Review R1: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. St Kilda

[Danger in Texas]

I was a little underwhelmed with Peatling yesterday. He was ok, better than 90% of Berrys games to date.

It’s probably fair to describe his game as ‘he played his role’

 

[Rix31]

Curtin was terrible. Ran around like a headless chook. Got his first touches very close to half time when he took two marks in defence, not up forward.
He doesn't appear to have football instinct and doesn't want to impose himself in any situations.
At the time he was drafted November 2023 will already had committed to picking up Keane. We had Butts, Murray, Worrell and Michalanney. At that time, Himmelberg was also being talked about being turned in to a defender.
At the 2023 draft, Curtin was touted as a tall defender, we just didn't need another tall defender. Also the game was changing from playing three tall forwards to two so there was less need for another tall defender, we enough.
I thought there was an old football saying " don't pick a tall defender early in the draft, you can always find one later on or turn one of your tall forwards in to a tall defender (we found Murray playing country football in NSW). This saying should have been applied also to the drafting of MacAsey at six, what a waste, don't get me started.
Also people were seduced by the odd comments and junior efforts of Curtin at being a big body mid fielder, I would rather have a smaller mid fielder like Serong or Neale that actually can give you value for the sake of being able to say "we have a big bodied mid fielder".
For me to become a Curtin fan he will have to improve a hell of a lot. Please feel free to shoot me down about Curtin and why the Crows needed to draft a tall defender at that time, now we are stuck with a player that we moved up in the draft for and now don't know where to play him. Also you can have a go at me for my thoughts on the drafting of MacAsey.

Curtin is more Bontempelli/Jordan Dawson than he is a key defender imo. Absolutely stoked we have him. Looks like he will spend time forward and on the bench with brief spurts in the middle (if yesterday is anything to go by). Wouldn't be surprised to see him have games where he gets 15 and a couple of goals followed by much quieter games. Hopefully in time he is forcing his way into the midfield full-time.

 

[Mutineer]

I’m sure he’ll get games this year when injuries inevitably hit. Realistically he’s the next mid in line

Fingers crossed he carries over that form to the AFL, once he gets the opportunity

Schoey looking revitalised, the burst speed is back might be a chance too, Pedlar spent his time split between mid and forward yesterday and that's the best 4 quarter effort I've ever seen from him, if he stays fit geez he's got some real speed and brute strength....and only a couple of scrubber kicks too,

 

[119others]

I was a little underwhelmed with Peatling yesterday. He was ok, better than 90% of Berrys games to date.

He does a lot of tough defensive stuff in the trenches.

Watch Crouchs goal from the Rachele handball. Peatling had literally hit the ball out of the hands of the Saints defender (NWM?) causing it to spill free for Rachele to gather.

I actually really like him. Think long term he will be the best of all 3 recruits even if ANB is likely to finish highest in the B&F this year. The fact we beat 6 other clubs for his signature in a really important stake in the ground moment for the club and should be leveraged going forward (inc OOC GWS talent)

 

[Danger in Texas]

Schoey looking revitalised, the burst speed is back might be a chance too, Pedlar spent his time split between mid and forward yesterday and that's the best 4 quarter effort I've ever seen from him, if he stays fit geez he's got some real speed and brute strength....and only a couple of scrubber kicks too,

Pedlar’s very exciting at his best. Certainly an AFL-level talent

Hard to get a gig in our forward line right now, but he should be straight in if one of our smalls are injured

 

[Jeffcrowe]

That's like saying Peatling offers more than Jordy Butts. If Peatling and Crouch can play in the side then so can Peatling and Berry, because they aren't playing the same role.

Not sure how we got to that

Point was , Peatling adds more to the side than Berry and given that’s whose spot he’s taken in the midfield mix it’s probably more relevant

 

[spenze]

They were playing seniors, but they were just generally terrible. Zak Jones 11 touches, Jimmy Webster 10 touches, Zaine Cordy 4 touches, Steele and Wilkie were below their best too, both under 20 touches.

Nope, that is their standard

 

[Jeffcrowe]

It’s probably fair to describe his game as ‘he played his role’

If he can have 20 possessions and a goal a week with ALOT of pressure acts using his speed as an ‘ok’ game then we looking very good from him

I reckon there’s some people expecting too much, not everyone if going to be Dawson Rankine Soligo

 

[119others]

Pedlar’s very exciting at his best. Certainly an AFL-level talent

Hard to get a gig in our forward line right now, but he should be straight in if one of our smalls are injured

Clearly we are effectively injury free right now but suddenly we have a lot of depth - some which we could look to trade out:

• Pedlar (prefer to keep)
• Berry
• Shoey
• Butts (good backup if he is happy not getting a regular gig)
• Jones (assumes he gets back to 2023 form)
• Taylor
  - Nank almost forgot (prefer to keep)

All these 6 for starters are AFL level at their best (unlike Mc Henry, Murph etc). Some may now be hunted by other clubs like we did with Peatling. We could even throw into a package in acquiring further ELITE talent eg Saints need KPD if we go NWM. If we need to give up 1-2 of these guys above and only part with say one first round pick for NWM its a win and just provides good options

Add those to the young blokes like Ryan and Edwards who I would like to think are going to end up AFL standard and its the best ever depth we have had as a squad

 

[WeeBlake]

If he can have 20 possessions and a goal a week with ALOT of pressure acts using his speed as an ‘ok’ game then we looking very good from him

I reckon there’s some people expecting too much, not everyone if going to be Dawson Rankine Soligo

He played fine, I just think many of us are hoping for more than a good role player. Anyway its only one game he’s still got plenty of improvement in him.

 

[wimpy]

I haven't seen McAsey dominate any SANFL game in his 4 years like Curtin did last year in his 1st year. I suggest you watch his draft year more closely, he move and play a lot like Dawson so isn't just pigeon hole as a KPD.

I WASN'T comparing McAsey and Curtin. What I was clearly saying is why pick a tall defender at 6 and 8.
From memory Weitering at one and there may be one or two others that were at pick eight or higher it was not necessary and now we have found McAsey to be a wasted pick.

 

[Barneythecrab]

A tick for Nicks‘ coaching?

I can’t say whether it’s Nicks call, but it’s seems like a maturity in the coaching group. There is no way that happens last year, even with the 6 day turn around.

 

[skam85]

What I was clearly saying is why pick a tall defender at 6 and 8.

that's because he isn't one

 

[Mutineer]

I WASN'T comparing McAsey and Curtin. What I was clearly saying is why pick a tall defender at 6 and 8.
From memory Weitering at one and there may be one or two others that were at pick eight or higher it was not necessary and now we have found McAsey to be a wasted pick.

McAsey wasn't exactly a wasted pick, he had the football talent OK but just never settled in well in Adelaide during the Covid lockdown in Victoria/SA and then his father having a heart attack and being touch and go there for a while didn't help with that as well.

All the signs are Curtin has 100% bought in and is happy in Adelaide, way way too early for this kind of talk re Curtin,

 

[Bearded Clam]

Schoey looking revitalised, the burst speed is back might be a chance too, Pedlar spent his time split between mid and forward yesterday and that's the best 4 quarter effort I've ever seen from him, if he stays fit geez he's got some real speed and brute strength....and only a couple of scrubber kicks too,

Shit windy weather too.. but yeah.. Pedlar’s best four quarter game in a very long time.

He needs to keep backing it up and he’ll be in the AFL side before long.

Love his attack on the ball and opposition.

 

[steve9798]

What a fantastic day to be at the footy. So many things to enjoy. A few things that could be improved but nothing worth dwelling on (O'Brien's lack of aerial ability).

This list will win a flag in the next 5 especially with Tassie coming into the competition and taking the elite talent in the pool. If your list is average now, it's going to be hard to dramatically improve it.

 

[cmndstab]

Curtin was terrible. Ran around like a headless chook. Got his first touches very close to half time when he took two marks in defence, not up forward.
He doesn't appear to have football instinct and doesn't want to impose himself in any situations.
At the time he was drafted November 2023 will already had committed to picking up Keane. We had Butts, Murray, Worrell and Michalanney. At that time, Himmelberg was also being talked about being turned in to a defender.
At the 2023 draft, Curtin was touted as a tall defender, we just didn't need another tall defender. Also the game was changing from playing three tall forwards to two so there was less need for another tall defender, we enough.
I thought there was an old football saying " don't pick a tall defender early in the draft, you can always find one later on or turn one of your tall forwards in to a tall defender (we found Murray playing country football in NSW). This saying should have been applied also to the drafting of MacAsey at six, what a waste, don't get me started.
Also people were seduced by the odd comments and junior efforts of Curtin at being a big body mid fielder, I would rather have a smaller mid fielder like Serong or Neale that actually can give you value for the sake of being able to say "we have a big bodied mid fielder".
For me to become a Curtin fan he will have to improve a hell of a lot. Please feel free to shoot me down about Curtin and why the Crows needed to draft a tall defender at that time, now we are stuck with a player that we moved up in the draft for and now don't know where to play him. Also you can have a go at me for my thoughts on the drafting of MacAsey.

Curtin was not really touted as a KPD. Yes he played primarily there in his draft year, but that would be like saying Dangerfield was a tagger because he played that role in his draft year, or Sloane was a small defender because he played that role in his draft year. The club indicated that he would likely start in defence, but that the intention would be for him to turn into a very tall utility.

His skills are exquisite for his height, and unlike you, I think he does have football instinct. You can see it when he's around the ball, he knows how to win it, how to extricate himself from congestion, and where the outlet options are. The problem at the moment is that he is rarely around the ball, playing the role he's playing. With Walker very clearly on his last legs, he will soon take Walker's spot in the forward line and have a more clearly defined role. In the meantime, we just need to pump game time into him.

He's still growing into his body, having been a midfielder for most of his junior career before having a late growth spurt. He could be absolutely anything, or he could be a bust. Let's give him a chance to see what he develops into, shall we?

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I WASN'T comparing McAsey and Curtin. What I was clearly saying is why pick a tall defender at 6 and 8.
From memory Weitering at one and there may be one or two others that were at pick eight or higher it was not necessary and now we have found McAsey to be a wasted pick.

He’s not a tall defender (although he may be able to play that role in time if we want him to )

You must be a troll , you’re not making any sense

 

[GreyCrow]

Curtin is 19 years old

Pump the brakes

 

[StonesThrow]

I was a little underwhelmed with Peatling yesterday. He was ok, better than 90% of Berrys games to date.

That's not true. Peatling was okay yesterday. Berry has ranged from okay to good.

I'm happy to give peatling a crack first though cos of his pace.

 

[Danger in Texas]

If he can have 20 possessions and a goal a week with ALOT of pressure acts using his speed as an ‘ok’ game then we looking very good from him

I reckon there’s some people expecting too much, not everyone if going to be Dawson Rankine Soligo

‘Played his role’ isn’t derogatory btw

He was very good in said role, and brings a lot to the table. Didn’t star of course, but we don’t really need him to, given who’s surrounding him

 

[Scorpus]

I reckon Peatling is the faster decision maker. Berry usually seems about 1/2 a step off the pace in terms of ball handling and making decisions. That should mean the gap between Peatling and Berry will grow in games played against better sides at a higher pace/intensity

 

[Danger in Texas]

McAsey wasn't exactly a wasted pick, he had the football talent OK but just never settled in well in Adelaide during the Covid lockdown in Victoria/SA and then his father having a heart attack and being touch and go there for a while didn't help with that as well.

All the signs are Curtin has 100% bought in and is happy in Adelaide, way way too early for this kind of talk re Curtin,

Re: McAsey, I think both things can be true. He was definitely affected by the factors you say, but also probably didn’t have the athletic ability, nor the elite stopping ability to really have an AFL impact (despite being a really good overhead mark)

But yeah the Curtin comparisons are wild, both in regards to situation and ability

 

[Coopers]

That’s interesting given Matt Crouch played all year when available last year (with Berry at times) and now with Peatling

Reason being Peatling adds such a better balance to our side as he’s got genuine AFL weapons and not just a foot soldier like Berry

Those teams were regularly featuring Murph, and McHenry too though. There were... free spots.

 

[Sizzlepack]

For what it's worth re. Curtin, although he again struggled to get into the game yesterday – and opinions vary on whether accumulation/positioning are teachable skills – I thought the stuff he did was actually pretty cool. A couple of nice contested grabs, and a couple of really nice ground ball gathers and quick handballs. Obviously 7 disposals isn't sustainable long-term, but I'd rather he do nice stuff than use it poorly. Ultimately, his form won't really determine our fortunes in 2025. I like that we're giving him games. The club appears to be a much better development environment than 5-7 years ago.