Toast Club Champion 2019 - Brad Crouch!

[Tex200]

I'd say we either keep 'em, or trade them both and go full rebuild. Can't go half-pregnant and keep Matt and lose Brad.

Trading them both would be a terrible waste of development when you consider the time and $$$ invested in them.

What would we get in return - draft picks and start again? No thanks.

Only way I would trade them is for 2 x 100 game midfielders who have either been or potential to be AA.

 

[MRB37]

So trade 2 of our best midfielders who are both in their prime age bracket for performance and all the indicators point to them being happy to live and play in Adelaide and most likely draft or recruit interstate players to replace them that may not see Adelaide as the place to be in the long haul. Hmmmm.

"Can't go half-pregnant and keep Matt and lose Brad."

 

[MRB37]

Trading them both would be a terrible waste of development when you consider the time and $$$ invested in them.

What would we get in return - draft picks and start again? No thanks.

Only way I would trade them is for 2 x 100 game midfielders who have either been or potential to be AA.

I'm not advocating trading them, i'm saying if we don't pony up for Brad we may as well move Matt on too, because we'll be set back plenty and may as well blow it up.

 

[Mutineer]

I'm not advocating trading them, i'm saying if we don't pony up for Brad we may as well move Matt on too, because we'll be set back plenty and may as well blow it up.

And if their names were Brad Crouch and Matt Whatever? I really don't see the significance in the fact they're brothers....they're both AFC players first and foremost.

 

[MRB37]

And if their names were Brad Crouch and Matt Whatever? I really don't see the significance in the fact they're brothers....they're both AFC players first and foremost.

Where have I mentioned anything about them being brothers being a factor? If we lose Brad then our midfield is Matt Crouch, an aging Rory Sloane and.... So we may as well go invest further into youth fully if they're not willing to invest in our present.

 

[Golumless]

Trading them both would be a terrible waste of development when you consider the time and $$$ invested in them.

What would we get in return - draft picks and start again? No thanks.

Only way I would trade them is for 2 x 100 game midfielders who have either been or potential to be AA.

We do need a lot of draft picks in the next 2-3 years. Let us not forget that. We've done well with 2020, but we're going to want a similar haul in 2021. Probably 2022 as well.

That said, I agree, you do not trade the Crouch Brothers if you can help it. They are the midfield cornerstones that should see us avoid the failed rebuild. There are a few other good players who should be considered for a trade in the next year or two, a couple of opportunities which should open up for trades due to youth developing, as well as the standard of players who are falling out of favour (but other clubs might find niches for them), and kids who are stuck in either bad list situations or just having rotten luck.

 

[DJ75]

I've been thinking it through and I think this year is the time to trade Brad.
After watching the Sydney game, it's clear our mids just aren't good enough. They aren't. We got smashed and not for the first time. Sadly, we don't have a gun mid coming through either. Chayce will be a Sloane type who always gives 100%, but there isn't a lot else.
We need a quality mid. It's very, very clear.

So, when footy returns, Brad is going to be looking for a contract that is probably more than the new norm. Rather than make him a top paid player, I'd trade him. BUT I want a top 3 pick.

I'm guessing that the AFL will use the 2019 finish order for the draft. That helps GC, Melbourne and Carlton. The VFL will be pleased. Of course when we did have pick 3 they screwed us over, so its all good to go back to the original order now.

I think if we told each of those clubs that Brad was available for their pick, one of them will grab him. I think both Melbourne and Carlton would be very tempted and see it as a quick way to jump up the ladder.

Grab a GUN mid early (Finlay Macrae anyone?), then be really aggressive to use our picks and traded picks to trade up and grab Thilthorpe. We can then use whatever other picks and even go into deficit to grab Edwards and Newchurch and we are well on the way in our rebuild. It's the perfect time to get aggressive.

 

[1970crow]

I've been thinking it through and I think this year is the time to trade Brad.
After watching the Sydney game, it's clear our mids just aren't good enough. They aren't. We got smashed and not for the first time. Sadly, we don't have a gun mid coming through either. Chayce will be a Sloane type who always gives 100%, but there isn't a lot else.
We need a quality mid. It's very, very clear.

So, when footy returns, Brad is going to be looking for a contract that is probably more than the new norm. Rather than make him a top paid player, I'd trade him. BUT I want a top 3 pick.

I'm guessing that the AFL will use the 2019 finish order for the draft. That helps GC, Melbourne and Carlton. The VFL will be pleased. Of course when we did have pick 3 they screwed us over, so its all good to go back to the original order now.

I think if we told each of those clubs that Brad was available for their pick, one of them will grab him. I think both Melbourne and Carlton would be very tempted and see it as a quick way to jump up the ladder.

Grab a GUN mid early (Finlay Macrae anyone?), then be really aggressive to use our picks and traded picks to trade up and grab Thilthorpe. We can then use whatever other picks and even go into deficit to grab Edwards and Newchurch and we are well on the way in our rebuild. It's the perfect time to get aggressive.

why would they offer such a valuable pick when he’s available as RFA? If they’re offering what we won’t, and let’s face it, he’s staying if not for a too large gap between offers, then he’ll be free. I think it’s either band 1 money or he stays.

 

[Thetrader15]

SEN right on the ball with another puff piece of has been irrelevant players offering opinions.

Firstly, Brad's an UNrestricted free agent?

Secondly, we aren't in the hunt so should off load him to a team who need a midfielder, such as Carlton, Saints or North. Thanks Kane, I guess you believe these teams are in the hunt.

 

[kulak]

I hypothesise Covid makes it more likely Brad stays

Other clubs will be more cautious about big offers

In the same way it is likely Sloane’s serious foot injury made it more likely he stayed by discouraging other clubs offers without greatly affecting our offer

 

[SaltPeter]

I hypothesise Covid makes it more likely Brad stays

Other clubs will be more cautious about big offers

In the same way it is likely Sloane’s serious foot injury made it more likely he stayed by discouraging other clubs offers without greatly affecting our offer

I always thought Brads management were on a fishing trip last year to test out what other clubs would be prepared to offer and use it for basis of negotiating a new contract.

Personally i’d prefer him to stay.

 

[1970crow]

I hypothesise Covid makes it more likely Brad stays

Other clubs will be more cautious about big offers

In the same way it is likely Sloane’s serious foot injury made it more likely he stayed by discouraging other clubs offers without greatly affecting our offer

No more cautious than us. Without knowing how the AFL is going to structure TTP going forward, it’s a complicated situation with differing contracts lengths, loadings etc. But, I guess, if TPP reduces, which is a safe bet, the difference between high and low offers will be reduced. But whatever the cap, clubs will spend it and there will always be clubs with an extra amount to spend.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I always thought Brads management were on a fishing trip last year to test out what other clubs would be prepared to offer and use it for basis of negotiating a new contract.

Personally i’d prefer him to stay.

Agree as Brad has stated his preference is to remain in Adelaide with the Crows.

Delaying signing may cost him some salary given the industry has been hit by COVID... but also now less likely the Crows will be massively outbid for his services.

Personally i would prefer to keep Brad, as our best midfielder who is still young enough.

We already have plenty of draft picks, but of we are wanting more, we should be moving out older players who we don't think will be part of our flag to make room for the next wave. E.g. Lynch. But need to keep quality experience in the side too.

 

[BACCS]

 

[Golumless]

I'm indifferent. We are rebuilding and the Sloane/M.Crouch/B.Crouch is a midfield core which has been found wanting time and time again. That said, Matt and Brad are a pretty solid start to any rebuild.

 

[1970crow]

I'm indifferent. We are rebuilding and the Sloane/M.Crouch/B.Crouch is a midfield core which has been found wanting time and time again. That said, Matt and Brad are a pretty solid start to any rebuild.

I’m happy for him to go if that’s what he wants. Feel like I’ve been posting this for too long, but it’s not like we provide continual success opportunity or a fantastic club culture that players just don’t want to leave. The usual apologists will say that’s changed, but they’ve been denying club cultural issues the entire time and only really accepted it when there was enough action that they could finish the sentence with it having been 100% repaired.

That said, I want him to stay, he’s my favourite current player. I’d much prefer to lose his brother if a Crouch was to go. But if he goes, I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get band 1 or bent over by a high finishing club and end up with a late first rounder and change.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Trading them both would be a terrible waste of development when you consider the time and $$$ invested in them.

What would we get in return - draft picks and start again? No thanks.

Only way I would trade them is for 2 x 100 game midfielders who have either been or potential to be AA.

Do you think getting a better 'return on investment' is actually possible though?

I mean, generally speaking you'd see a return on investment as a contribution towards team success, but there is nil prospect of our club seeing that in the playing prime of the Crouch players.

 

[ad victoriam]

I'm indifferent. We are rebuilding and the Sloane/M.Crouch/B.Crouch is a midfield core which has been found wanting time and time again. That said, Matt and Brad are a pretty solid start to any rebuild.

Are they Found Wanting or is it the lack death Following them, when all three are in the middle at the same time, we seem to go OK however most of the Time one of them is on the bench or in an Alternate position,
I agree re Solid Start to a rebuild,
And due to the Rebuild, I am hoping this will happen more this year as we attempt, (I hope) to get game into Jones, McHenry. Midfield Minutes into Milera, Also Curious as to Gollant and O.Conner but that will have to wait until 2021

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Are they Found Wanting or is it the lack death Following them, when all three are in the middle at the same time, we seem to go OK however most of the Time one of them is on the bench or in an Alternate position,
I agree re Solid Start to a rebuild,
And due to the Rebuild, I am hoping this will happen more this year as we attempt, (I hope) to get game into Jones, McHenry. Midfield Minutes into Milera, Also Curious as to Gollant and O.Conner but that will have to wait until 2021

For any decent rebuild, it's important to keep a core of experienced players to carry the load & show the way. It makes sense to keep quality mid age players like Brouch & move out some older players who won't be part of our next flag.

 

[Southerntakeover]

For any decent rebuild, it's important to keep a core of experienced players to carry the load & show the way. It makes sense to keep quality mid age players like Brouch & move out some older players who won't be part of our next flag.

I'm not sure that there was much shown by our experienced midfielders last year that would be of benefit to younger players.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I'm not sure that there was much shown by our experienced midfielders last year that would be of benefit to younger players.

Agree with our most experienced midfielder...

We definitely need to inject youth & speed into our midfield, but keep some experience in there too.

 

[Golumless]

Are they Found Wanting or is it the lack death Following them, when all three are in the middle at the same time, we seem to go OK however most of the Time one of them is on the bench or in an Alternate position,
I agree re Solid Start to a rebuild,
And due to the Rebuild, I am hoping this will happen more this year as we attempt, (I hope) to get game into Jones, McHenry. Midfield Minutes into Milera, Also Curious as to Gollant and O.Conner but that will have to wait until 2021

It could be depth, but I have a feeling its a mixture of inflexibility with Matt and Brad, as well as all three are rather similar players.

Two is a pretty ok start, but jeeze, I hope Brad can find some explosiveness again.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Agree with our most experienced midfielder...

We definitely need to inject youth & speed into our midfield, but keep some experience in there too.

I think people become too obsessed with 'rules' about how things should be done, and need to focus more on the particular circumstances.

It's not inherently beneficial to have experience around a rebuild unless it is the right kind of experience, the right kind of attitude. Preferably experience which has been through success and can teach those habits.

I'm not sure that we have much of that experience in our club right now. I can say for certain that there was more than one player on our list who gave every impression of having given up at different points in the last two years and phoning in effort. I remember more than a few of our experienced midfielders simply choosing not to chase a Port player- Motlop was it, during that humiliating Showdown performance. I'm not sure that having these guys around to teach the next generation is necessarily a good.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I think people become too obsessed with 'rules' about how things should be done, and need to focus more on the particular circumstances.

It's not inherently beneficial to have experience around a rebuild unless it is the right kind of experience, the right kind of attitude. Preferably experience which has been through success and can teach those habits.

I'm not sure that we have much of that experience in our club right now. I can say for certain that there was more than one player on our list who gave every impression of having given up at different points in the last two years and phoning in effort. I remember more than a few of our experienced midfielders simply choosing not to chase a Port player- Motlop was it, during that humiliating Showdown performance. I'm not sure that having these guys around to teach the next generation is necessarily a good.

Disagree, as clubs with a lack of core experienced players tend to be cellar dwellers for a while & getting regular beltings doesn't help anyone.

We still have some quality experienced players at the Crows with good leadership & it would be a mistake to move all on.

However, we need to move some older players on to speed up the development of the next group. It's about getting the balance right

 

[Southerntakeover]

Disagree, as clubs with a lack of core experienced players tend to be cellar dwellers for a while & getting regular beltings doesn't help anyone.

We still have some quality experienced players at the Crows with good leadership & it would be a mistake to move all on.

However, we need to move some older players on to speed up the development of the next group. It's about getting the balance right

I don't think you can claim to disagree unless you're actually prepared to engage with what is said. This post does not. Experience does not prevent beltings, or doom cycles. It is not intrisically a good. It is only a good when it is the right kind of experience. Do you disagree with that?

If you do not disagree with that, then you need to engage with the effort and actions of particular players during the last two years, and provide an argument why that is a type of experience that will benefit us in teaching good habits and culture to the next generations.