Adelaide Crows supporters have a problem. They continue to think that it is 2012.
They have to learn to stop judging today’s teams success by that of a very different group of 22 players. This goes for the media also. I am constantly reading articles, listening to talk-back and viewing it on the television the statement that the Crows are under-performing.
The Crows are performing to a tee to where they are at.
If you take a quick glance at the 2012 team that came oh so close to a spot in the grand final, and compare it to today’s side, the differences are massive. In fact 10 players different.
2012 Crows
B Luke Thompson, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty
HB Brodie Smith, Andy Otten, Brent Reilly
C Richard Douglas, Scott Thompson, Bernie Vince
HF Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Matthew Wright
F Ian Callinan, Kurt Tippett, Jason Porplyzia
FOL Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Nathan van Berlo
I/C Jared Petrenko, David Mackay, Ricky Henderson
SUB Graham Johncock
The 2012 Crows team was filled with players who were mature and had played a large amount of football together. Rutten (225 games), Doughty (231 games) and Reilly (200 games) controlled the backline. Reilly had the best year of his playing career, being selected in the top 40 AA players, Rutten was still quick and fit, and Doughty commanded the Half Back.
The forward line consisted of Callinan (32 games, JJ Liston Trophy winner, four SANFL grand finals and Jack Oatey Medal) was arguably up there with the best small forwards of the competition. Graham Johncock (227 games) roamed the forward and back half, a healthy Jason Porplysia (126 games), and the young and dangerous Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker floating through the forward line.
The only true similarities can be found in the midfield, Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas.
These are the guys that we are now building a team around.
In the place of mature footballers who had played a large amount of time together and understood each other’s game, we have amateurs, meant only in reference to their game time.
Our regular back line can now consist of Luke Brown (44 games), Rory Laird (33 games), Daniel Talia (74 games), Brodie Smith (74 games), Matthew Jaensch (64 games) and Luke Thompson (19 games).
The forward line is still a work in progress with maturity in Betts (204 games) James Podsiadly (102 games) Taylor Walker (82 games), but at the same time have not played more than 20 games together. Josh Jenkins (46 games) is still learning the game, Charlie Cameron (6 games) is still young and raw.
Jarrod Lyons, Matt Crouch, Tom Lynch, Mitch Grigg, Brodie Martin, Kyle Hartigan and Sam Kerridge are also regular players in the team. Tom Lynch has the highest game total of these players at 37.
All show promise but they need time to develop and should not yet be judged of such minimal playing time.
This is a team in complete rebuild mode that is still finding its feet among the other clubs. Patience is needed as this group of players develop together and learn each other’s playing style/abilities and understanding of the game plan.
The belief that this team should be playing in a grand final or going deep into September is ridiculous. I think that the fact they have beaten teams above them and better than them on five occasions and lost six games by under two goals is a great sign of improvement and success.
Take a page out of the Port Power’s book and allow for these young players to develop and create their own culture together.
Yes, it is more than possible that they won’t make the finals this year, but wait, take a breath, forget 2012 and assess the team properly before you make a judgment.
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