Preview R1: Changes for 2025

[krrzr]

B: Worrell, Murray, Michalanney
HB: Hinge, Keane, Cumming
C: Nankervis, Dawson, Curtin
HF: Rachele, Fogarty, Neal-Bullen
F: Walker, Thilthorpe, Keays
R: O’Brien, Rankine, Soligo
I: Peatling, Pedlar, Crouch, Draper
Sub: Taylor/Dowling

No Murphy, Laird, Smith or Milera

 

[LoBu]

Nah

TBH I'm surprised that there are people who still want Laird in the team.

 

[Cromulant]

TBH I'm surprised that there are people who still want Laird in the team.

I don't particularly, but if I HAD to make a choice, it's Laird.

Milera isnt/shouldn't be in the R1 team after yet another long term injury. He isn't a good enough player based on his historical performances to warrant that.

Laird is a different conversation. He'll be in the side whether we like it or not unfortunately

 

[FullyBigKPro]

B: Worrell, Murray, Michalanney
HB: Hinge, Keane, Cumming
C: Nankervis, Dawson, Curtin
HF: Rachele, Fogarty, Neal-Bullen
F: Walker, Thilthorpe, Keays
R: O’Brien, Rankine, Soligo
I: Peatling, Pedlar, Crouch, Draper
Sub: Taylor/Dowling

No Murphy, Laird, Smith or Milera

When you look at it now - if that team on paper can't make finals next year we are absolutely doomed and Nicks should hand his own resignation in.

 

[Cromulant]

When you look at it now - if that team on paper can't make finals next year we are absolutely doomed and Nicks should hand his own resignation in.

True, but we know Lairds playing

 

[wimpy]

B: Worrell, Murray, Michalanney
HB: Hinge, Keane, Cumming
C: Nankervis, Dawson, Curtin
HF: Rachele, Fogarty, Neal-Bullen
F: Walker, Thilthorpe, Keays
R: O’Brien, Rankine, Soligo
I: Peatling, Pedlar, Crouch, Draper
Sub: Taylor/Dowling

No Murphy, Laird, Smith or Milera

Curtin and Pedlar wouldn't be in my team. Curtin has yet to prove himself, where does he play, the Crows have got a player they don't know where to play, once he failed in the back lines he became a problem. Sholl on the wing is a much better option and is consistent if not an actual standout.
Pedlar needs to play at least six games in a row to find form and sustainability before even being considered for promotion.
I don't think Butts should be discarded with out consideration for specific roles. The games he played in the middle of the season showed improvement. His confidence to go for marks seemed to have improved, his kicking was more penetrating and he got more involved. Sometimes considering the opposition a tall negating defender is necessary.
This leads me to ask why in the hell did the Crows draft Curtin as a tall back when we already had a surfeit of talls.
Before the 2023 draft which I thought was poor in quality I would have traded down to draft Darcy Wilson a far greater need, but we wasted assets by trading up.

 

[George Kramer]

When you look at it now - if that team on paper can't make finals next year we are absolutely doomed and Nicks should hand his own resignation in.

Yep there is no acceptable result apart from finals. Only issue that means we will have Nicks for at least one more year.

 

[Golumless]

Pedlar isn't a goal kicker though, he's a mid we played as a defensive forward. That spot is now gone to both Keays and ANB, unless injuries hit.

We all want Pedlar to do well and he is only 22 but quite a few others have gone past him. Due to our inept list management, he still has 2 years left on his contract so he has time but he needs to prepare better so he doesn't always break down and sort out his sub AFL standard disposal. Feel like he's towards the bottom of the list pecking order right now.

Firstly mid played as a defensive forward is a meaningless descriptor. Being a midfielder or not is purely about talent and not having any critical physical flaws.

Secondly, Pedlar put up 25 goals in 2023 and pretty middling defensive numbers. What drew us to Pedlar as a small forward was his goal kicking. This is another guy you can throw into a forward line and you're going to get 20+ out of over the year. The thing with 2025 is Pedlar situation doesn't change, Adelaide could do with more goal kicking power and no inclusion into our side this offseason offers that.

Big preseason and I'd wager Pedlar walks into a best 22 spot, but that's on Luke and how much he wants it.

 

[Eddie Murphy]

Firstly mid played as a defensive forward is a meaningless descriptor. Being a midfielder or not is purely about talent and not having any critical physical flaws.

Secondly, Pedlar put up 25 goals in 2023 and pretty middling defensive numbers. What drew us to Pedlar as a small forward was his goal kicking. This is another guy you can throw into a forward line and you're going to get 20+ out of over the year. The thing with 2025 is Pedlar situation doesn't change, Adelaide could do with more goal kicking power and no inclusion into our side this offseason offers that.

Big preseason and I'd wager Pedlar walks into a best 22 spot, but that's on Luke and how much he wants it.

100%. If we want Rankine mainly playing midfield, it only increases our need for a forward that can kick goals and attack ground balls with speed, burst and evasiveness.

 

[The Shapeshifter]

Milera is a much better user off half back than current day Laird

I'd select fully fit Milera over fully fit Laird for a backline role. But if we were contending and I had to make the call now and it lasted all 2025, I'd choose Laird. Reality is that both aren't best 18 and if we think we've got a group that could genuinely contend in a couple of years, neither should get games ahead of any other small/medium defenders on the list. They can play out their contracts as experienced depth or move on.

 

[Golumless]

Sadly I think the game might have passed Milera by. Been superseded by new talent. Has some special skills but we are finally building a team where players have high end, solid, reliable skills, rather than the best thing about them being “he dances with the ball” (Atkins) or “he knows the running patterns” (McKay)

Very happy if he proves me wrong and makes it back and contributes those special skills

I wouldn't be celebrating the demise of Milera just yet.

Remember, half back is a rather weak sector in our squad and one thing that get slipped with Milera is he is a solid two-way player. Gets back to 19ish disposals/5+ intercepts form quickly, and he could easily be a locked in best 22 player going to 2026. Smith is declining, Nankervis hasn't put up the numbers to be a best 22 lock, Cummins is in the same situation as Milera as someone who's just lost a year to injury, Ryan is yet to debut, Dawson is still a midfielder etc. Right now it's Hinge and really two open spots.

It does seem like it's either that or Wayno is going to picked up as a UFA next year though.

 

[Cromulant]

I wouldn't be celebrating the demise of Milera just yet.

Remember, half back is a rather weak sector in our squad and one thing that get slipped with Milera is he is a solid two-way player. Gets back to 19ish disposals/5+ intercepts form quickly, and he could easily be a locked in best 22 player going to 2026. Smith is declining, Nankervis hasn't put up the numbers to be a best 22 lock, Cummins is in the same situation as Milera as someone who's just lost a year to injury, Ryan is yet to debut, Dawson is still a midfielder etc. Right now it's Hinge and really two open spots.

It does seem like it's either that or Wayno is going to picked up as a UFA next year though.

Wayne's career stats are quite similar to Nanks, obviously Wayne got thrown around a bit in the early days and Luke has a small sample size.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Laird was 6th in our best and fairest and averaged about 28 disposals off half back at 74% disposal efficiency. He likely starts the season good enough to deserve a spot at half back.

I have my doubts that he'll stay good enough to continue to deserve that spot. But I think he'll start in the side.

And if we want to play finals, we should be playing our best players (until they aren't).

Laird only played a few games across half back and was pretty average there I thought.

I think he'll be gunning for midfield time in 2025 and the coaches will acquiesce.

They know deep down that a Crouch-Laird midfield combo has become our miss-the-finals blueprint but they won't be able to help themselves.

Save us Obi Wanny Davis. You're our only hope.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Milera and Pedlar are our two big unknowns going into 2025

Fitness question mark
Form question mark
Durability question mark
Role question mark
Good enough question mark

I'm a big fan of both but they need to put up something decent, fast.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Laird will be BOG in the Probables vs Possibles match in preseason. Crouch not far behind (the medal is named after D Mac)

 

[Golumless]

Wayne's career stats are quite similar to Nanks, obviously Wayne got thrown around a bit in the early days and Luke has a small sample size.

Yeah, that's the danger of career stats, alongside the lack of recency to them.

I'd have Nank in no-mans-land when it comes to being a half back. Though he is entering a season where he should be expected to breakout seeing he's four seasons in.

 

[WeeBlake]

Firstly mid played as a defensive forward is a meaningless descriptor. Being a midfielder or not is purely about talent and not having any critical physical flaws.

Secondly, Pedlar put up 25 goals in 2023 and pretty middling defensive numbers. What drew us to Pedlar as a small forward was his goal kicking. This is another guy you can throw into a forward line and you're going to get 20+ out of over the year. The thing with 2025 is Pedlar situation doesn't change, Adelaide could do with more goal kicking power and no inclusion into our side this offseason offers that.

Big preseason and I'd wager Pedlar walks into a best 22 spot, but that's on Luke and how much he wants it.

That game vs Saints by Pedlar was better than any game of Milera’s I can remember.

Pedlar was disappointing last year before his shoulder iirc, but we can’t blame him for the shoulder.

Still young and promising, and his power and burst speed is something we lack. Even now, it’s really just Draper and Pedlar.

Needs to keep getting better, but we should be a little patient too.

 

[Golumless]

That game vs Saints by Pedlar was better than any game of Milera’s I can remember.

Pedlar was disappointing last year before his shoulder iirc, but we can’t blame him for the shoulder.

Still young and promising, and his power and burst speed is something we lack. Even now, it’s really just Draper and Pedlar.

Needs to keep getting better, but we should be a little patient too.

One thing I disagree with is we don't need to be patient with Pedlar. It's year 5 and he's coming into the season without a best 22 spot.

It's put up or shut up time. Being patient is for a guy who's 1-2 years in, or 3 if they're tall.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

One thing I disagree with is we don't need to be patient with Pedlar. It's year 5 and he's coming into the season without a best 22 spot.

It's put up or shut up time. Being patient is for a guy who's 1-2 years in, or 3 if they're tall.

Agree Pedlar needs a good year.

There are a few in the same boat.

 

[WeeBlake]

One thing I disagree with is we don't need to be patient with Pedlar. It's year 5 and he's coming into the season without a best 22 spot.

It's put up or shut up time. Being patient is for a guy who's 1-2 years in, or 3 if they're tall.

He’s been injured a lot

 

[Captain Furious]

Firstly mid played as a defensive forward is a meaningless descriptor. Being a midfielder or not is purely about talent and not having any critical physical flaws.

Secondly, Pedlar put up 25 goals in 2023 and pretty middling defensive numbers. What drew us to Pedlar as a small forward was his goal kicking. This is another guy you can throw into a forward line and you're going to get 20+ out of over the year. The thing with 2025 is Pedlar situation doesn't change, Adelaide could do with more goal kicking power and no inclusion into our side this offseason offers that.

Big preseason and I'd wager Pedlar walks into a best 22 spot, but that's on Luke and how much he wants it.

If you’re getting ‘middling defensive numbers’ need to be kicking more than 25 goals in a season as a full time forward. If we’re saying that’s ok then we shouldn’t expect to play finals.

 

[Golumless]

If you’re getting ‘middling defensive numbers’ need to be kicking more than 25 goals in a season as a full time forward. If we’re saying that’s ok then we shouldn’t expect to play finals.

That's a "I have no idea and am making shit up" comment.

25 goals is more than acceptable for a 2nd-4th small forward, even if you're not getting a whole lot elsewhere.

 

[jackster83]

Laird will be BOG in the Probables vs Possibles match in preseason. Crouch not far behind (the medal is named after D Mac)

Murphy will conveniently be injured for it, but will come in when someone gets injured in the week of R1.

 

[Captain Furious]

That's a "I have no idea and am making shit up" comment.

25 goals is more than acceptable for a 2nd-4th small forward, even if you're not getting a whole lot elsewhere.

Thank you for making this abusive and personal. Have you considered that everything wrong in your life is of your own making, unhappy internet stranger?

 

[Cromulant]

Thank you for making this abusive and personal. Have you considered that everything wrong in your life is of your own making, unhappy internet stranger?

Funny, all you seem to do is post rubbish and then you get defensive when it's called out.

Maybe the internet isn't for you