Review R2: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. Essendon

[George CantStandYa]

The Good: we have so many good players now, including stars with no real spuds like previous years.

We’ve got about 6 players in the SANFL who could come in and be solid contributors, no not Murphy. Unless we cop injuries to one of our elite players we will be able to cover.

Nice friggin change from the shit show we’ve been but ultimately as a result of that shit show we’ve now got a good side. Now Nicks better not **** it up.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

There’s been lots of comments about allowing the bombers to score 100 points.

They were on 61 points at 3 quarter time and we were up by 10 goals at that point.

The foot had truly come off the accelerator in the last quarter yet we still managed to out score them in the last when they were trying to get something to cling to.

Seems like a whole bunch of nothing to me.

 

[WeeBlake]

There’s been lots of comments about allowing the bombers to score 100 points.

They were on 61 points at 3 quarter time and we were up by 10 goals at that point.

The foot had truly come off the accelerator in the last quarter yet we still managed to out score them in the last when they were trying to get something to cling to.

Seems like a whole bunch of nothing to me.

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

 

[WetCrow1991]

Kako showed why he is going to be something else - imo.

Oh yeah, no actual judgement from me as the kid is so young. That goal he scored when he dodged multiple tackles was slick.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

There’s been lots of comments about allowing the bombers to score 100 points.

They were on 61 points at 3 quarter time and we were up by 10 goals at that point.

The foot had truly come off the accelerator in the last quarter yet we still managed to out score them in the last when they were trying to get something to cling to.

Seems like a whole bunch of nothing to me.

Also how many of their goals came from pity frees or uncharacteristic mistakes from Crows players? I doubt Keane is going to fall over while walking the ball out of the goal square very often.

 

[SugarShane]

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

Eh.

Losers' 3QT scores from the weekend included: 56, 63, 63, 58, 56. Richmond and Bulldogs with 46 and 51 respectively the only ones more than a goal away. Of the ones that scored 56+, none of their opponents were 10 goals in front.

We did fine.

 

[StickerMan]

Eh.

Losers' 3QT scores from the weekend included: 56, 63, 63, 58, 56. Richmond and Bulldogs with 46 and 51 respectively the only ones more than a goal away. Of the ones that scored 56+, none of their opponents were 10 goals in front.

We did fine.

I said to my brother when he raised the issue of Bombers scoring 100 points, "as long as we score 161 points each week, I couldn't give a shit if they score a 100"

 

[Vader]

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

How many games are won by Team A when A has scored 61 points at 3/4 time and is down by 10 goals?

 

[cleanhands]

I said to my brother when he raised the issue of Bombers scoring 100 points, "as long as we score 161 points each week, I couldn't give a shit if they score a 100"

The most important stat at the end of the match is who has the most points on the scoreboard, that’s the one stat I would prefer to win everytime

 

[GreyCrow]

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

If you're not St Kilda

 

[Geoffa32]

HELL YES!

That kick at full speed was elite.

 

[119others]

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

surely its about the context. they were being thrashed

 

[Vader]

There's no argument that 61 points is often a good score at 3/4 time, particularly on cold/windy/wet days in the middle of winter, when scoring is hard work. If Team A has 61 points, and Team B has 40 points, then Team A is in a very good position with only 1 quarter left to play.

But when Team A has 61 points and Team B has 118 points at 3/4 time, it's not exactly looking rosy for Team A.

 

[jo172]

In fairness we're unaccustomed to two games where we've played very well and without even an obvious whipping boy in the side to moan about nor any reserves games wehre someone is knocking the door down.

Otherwise it's just us posting, that was nice, i hope it keeps going like this.

Without being able to bitch about something this place just falls apart.

 

[119others]

Some highlights for me:

After many shitty years, AFL is enjoyable again as a Crows fan. We can watch the footy shows, listen to SEN or 5AA and be proud of our team. And I truly believe THIS year the premiership window is now open for us and it aint closing any time this decade.

MASSIVE job by list management (Reidy and Hamish) to get the squad in this position in the last 5 years and under Silvers tutelage as we are copying the Horks model from 15-20 years ago. We have arguably 6-8 other players ready to step straight into the team if needed. Going forward its about adding an elite piece each year ideally starting with NWM - we dont need more depth.

Small forwards - 10 goals. Cant remember this happening too often in recent years. ANB and Keays 'emptying' themselves physically out there. Perfect high forward flankers both with elite endurance. Hopefully we get 5 years out of ANB. Rachele another excellent performance.

Tall forwards - SO exciting. From marking in contested packs, to leading patterns and being perfectly hit, to skill levels in general play (Texs left, TT ground ball and dishes etc) to goal kicking accuracy. I have been saying for a while our talls are going to cause us to win big finals with their unerring accuracy for goal. Fog a really great start to the year and just love The Beast - what a talent this man is with contested marking, endurance, even pace (making NWM put on the after burners), hardness, absolutely elite ground ball skills inc pick up and disposal.

Further to previous the physicality of many of the boys - Rankines 'dont argue' and the 3 tall forwards rag-dolling Dons feeble defenders inc Reid (whats the deal with his body size after 4-5 years?) with shoves either in the side or often front on - inc Tex doing this to Redman before his perfect lace out pass to Curtin. Love seeing us physically smash opponents within the rules!)

Curtin - happiest and best half I have seen from him. Looks like he knows he belongs and happy contributing to the team. Some lovely highlights inc early in game pick up of the incoming ground ball and dish off to ROB. This combined with the shitty Harley Reid situation in Perth (unwanted and continual press obsession with him) hopefully the catalyst to re-sign for 2-3 further years before next season starts.

Murray - very important player and returning nearer to his best. Was close to AA type form before injury in 2023 and just has no fear, is a good athlete and booming kick. Questioned why he didnt take Draper though (and similar thoughts for Larkey this weekend).

Midfield - much has been said. The best its been for many many years and so much depth now. Draper upside still to come and what if Curtin ultimately also plays thru there. Soligo MUCH better than I ever thought he could be and loved his gut running 2 goals on weekend (that said Merrett kicked 4 and not sure if Soli was his opponent at the time for many). Crouch reinvented. Dawson and Rankine just huge talents and cant believe we got both in as trades in 2 years

Darren Burgess (and luck) - can you believe we have NOT ONE injury at the moment. Touch wood this continues and its an amazing position and advantage to be like this.

Milera 'shushing' his many critics out there with a good display in only his second game back.

Defence inc Laird - settling in well back in defence. 100% accuracy. The ability for Worrell, Keane and Hinge to play on small/mids and some talls. Didnt think Keane should have taken Draper though

By the end of the year, the Herald Suns Top 50 players may well have 3 Crows in the Top 25. Rankine and Dawson both top 10-15 and TT the third member who, along with Darcy, will be the most dominant tall in the game for the next 5 years+

Looking for improvement - ROB, Cumming, Peatling, Keane and ideally Draper to start a game and play 3/4s soon

Happy days and really looking forward to Kangas game which will be harder than the odds suggest (Kangas 7-1). Hopefully fans and the club see a few easier games to get form and confidence up is beneficial to start the year rather than a Sydney or Lions away type game

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

61 points at 3/4 time is a winning position in many matches

If the crows wanted to lock the match down in the last they could have gone full defensive and won 130 to 75.

 

[StickerMan]

Some highlights for me:

After many shitty years, AFL is enjoyable again as a Crows fan. We can watch the footy shows, listen to SEN or 5AA and be proud of our team. And I truly believe THIS year the premiership window is now open for us and it aint closing any time this decade.

This is the best bit for me.

To be fair we have been building for a while, and I was quietly confident we had this in us, but the Vic media have been blindsided and they have stood up and taken notice.

The challenge now is how we respond and ensure we are laser focused each week.

Could be that 2024 was the year we had to have.

 

[CrowBloke]

By design. Elite kick. Ran hard right knowing he's a left footer, precisely executed to ball drop to get a bit of sideways spin and followed through to get that precise slice action and allowing the wind to help finish the job off.

That's what I'm going with anyway.

EXPERT analysis! Kayo/Fox should sign you up .

(in truth, it was the MONGREL-est set shot that resulted in a goal that I've ever seen ... and I'm )

 

[SugarShane]

EXPERT analysis! Kayo/Fox should sign you up .

(in truth, it was the MONGREL-est set shot that resulted in a goal that I've ever seen ... and I'm )

I had Dermott's voice in mind when typing, works best when read in his slow condescending voice.

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

 

[Crow till I die]

Another stat that's important imo, we had nearly twice as many kicks as handballs, thats telling as its showing we are really getting good ball outside the contest

 

[Mutineer]

 

[Scorpus]

That rating for Merrett is shocking. How did one coach not have him in the best 2 players on the ground?

 

[Golumless]

That rating for Merrett is shocking. How did one coach not have him in the best 2 players on the ground?

Probably something to do with Adelaide putting on 160 against Essendon and winning by 10 goals.

It's a great game for the stat sheet, but really, it didn't make much of a difference to the result.

 

[Crow till I die]

That rating for Merrett is shocking. How did one coach not have him in the best 2 players on the ground?

don't worry, the umps will give him the 3 brownlow votes (not saying he doesn't deserve it either) - hard to split him and Dawson but the 4 goals looks extra good for his cause.