims about the Crows, but there might be something to it, there’s always an air of mystery about the club. Maybe it’s their way of appearing superior from an external view. Bold move Dave, bold move, takes balls to try and read into a club’s woes like that.
Bad Panda
Guest
There is so much wrong with this. Did you just watch the West Coast game and base everything off that? 1) You talk of Brodie Smith like he's a youngster. He's 28 and has been in the system for 10 years. If he is the bright spark of our rebuild then we are in a world of hurt. 2) Taylor Walker has missed ONE game and has been poor except for 1 quarter of football all year. 3) Darcy Fogarty is a key forward, not a small forward and was poor in the games he's played this year 4) Noone, I repeat noone, is going to give us a great draft pick for Gibbs. He's 31 and can't get a game. He'll net us pick 85 in a salary cap dump, nothing more. Rory Sloane is 30 with a massive contract for the next 3 years. Not many will be able to take on his salary without Adelaide paying half/most of it. The Crouch brothers will net something good but then you've just traded our three best midfielders out of the side. We'll be bottom for years. 5) Did you completely miss the big review we did at the end of last season, which led to on field and off field changes? 6) The Dogs are in no way overlooking Ugle-Hagan so there is no point mentioning him.
JB
Guest
Unfortunately with the last years review and the late appointment of Mathew Nicks, Adelaide didn't sign any new assistant coaches. They currently would have the least experienced (and probably least talented) coaching box in the league supporting a rookie. On top of this their defence coach, Marty Mattner, was advised that the club wouldn't be renewing his contract beyond 2020 during the initial shut down and subsequent lay off of staff due to CoVid. He chose to negotiate and exit his contract. Their current assistant coaches consist of Mick Godden (2nd year AFL coach coming from the SANFL) looking after the midfield. Ben Hart as forward coach. Mathew Clarke as ruck coach in a part time role. And Brent Riley and Mathew Wright filling in and looking after defence (both previously in SANFL and development roles). A pretty thin list at best. All of their senior players bar Rory Sloane (over 29's + Kyle Hartigan) are coming out contract at either the end 2020 or 2021 and you'd expect that very few will be given extensions. Taylor Walker is contracted until the end of 2021, however I doubt anyone would be surprised if he chose to retire at the end of the season. They have debuted 5 players so far this season drafted in either 2018 or 2019 plus an additional 3 players traded in at the end of 2019 (Crocker, Keays, Frampton). There is the expectation that at least 2 more recent draft picks (Butts and Sholl) will debut in the coming weeks. The club currently has extremely good draft hand for 2020, that includes GWS's first round pick and the WB's second round pick. On top of this they'll have access to 3 F/S or NGA picks, Luke Edwards, Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase. At board level, 1 director has recently been replaced, with the expectation that the current Chairman and Deputy Chair will retire by or before the next AGM. There's no doubting the club is a world of pain right now. However they seem to have some talented youth starting to come through and are now in an ongoing process of making off field change. You'd still expect a few more years of pain, however there does seem to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Trade Gibbs? For what? A draft pick and a player! Good luck with that. Doubt any club would pick him up even if you delisted him. He's been a great player sure yet can't even get a regular game for the wooden spoon favorites.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Mind boggling at best.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"Never hold an inquiry unless you know the outcome"