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

[Schulzycrow]

Good
Team win. Solid across all lines. All four new recruits have made us much better. Filthy and Rash big ticks. No injuries.

Bad
Umps not rewarding HTB

Ugly
12:10 start time.

 

[Danger in Texas]

Kingy on First Crack just lauded our handball and overlap game today

Who would’ve thought looking to aggressively move the footy on works a treat

 

[119others]

Thilthorpe was excellent. Extremely clean ball handling and use when it was his turn

Has there ever been a better 200cm ball handler both off the ground, below the knees one touch handling and excellent skill execution to a player in a better posn (eg Peatling goal)

Gerald Healey stated TT is his Coleman medal fancy

 

[ams4crows]

Kingy on First Crack just lauded our handball and overlap game today

Who would’ve thought looking to aggressively move the footy on works a treat

Also singled out one of Curtin's release handballs got to stick with the kid

 

[Go the Guts]

Fascinating how the St Kilda board has this excuse that they were a really young side.

Our side was on average 2 months older. That’s it. Basically the same average age for both sides.

 

[MRB37]

Fascinating how the St Kilda board has this excuse that they were a really young side.

Our side was on average 2 months older. That’s it. Basically the same average age for both sides.

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.

 

[BRL121]

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.

Don't forget Brad Hill.

 

[adelaidecrows]

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.

Lyon while he has had a mixed bag of success, since the freo GF his coaching has never hit great heights. I wouldnt be surprised if he is just not getting the job done and the players are showing it.

 

[Samcro24]

Ugly
12:10 start time.

I think Norf at 2:50 is worse

 

[jenny61_99]

We know Murray called that.

We don’t know anything of the sort FFS.

 

[Sally22]

We conceded 52 inside 50s to our 59. Despite being solidly on top, we continue to allow relatively easy transition.

I thought i was hard on the crows. Kept Saints to 10 goal still. But when last time seen us play fwd half game like that especially like we did in that 1st qtr? Was only Saints but still not sure going play 120min like that. I will take today. Hear Burgoyne today say we were ranked 3rd last fwd half turnover last year. Some that us poor exactly like you say, bit that cos we normally just get it done on transition - not sure is sustainable

'24 ranked 14th clearance differential, 13th i50 differential. Fair bit time its been us just getting it done on transition (or out the back) only eight i50 a qtr and 5 goal straight return efficiency covered it up a bit

 

[jamesclean]

I’ve been a big Rachele critic, but man he was good today. Involved in so many chains, clean, worked hard.

The commentators mentioned he dropped minutes off his time trial PB. It showed today. Maybe he’s in for a big year?

finally you are here my brother

 

[Interloperer]

You can tell Rachele has a new found drive and focus. Because he's very good at pretending like he was the one that had the problem at the end of the last season and not the entire rest of the club.

 

[AFC979810]

Love these comments on Rachele's massive improvement this year.

Rachele performed against the Saints just like he has performed in every single opening game.

2022 - 5 goals, 1 behind, 14 touches.
2023 - 3 goals, 1 behind, 18 touches
2024 - 3 goals, 0 behinds, 17 touches
2025 - 2 goals, 2 behinds, 21 touches

 

[AFC979810]

Hard to have a bad and ugly so will just keep with the Good.

Good:

Week 1 win.
No Injuries.
We looked to be attacking and take the game on.
Fog, TT, Rankine, Rachele scored more goals than the Saints.
ANB is such an upgrade on Murphy.
Laird was solid. I think he can be useful across half back. Used the ball really well.

 

[davos44]

Good:
A very even team effort, nobody really stood out (Rankine and Dawson looked superb though)

Riley Thilthorpe is such a powerful player, if he doesn't mark it the follow up ground work is top shelf and his kicking is elite. Compliments Fogarty well.

Worrell- 9 intercepts, 26 touches, absolutely raking left foot. A couple more games like that and he will start feeling "home sick" according to the oversaturated media. "its my understanding" "its the view that" "my sources indicate" "I've spoken to his management"

Josh "Mr Score Involvement" Rachele- everything went through him and the huge preseason had an effect where he was working further up the ground and beginning a scoring chain, rather than ending one.

Kicking 21 Goals with very little from Walker- probably not going to get to 700 though (Carey, Riewoldt, Kernahan, Richo and Pav all got there).

Last year it was strings of goals with nothing in between from the opposition, this year we were able to bite back quickly from centre clearance and score. Speaking of which, gosh that was so much better around the ground and especially out of the middle.

The recruits were all pretty good

Bad:

Saints worked hard and managed to bottle the game up in their forward half for periods but they just couldn't do any damage. Saints fan should feel really aggrieved with their club over the last 10 years. Their drafting has been deplorable (although Wanganeen-Milera and Phillipou are good from their later drafts).

Ugly:
Hardly ugly but Dan Curtin just can't get into the game, he did some nice things however there are 6 guys ready to go in the SANFL.

Its only round 1 and we have a tough draw

 

[119others]

Good:
A very even team effort, nobody really stood out (Rankine and Dawson looked superb though)

Riley Thilthorpe is such a powerful player, if he doesn't mark it the follow up ground work is top shelf and his kicking is elite. Compliments Fogarty well.

Worrell- 9 intercepts, 26 touches, absolutely raking left foot. A couple more games like that and he will start feeling "home sick" according to the oversaturated media. "its my understanding" "its the view that" "my sources indicate" "I've spoken to his management"

Josh "Mr Score Involvement" Rachele- everything went through him and the huge preseason had an effect where he was working further up the ground and beginning a scoring chain, rather than ending one.

Kicking 21 Goals with very little from Walker- probably not going to get to 700 though (Carey, Riewoldt, Kernahan, Richo and Pav all got there).

Last year it was strings of goals with nothing in between from the opposition, this year we were able to bite back quickly from centre clearance and score. Speaking of which, gosh that was so much better around the ground and especially out of the middle.

The recruits were all pretty good

Bad:

Saints worked hard and managed to bottle the game up in their forward half for periods but they just couldn't do any damage. Saints fan should feel really aggrieved with their club over the last 10 years. Their drafting has been deplorable (although Wanganeen-Milera and Phillipou are good from their later drafts).

Ugly:
Hardly ugly but Dan Curtin just can't get into the game, he did some nice things however there are 6 guys ready to go in the SANFL.

Its only round 1 and we have a tough draw

Agree with most. Thankfully Worrell is contracted until end of 2027 when he becomes a Free Agent. Seems to love the club and his team mates. If we are being successful and we offer a competitive salary I would like to think he stays longer term.

Also, with the stuff up of our number 6 in the 2019 draft, having Worrell come good from a late 20’s pick certainly takes some of the pain away. Plus we got freebies Hinge and Murray within 12 months or so of that time.

Our draw the first 4 weeks certainly has some easy games - both home games. Dons away is 50/50 IMO (we are underdogs with bookies) as they will be desperate to bounce back and actually took it up to Hawks in most ways. Winning this week though at the G would be huge for the group and also means a very likely 3-0 start. Suns away is a very difficult game.

 

[Cromulant]

Mate, seriously just give it up with this Milera shit. No need to try and find negatives or whine today. Milera was fine on first watch and watching the replay I haven’t seen one mistake or seen his opponent getting much of the ball, or kicking goals. Isn’t the first job of a defender to defend and stop goals?

Even if you truly believe Milera is a bottom 4-5 player are you proposing dropping 4-5 players this week? It’s just not going to happen

I'm not saying we should drop him.

Now we've picked him, he gets the next 2 weeks to show that he's upto the speed of the game against 2 sides that aren't going to make finals.

Chill out dude.

 

[Cromulant]

Good:
A very even team effort, nobody really stood out (Rankine and Dawson looked superb though)

Riley Thilthorpe is such a powerful player, if he doesn't mark it the follow up ground work is top shelf and his kicking is elite. Compliments Fogarty well.

Worrell- 9 intercepts, 26 touches, absolutely raking left foot. A couple more games like that and he will start feeling "home sick" according to the oversaturated media. "its my understanding" "its the view that" "my sources indicate" "I've spoken to his management"

Josh "Mr Score Involvement" Rachele- everything went through him and the huge preseason had an effect where he was working further up the ground and beginning a scoring chain, rather than ending one.

Kicking 21 Goals with very little from Walker- probably not going to get to 700 though (Carey, Riewoldt, Kernahan, Richo and Pav all got there).

Last year it was strings of goals with nothing in between from the opposition, this year we were able to bite back quickly from centre clearance and score. Speaking of which, gosh that was so much better around the ground and especially out of the middle.

The recruits were all pretty good

Bad:

Saints worked hard and managed to bottle the game up in their forward half for periods but they just couldn't do any damage. Saints fan should feel really aggrieved with their club over the last 10 years. Their drafting has been deplorable (although Wanganeen-Milera and Phillipou are good from their later drafts).

Ugly:
Hardly ugly but Dan Curtin just can't get into the game, he did some nice things however there are 6 guys ready to go in the SANFL.

Its only round 1 and we have a tough draw

Curtin in the ugly ??

Wow, well off it.

 

[davos44]

Curtin in the ugly ??

Wow, well off it.

Did you watch him plod around the ground yesterday? 0 power, didn't push to any contests and was about 3 metres behind his opponent most of the day. When he did get near it, he looked pretty good though.

 

[Cromulant]

Did you watch him plod around the ground yesterday? 0 power, didn't push to any contests and was about 3 metres behind his opponent most of the day. When he did get near it, he looked pretty good though.

0 power ??

OK, let's leave it there.....

 

[davos44]

Agree with most. Thankfully Worrell is contracted until end of 2027 when he becomes a Free Agent. Seems to love the club and his team mates. If we are being successful and we offer a competitive salary I would like to think he stays longer term.

Also, with the stuff up of our number 6 in the 2019 draft, having Worrell come good from a late 20’s pick certainly takes some of the pain away. Plus we got freebies Hinge and Murray within 12 months or so of that time.

Our draw the first 4 weeks certainly has some easy games - both home games. Dons away is 50/50 IMO (we are underdogs with bookies) as they will be desperate to bounce back and actually took it up to Hawks in most ways. Winning this week though at the G would be huge for the group and also means a very likely 3-0 start. Suns away is a very difficult game.

Him and McAsey both played for Sandringham as well. I'm sure he will stay after 2027!

Our entire backline is Moneyball IMHO.

 

[119others]

Did you watch him plod around the ground yesterday? 0 power, didn't push to any contests and was about 3 metres behind his opponent most of the day. When he did get near it, he looked pretty good though.

We all desperately want Curtin to succeed. 5 mins before half time he had touched it once and the same concerns were there again. Being tentative, not using his frame to exert any physical presence. Basically just not touching the pill.

Thankfully he then did a couple of good things just before half time and we then allowed him to play out the game.

I am happy to give him a month and see if he improves. 7 possessions is nowhere near enough though and he was clearly the lowest rated Crows player yesterday (below Draper even who played about 35% only).

 

[119others]

Him and McAsey both played for Sandringham as well. I'm sure he will stay after 2027!

Our entire backline is Moneyball IMHO.

Yep, amazing build of the backline. So many freebies that are core elements inc both KPD - Murray, Keane and Hinge. Worrell a bargain at pick 28 IIRC and Max also unders end of first round pick.

And so young and inexperienced overall meaning hopefully huge upside and further cohesion as they develop together. Love it

 

[davos44]

0 power ??

OK, let's leave it there.....

He isn't ready, if he was, he wouldn't be walking back into the rooms with 3 kicks and a tackle after a 10 goal win.