Is our 2017 midfield good enough to win a flag?

[TheLeftFist8]

This question is the nagging doubt at the back of every Crows supporters mind when dreaming of a 2017 premiership.

Most would say we have an A/A+ forward line and an A-/A defence but what about our supposed achilles heel...the midfield, particularly the inside midfield (our outside mids are ok and when our inside mids do well, they also tend to do well).

Without looking at thousands of different statistics as a team we are 1st in league for contested possessions, 2nd for inside 50's, 3rd in total clearances, 5th in tackles.

I couldn't find centre clearance differentials but I imagine we may be mid range but only down a couple on the best sides.

So as a team that stacks up very well but is our inside midfield deep enough?

I had a closer look at individual stats for average clearances for the 7 main contenders this season and listed the 3 best players:

ADE: B Crouch 5.9 (rank 15th in league), Sloane 5.9 (16th), M Crouch 5.8 (21st). FYI we also have Greenwood 5.0 (33rd), Douglas 4.1 (52nd).

GEE: Dangerflop 7.5, Duckwood 6.6, Duncan 4.3

GWS: Shiel 7.2, Ward 6.9, Kelly 4.8

RICH: Martin 6.8, Cotchin 4.9, Prestia 3.4

SYD: JPK 7.2, Parker 5.8, Hewett 3.5

PA: Wines 5.7, Ebert 5.4, Ryder 4.0 (SPP is 3.0, rank 89th)

MELB: Oliver 6.5, Viney 5.6, Lewis 3.8

ESS: Watson 4.9, Merrett 4.7, Heppell 4.4


So what do we make of these stats?

For mine, it says we don't have an out and out clearance winning star of the league but we do have a very even group of 4 inside mids averaging 5 or more clearances a game, with decent support from Douglas as well. If they all contribute on any given day we can match the better midfields. We may also be less vulnerable to an injury/poor game from one of our inside mids.

Any thoughts?

 

[Donkey Magoo]

I think that they can. Friday night showed me something from them that I hadn't seen from the group. Hardness, will and cohesion.

Sloane, is a genuine A grader, when he's tagged has been quiet but when the others are getting the job done the tag becomes looser.

B Crouch, he is definitely building, he looks to try and burst through packs, but hasn't quite nailed it yet. He has had a lot better disposal the last couple weeks which is his biggest knock.

M Crouch, is a workman, keeps getting the job done, his numbers are going up and is a competitive beast.

H Greenwood, this guy seriously, this guy. Wingspan, pressure, hardball gets, good disposal, roving half volleys for goals. Could win a Norm Smith.

Dougal, Probably one of the most frustrating guys on the list, if he plays like he has the past 3 weeks for the next 6 then we are apples.

Supporting cast of Cameron, Atkins, Laird, Knight go alright as well, should have some pressure released with the first lineup performing.

We can do this, organic growth wasn't just a PR line, they believe it.

 

[MRB37]

Want to see how we stack up against Collingwood, Sydney and Port Adelaide in coming weeks, but Greenwood has been a massive boost to the group since he's come in. He very well could be the difference maker that people were expecting Gibbs to be. His pure inside work and being so clean with it also just makes everything easier for those around him.

 

[marty36]

Want to see how we stack up against Collingwood, Sydney and Port Adelaide in coming weeks, but Greenwood has been a massive boost to the group since he's come in. He very well could be the difference maker that people were expecting Gibbs to be. His pure inside work and being so clean with it also just makes everything easier for those around him.

Gibbs strength is his vision he finds players who are in the perfect position Greenwood is better at pressure and extracting

Gibbs has always had the ability to find players who are in the right position like the Jarmans used to do


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[StonesThrow]

We cannot match most others for pure talent but I believe they are good enough as long as they turn up with strong intensity and tackling pressure. The team who does this the best wins and names become irrelevant.

 

[Rotayjay]

When it 'clicks' and works hard, our midfield is premiership quality. When it's 'off', it is miles off. If they maintain good form at the time when it matters most (three or four finals), Tex will lift the trophy.

The 2017 premiership is there for the taking - realistically within our grasp now. But the act of grasping will not be easy. It will involve a great deal of blood, sweat and tears over the next two months.

As that Hawks coach said: Pay the price.

 

[Jarman3]

My concern is depth. If we lose even one of Sloane, Greenwood or M Crouch during finals then I don't think we can cover them. If our list stays fit and healthy then we're a chance.

 

[spexau]

My concern is depth. If we lose even one of Sloane, Greenwood or M Crouch during finals then I don't think we can cover them. If our list stays fit and healthy then we're a chance.

You could say that about any team though. If Sydney lose JPK or Parker their midfield is significantly weakened.

Greenwood has been the difference for mine. Since he's come in our defensive pressure has gone up a notch.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

We cannot match most others for pure talent but I believe they are good enough as long as they turn up with strong intensity and tackling pressure. The team who does this the best wins and names become irrelevant.

Would've loved Hampton to round out the mix.

 

[Scorpus]

It depends if they turn up on the day

 

[StickerMan]

I think that they can. Friday night showed me something from them that I hadn't seen from the group. Hardness, will and cohesion.

Sloane, is a genuine A grader, when he's tagged has been quiet but when the others are getting the job done the tag becomes looser.

B Crouch, he is definitely building, he looks to try and burst through packs, but hasn't quite nailed it yet. He has had a lot better disposal the last couple weeks which is his biggest knock.

M Crouch, is a workman, keeps getting the job done, his numbers are going up and is a competitive beast.

H Greenwood, this guy seriously, this guy. Wingspan, pressure, hardball gets, good disposal, roving half volleys for goals. Could win a Norm Smith.

Dougal, Probably one of the most frustrating guys on the list, if he plays like he has the past 3 weeks for the next 6 then we are apples.

Supporting cast of Cameron, Atkins, Laird, Knight go alright as well, should have some pressure released with the first lineup performing.

We can do this, organic growth wasn't just a PR line, they believe it.

This - I had my doubts, but Friday's night's performance from the whole midefield group was awesome. A harder edge we had not seen.

That needs to be the base line from now and if so, our destiny is in our hands.

 

[Golumless]

Yes on the proviso we are willing to play on the edge.

 

[jenny61_99]

My concern is depth. If we lose even one of Sloane, Greenwood or M Crouch during finals then I don't think we can cover them. If our list stays fit and healthy then we're a chance.

Every club is in the same boat though. I would think as we rotate so many players through there, we have a little bit of leeway?

 

[Animus]

Yes m8

 

[marty36]

Every club is in the same boat though. I would think as we rotate so many players through there, we have a little bit of leeway?

This is the issue we face posters saying we need to play gooch or Wigg is probably a pointless excersize the premiership window is open ATM with our best team

If we go in with less than what we have in terms of Sloane crouch x 2 Douglas Greenwood Atkins we are screwed

It's an all or nothing but we aren't alone every other club is in the same position


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[displacedaussie]

Following the Thommo news, I was having a bit of a look at the detailed player stats page for the AFC at AFLTables: http://afltables.com/afl/stats/teams/adelaide.html

In a few stats, our mid-field stacks up pretty well (from a historical perspective of the club). Obviously there are differences in the game these days, but it's still pretty amazing given that Matt and Brad are still 22/23 and Hugh Greenwood has played 8 games!

Average disposals per game. Did anyone think that Matt and Brad would be this high already?



Average tackles per game. I don't think it's surprising that our midfield went backwards a bit when Hampton got injured. Thankfully Greenwood picked up that slack. Midfield pressure is such a huge aspect of today's game.



Average clearances per game.

 

[Redleg Crow]

Yes.

 

[Bicks]

Maybe

 

[Redleg Crow]

Yes clearances by individuals might be down, but I'm not too fussed. It's a team game. Here's the clearances by team: (Yellow = top 4 in the category)


We're ranked 3rd overall. We're only 8th in centre clearances, but Gold Coast is ranked 1st! And Brisbane is ranked 6th and Geelong 7th - so just one above us and Richmond and the vaunted Cothin/Martin mix is 12th.

Long story short. Yep they're good enough.

 

[Scorpus]

Yes clearances by individuals might be down, but I'm not too fussed. It's a team game. Here's the clearances by team: (Yellow = top 4 in the category)

View attachment 396011
We're ranked 3rd overall. We're only 8th in centre clearances, but Gold Coast is ranked 1st! And Brisbane is ranked 6th and Geelong 7th - so just one above us and Richmond and the vaunted Cothin/Martin mix is 12th.

Long story short. Yep they're good enough.

What about clearance differential, contested possession differential, and inside 50 differential.

Think those three stats tell a big story about how good a team is

 

[Redleg Crow]

What about clearance differential, contested possession differential, and inside 50 differential.

Think those three stats tell a big story about how good a team is

Wish I knew the stats - I'd use them! [EDIT - I mean if I had them easily at hand (can't be bothered tabulating them!]

Hurling People Now uses a differential of inside 50s. On that measure we come 3rd overall:

https://hurlingpeoplenow.wordpress.com/

 

[pjcrows]

I still say no but I'm a pessimist when it comes to our midfield.

 

[glengowan]

As long as the Crouch brothers and Douglas hold their form for the remainder of the season. Especially B Crouch and Douglas. M Crouch has been pretty consistent. Greenwood has been a bonus. I hope they continue to run Cameron, Knight, Atkins, Laird and co through the midfield leading up to finals. Perhaps a good opportunity this week with B Crouch having a fractured cheekbone to test someone like Wigg or Poholke, unless Pyke thinks they are no where near good enough.

 

[Redleg Crow]

Also key sub-question to this - can Sauce play like he did on Friday night?

 

[TheLeftFist8]

This is the issue we face posters saying we need to play gooch or Wigg is probably a pointless excersize the premiership window is open ATM with our best team

If we go in with less than what we have in terms of Sloane crouch x 2 Douglas Greenwood Atkins we are screwed

It's an all or nothing but we aren't alone every other club is in the same position


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There is certainly an element of truth to your post, and you're right every team would be in the same boat. Hell, if Dangerfield went down Geelong might as well forfeit.

But, for the fun of it, let's say we need another player capable of inside mid to replace one of the current 5 (I'm not counting the Cameron/Knight position in that) then what do we do?

Shuffle the 22 and give more time in that role to Cameron, Knight, Laird, Smith, Brown, ?

Or do we get a 'like for like' from below? Who's available that could run out an AFL match in the midfield? Assuming Hampton doesn't make it back that leaves Wigg and Galluci.