Preview R14: Changes vs. Sydney Swans

[MRB37]

Has a coach with such a shit record ever come good? Surely not. We'll get pumped by Sydney, and good. The future of this club is best served by Nicks being fired as soon as possible.

When everyone brings up Damien Hardwick, at the point of him being questioned if he was fit to coach he was coming off 7 years of football with a 74-2-78 record with a win % of 48% and 3 finals appearances.

Nicks is currently in his 5th year at 33-1-62 with a win percentage of 34.9% and zero finals appearances. At the end of his 5th year Dimma had a record of 51-2-57 for a win % of 46.3% and 2 finals appearances.

 

[WetCrow1991]

Our head to head record against the Eagles in that era is enough to put the idea to bed.

Hey we beat them in a dead rubber round 22 game that arguably cost us the flag (in addition to Craig's stubborn coaching)

 

[WetCrow1991]

If I personally caused my employer to miss a deadline, apologised to everyone then proceeded to perform just as shit for multiple more releases, I would expect people to have the shits with me.

A little self reflection wouldn't go astray.

 

[WetCrow1991]

How could Hamish resist PP.
A short arse HBF'er that looks more suited to the jockey room

Could have got Moyle with a rookie pick and now we will have to pay up to get anything half reasonable

I really do think our drafting philosophies and the positions players are played, should determine your draft structure

Parnell is literally 12 years old, has to be.

 

[Apsaalooke]

View attachment 2019592


aaaawwww… the poor dear..


What a flog. If he a drop of dignity he would’ve dropped himself months ago..

Come on, he’s badly out of form and should have been demoted weeks ago but doesn’t deserve being abused. No-one volunteers to be dropped and why should they?

This is all on Nicks and whoever else on the panel didn’t vote against his selection.

 

[BACCS]

Has a coach with such a shit record ever come good? Surely not. We'll get pumped by Sydney, and good. The future of this club is best served by Nicks being fired as soon as possible.

I doubt we get pumped with Rankine back. Will be a standard Crows loss where we are in it for most of the game, but lose by a goal or two.

 

[WetCrow1991]

Come on, he’s badly out of form and should have been demoted weeks ago but doesn’t deserve being abused. No-one volunteers to be dropped and why should they?

This is all on Nicks and whoever else on the panel didn’t vote against his selection.

There might be some fringe comments but across all socials I haven't seen much at all that any reasonable person would consider abuse.

His performances this season are lot closer to abuse to spectators.

 

[BACCS]

I didn’t realise this was a nationally broadcast game on Channel 7, nowhere to hide here

 

[Ham]

I agree, he looks huge. But surely with the rehab he will have been doing, it's nothing but running and strength work before going anywhere near a footy. I would doubt he is carrying excess weight. It would only be whether he has bulked up too much and put on too much size to be able to fully run out a game of AFL footy and back up week after week.

Either way, love how dedicated he seems to be


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[huludicidal]

Team balance is absolutely horrendous still (hands up if you thought you’d ever see a 22 featuring all 4 of Keane, Butts, Borlase and Murray), but at least the 3 ins are all clearly best 22 players, and the 3 outs are all players that offer absolutely nothing in the short, medium or long term. Small victories!

Based on what we’ve selected to play Sydney, you’d think a minimum of 1, and maybe even both of Borlase and Murray are playing up forward. Last week both of Borlase and Burgess played forward, and Murray has effectively replaced Burgess in the side, so yeah, that’s a genuine possibility.

Who will be the sub? A lot was said about Dowling maybe being demoted to this role, then once the team was named he’s there in the starting 18. Doesn’t make it impossible for him to be named sub, but surely Schoenberg and Berry are the most likely subs from the team named. It feels like it’ll be Schoey to me. If it is Dowling, it’s head-shaking stuff.

What’s worse than regular Laird as a full time mid? Gimpy Limping Laird as a full time mid, that’s who! This midfield can only progress as a unit once he’s out. Just imagine what one of Heeney or Warner is going to do to him. Rowbottom will go to Dawson. James Jordon will go to one of Soligo or Rankine. So yes, Laird’s opponent is definitely one of Heeney or Warner, unless we hide Laird in a different part of the ground where he can put his silky skills, creativity and super amazing decision making on full display.


Post-bye changes vs GWS:

Out:
Borlase, Laird, Schoenberg, Berry

In:
Walker, Taylor, Himmelberg, Ryan

Sub:
Murphy, Sholl or Jones


*If Curtin can put together a big performance at SANFL level, he can replace Jones or Sholl on a wing. We’d all love to see it. I don’t rate Jones or Sholl at all (despite Sholl’s recent string of high possession games, he has no speed, no kicking penetration, no evasive abilities, no tackling abilities, and is absolutely horrendous in any one on one contest). Moving on from these players is required.

*Ryan might seem like an out of the box “in”, but we desperately need run and dare from the back half. Whats the worst that could happen? He plays as bad as Smith has been?

*if Strachan cops a spanking from Grundy he’ll make way for O’Brien, but his around the ground marking and potential to float forward to kick a goal is something I’d like to see for a block of 4 games personally. He’s never going to get as many hitouts as O’Brien, but I really don’t think that matters much.

*If Murray plays forward against Sydney, and plays well, we could keep him up forward against the Giants instead of bringing Himmelberg in, but yeah, I wouldn’t be doing any of that.

*Dawson, Rankine, Soligo as the starting centre bounce trio, with Taylor, Keays, Michalanney, Rachele and Dowling to also rotate through. We need to accept that Laird is never the answer in there, and that Berry is either in the SANFL or the sub every week.

*I’m not opposed to keeping Schoenberg in the side, but he was absolutely shithouse against Richmond and not even a pass mark against Hawthorn either, so he needs a huge one against Sydney to survive.

*Hamill’s obviously not cemented in the side, but with Worrell injured, Smith axed, Milera injured, Parnell’s career over, and Michalanney potentially spending some more time up the ground, we need a small with a bit of speed who can actually defend, so I think he stays in for the next few games realistically.

 

[Roscrow86]

Would the 2024 Crows have put Andrew McLeod in the midfield at half time of the 97 prelim? Or would it decide that he hadn't earned his place yet.

Nicks is way too much of a, “trust the process”, type of coach (his process) which makes him very inflexible. He seems to lack instinct and football flare, something that great coaches like blight have in spades. Come t think of it, I don’t think there has been a crows coach other than blight that had great football instincts. Maybe Ayres or Walsh, but that’s it

 

[FR0GGY]

Have we ever seen a player drop themselves?

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Rich and Gunston last year for Brisbane

 

[Captain Furious]

Team balance is absolutely horrendous still (hands up if you thought you’d ever see a 22 featuring all 4 of Keane, Butts, Borlase and Murray), but at least the 3 ins are all clearly best 22 players, and the 3 outs are all players that offer absolutely nothing in the short, medium or long term. Small victories!

Based on what we’ve selected to play Sydney, you’d think a minimum of 1, and maybe even both of Borlase and Murray are playing up forward. Last week both of Borlase and Burgess played forward, and Murray has effectively replaced Burgess in the side, so yeah, that’s a genuine possibility.

Who will be the sub? A lot was said about Dowling maybe being demoted to this role, then once the team was named he’s there in the starting 18. Doesn’t make it impossible for him to be named sub, but surely Schoenberg and Berry are the most likely subs from the team named. It feels like it’ll be Schoey to me. If it is Dowling, it’s head-shaking stuff.

What’s worse than regular Laird as a full time mid? Gimpy Limping Laird as a full time mid, that’s who! This midfield can only progress as a unit once he’s out. Just imagine what one of Heeney or Warner is going to do to him. Rowbottom will go to Dawson. James Jordon will go to one of Soligo or Rankine. So yes, Laird’s opponent is definitely one of Heeney or Warner, unless we hide Laird in a different part of the ground where he can put his silky skills, creativity and super amazing decision making on full display.


Post-bye changes vs GWS:

Out:
Borlase, Laird, Schoenberg, Berry

In:
Walker, Taylor, Himmelberg, Ryan

Sub:
Murphy, Sholl or Jones


*If Curtin can put together a big performance at SANFL level, he can replace Jones or Sholl on a wing. We’d all love to see it. I don’t rate Jones or Sholl at all (despite Sholl’s recent string of high possession games, he has no speed, no kicking penetration, no evasive abilities, no tackling abilities, and is absolutely horrendous in any one on one contest). Moving on from these players is required.

*Ryan might seem like an out of the box “in”, but we desperately need run and dare from the back half. Whats the worst that could happen? He plays as bad as Smith has been?

*if Strachan cops a spanking from Grundy he’ll make way for O’Brien, but his around the ground marking and potential to float forward to kick a goal is something I’d like to see for a block of 4 games personally. He’s never going to get as many hitouts as O’Brien, but I really don’t think that matters much.

*If Murray plays forward against Sydney, and plays well, we could keep him up forward against the Giants instead of bringing Himmelberg in, but yeah, I wouldn’t be doing any of that.

*Dawson, Rankine, Soligo as the starting centre bounce trio, with Taylor, Keays, Michalanney, Rachele and Dowling to also rotate through. We need to accept that Laird is never the answer in there, and that Berry is either in the SANFL or the sub every week.

*I’m not opposed to keeping Schoenberg in the side, but he was absolutely shithouse against Richmond and not even a pass mark against Hawthorn either, so he needs a huge one against Sydney to survive.

*Hamill’s obviously not cemented in the side, but with Worrell injured, Smith axed, Milera injured, Parnell’s career over, and Michalanney potentially spending some more time up the ground, we need a small with a bit of speed who can actually defend, so I think he stays in for the next few games realistically.

Sydney have the 3 big guys up forward so expect Murray back. Borlase will play forward and chop out in the ruck.

I'd expect Cook to play closer to goal with Tex out and Keays to try and limit Blakey off half back. Jones will hopefully lock down on whatever mid gets spat out to the wing, likely Gulden to start but they flick them around a bit. They get a lot of drive from their wings and half backs playing on the edges of the square.

Rankine to play mainly forward in the first half while he gets his match legs back.

Jordan will probably go to Dawson. He's a tough guy to tag the way he plays, not like a traditional mid but if he doesn't fire, we're sunk, so you'd imagine they'll go pretty hard at him.

 

[kirky]

In all seriousness, who else were they going to select? The veterans have stood aside, to let the next generation take responsibility for their own futures - so that rules out Walker, Laird & Crouch. The best of our youngsters are mostly in the sub-50 game bracket, and are still establishing their own AFL careers. Rankine is almost the only exception, as a quality player with 50+ games.

Why do you need 3 vice captains and plus another 4 in the leadership group?

I mean to say that is 20% of our playing list is in a leadership group. WTF!

Only a small % of individuals have the capability to be a leader, that goes in all facets of life. 8 in a leadership group is overkill.

 

[kirky]

People may (rightly) sneer at our leadership group, but it’s voted by the players. I think that’s why it’s so big - all those players got the same votes. But it’s who the squad thinks are the leaders in the group.
It is remotely possible that they know better than us.

Ok, here is an idea if all those players did get the same votes, you tell the playing group that those players had tied votes but only one can be chosen so a revote only on those that tied is required.

Starting to sound like someone who watches Survivor.

PS : if our playing group thinks they are leaders then wholly ****, we are in strife.

 

[kirky]

The size of the leadership group is ridiculous. Even if they did all receive the same number of votes, Nicks should have made a call to limit the group to 4 max. Smith, ROB and Murphy should not be anywhere near the group.

That would require someone to make a tough call.

Good luck with that one.

 

[kirky]

This also shows how uneven the draw is, 8 games vs some teams, 4 vs others. No finals to skew things either.

We have been in the bottom 6 which at the same time as West Coast and North so logically we would have more double ups against them.

 

[kirky]

I didn’t realise this was a nationally broadcast game on Channel 7, nowhere to hide here

Yes, they thought we would be playing finals and the hoo haa from Round 23 last year made Seven think lets get this on prime time.

 

[Ham]

That would require someone to make a tough call.

Good luck with that one.

It was quite daring and left field to name Dawson the captain at the time. I feel the large leadership ground was more cause we do lack onfield leadership so was to try embolden them to lead.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bearded Clam]

Have we ever seen a player drop themselves?

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Is it realistic to expect a player to drop himself if the coaches keep selecting him?

Crow Curtly Hampton fronted up to the press on a Monday after a terrible game and retired himself.

He knew he, and his game, wasnt up to AFL standard anymore.. and he had the guts and dignity to put his hand up and admit it and move on for the betterment of the team.

Smith has delivered shite 9 games out of every 10 for nearly the past two years..

He shouldve had the dignity to put his hand up after that shocking shank out on the full earlier this year.. that was his Adam Gilchrist moment..

Adam Gilchrist.. another man with integrity and dignity. He put his hand up after dropping a couple of sitters whilst keeping (against South Africa was it?) and said something along the lines of “it is best for the team and the country if I retire from Test cricket and new blood comes in cause I havent got it in me anymore”

Thats integrity. Thats leadership. Thats team and country first.

Some of our senior players at the crows in recent years have none of that.. its all about them not the team.

Looking squarely at you Sloane, Laird, Smith and ROB.

 

[rabidcrow]

Have we ever seen a player drop themselves?

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

It was reported last year that Rich and Gunston dropped themselves. Mind you - Gunston left the club and went back to Hawthorn so you wonder how invested he was. Smith has played his whole career here - and the first half was usually playing finals
Extremely rare a player drops themselves though - and not should they have to


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[skam85]

No-one volunteers to be dropped and why should they?

Rich and Gunston, at almost identical points of their career as Brodie Smith, did exactly this last year.

 

[Apsaalooke]

Rich and Gunston, at almost identical points of their career as Brodie Smith, did exactly this last year.

You’re right, forgot about them. Pretty rare though.
See that Rich retired and is playing full forward in the QAFL

 

[cmndstab]

Extremely rare a player drops themselves though - and not should they have to

Exactly. We can argue until we're blue in the face about whether players should "show integrity" and drop themselves, etc. But at the end of the day, we have selectors/coaches who are all paid a whole heap of money, and part of their job involves making hard calls on selection. It was their job to drop someone like Smith once his form started to wane, not Smith's.

Pointing the finger at Smith for not pulling the pin himself distracts from the real issue, which is that our selection policy is so absurdly conservative and deferential to experience that it both costs us games in the moment, and also hampers the development of our youth. And furthermore, it creates a culture where senior players expect to remain in the side until they are physically incapable of playing anymore, because that's what happened to every senior player around them when they were coming up in the system.

Smith being upset about being dropped after turning in a laundry list of garbage performances is just a symptom of the real problem.

 

[jackster83]

Exactly. We can argue until we're blue in the face about whether players should "show integrity" and drop themselves, etc. But at the end of the day, we have selectors/coaches who are all paid a whole heap of money, and part of their job involves making hard calls on selection. It was their job to drop someone like Smith once his form started to wane, not Smith's.

Pointing the finger at Smith for not pulling the pin himself distracts from the real issue, which is that our selection policy is so absurdly conservative and deferential to experience that both costs us games in the moment, and also hampers the development of our youth. And furthermore, it creates a culture where senior players expect to remain in the side until they are physically incapable of playing anymore, because that's what happened to every senior player around them when they were coming up in the system.

Smith being upset about being dropped after turning in a laundry list of garbage performances is just a symptom of the real problem.

Great post.