Strategy Rebuild Part II

[George Kramer]

Well it’s clear the optimism that it was going to be a successful one term rebuild has been blown out of the water. Add the decline of Tex and his importance to our side still and we are not much better off to when we started unless we have a successful second part of our rebuild. What would you do? I believe we need another couple of years at least bottoming out because Hamish has blown our rebuild by not drafting decent mids.

Gone Off Field 2024- Nicks, Burns, Hamish and Kelly.

Gone On Field 2024-
Tex sadly, but is there really a point in relying on him in 2025?
Sloane
Smith
McHenry for a packet of Red Rock Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream chips
Murphy for a packet of Barbecue Shapes
Hamill for a packet of M&Ms
Himmelberg for 2 Panadols
Gollant, Strachan a Pint of Asahi

Play Cook in 2024 so see if he can make it

Bring in 2024:
Goulden or McCluggage FA. Maybe the shitfighting at Brisbane might have HM having second thoughts, but I would be in the ear of his Mrs big time.
English FA
Hayward FA
Cummings or Perryman FA.

Now I know this will cost a packet, but cmon if we don’t have the room for 3-4 quality new players who the **** is our money being spent on??

Draft mid with top 10 pick if we don’t get Goulden.

2025
Petty FA
Draft mid with top 10 pick.

Easy

 

[Cap]

Midfielders.

Midfielders,midfielders, midfielders

And a decent development coach to develop them.

 

[GreyCrow]

Midfielders.

Midfielders,midfielders, midfielders

And a decent development coach to develop them.

And a plan

Gone On Field 2024-
Tex sadly, but is there really a point in relying on him in 2025?
Sloane
Smith

This should be happening through the year - you know like a planned strategy to give both the player and fan the opportunity to say goodbye.

Sloane first then assess the fitness of the other 2 but I suggest Smith and Tex may ride out the last home game

McHenry for a packet of Red Rock Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream chips
Hamill for a packet of M&Ms
Gollant, Strachan a Pint of Asahi

Certainly ask around but I think Strachan will stay

Murphy for a packet of Barbecue Shapes
Himmelberg for 2 Panadols

Murphy isnt going anywhere
Himmelberg may or may not stay but I'm happy having him as depth

Play Cook in 2024 so see if he can make it

And Dowling

 

[Cap]

And Dowling

Reports are he played well, hopefully we don't wait till his form drops off before picking him.

Edit - we also need a development coach for mids

 

[Soggy2112]

We are cooked this year. The board and coaches need to accept that. We aren’t going to suddenly turn this around and there will be growing pains in addressing how we’re playing.

However there is some hope. Melbourne had a big blip in 2019 following their rise in 2017-18. IF we do things right (and I know that’s an enormous if), we can still capitalise on the growth we have made so far since 2020 and open up a premiership window for 2026-30ish.

We do need to be realistic and understand that is the goal though. That means some key changes need to be made in the short term.

Walker (33), Laird (30) and Smith (32) will not be a part of that team and they and the club need to accept and embrace that. If they really care about the club they will be willing to accept lesser roles for us to thrive. Walker in particular needs to lead the way here, he’s done a lot for the club but he’s also ****ed up a lot, he needs to understand that when he was at the helm we fell short, and now it’s the turn of others, and he needs to be a role player.

Walker can play, particular with Thilthorpe out. But he needs to take a backward step. It is sink or swim time for Fogarty now, he needs to be made the number one guy in Thilthorpe’s absence and finally step up. If he doesn’t have what it takes then we can stop wondering and shift our focus elsewhere. On this note, under no circumstance should Thilthorpe return to the reserves once he’s back in the first team. If you want to play him there for one or two to get his fitness back that’s okay but that is it. Otherwise he plays only in the league team and we prioritise getting the ball to him.

Laird can play down back potentially but I would take him out of the midfield rotation entirely. Smith I would drop, make him earn his spot the way we make the young players earn theirs.

Developing a dynamic midfield for 2026-30 time needs to be a key priority. That means Dawson, Rachele, Rankine, Soligo and Pedlar are now the key pieces, not just in there for short bursts. Crouch can get a chance but he needs to show he can work with those guys like Tom Mitchell does at Collingwood, not the other way around.

We need to stop picking guys because they provide effort and intensity and start to prioritise picking guys who are clean and composed with the footy. This means Keays, Murphy and McHenry are done. Berry needs to get back to where he was in 2022 and quickly.

We need to make being clean at stoppages and moving the ball with confidence and composure a huge priority. That means developing it at training, selecting players who can do it and back them in 100% every time they have the ball. This means allowing guys like that to have a bad game and not fear for their spot. At the moment guys like Worrell and Michalanny look nervous when they get the footy instead of backing the natural instinct, skill and flare they have shown they possess. Nankervis is having to fight for his spot while Murphy has 101 games and spot in the leadership group. No wonder players like Dawson and Rankine are making such uncharacteristic errors when it clearly hasn’t been prioritised at training or even remotely trained well.

A player like McKercher is a prime example of how we should be approaching our young players at the moment. Every time he gets the ball they trust him to take the game on and if he gets caught biting off more than he can chew they are okay with it. Not only that they make a conscious effort to put the ball in his hands. Yes he is a star, but where is that mentality for us with guys like Michalanny, Rachele, Rankine and Pedlar who are all first round draft picks that have demonstrated that ability at AFL level.

 

[Crowboto]

**** a lot of this board is deluded. The rebuild is unfixable now. You don't burn that many picks over a seven year period and recover from it. Wake up. The rebuild and cleanout needs to start with everyone involved with running this ridiculous club. Forget the players they are only a symptom of all of this mind ****ery.

 

[Scorpus]

We need to finish as low as possible, use that pick on a pure midfielder, and play that player round 1 the following year in the midfield.

I'm talking the Reid, Wardlaw, Ashcroft, Callaghan, Horne-Francis, Rowell, Anderson types. Very high draft pick, immediately in the midfield rotation

We will never rebuild until we do this

 

[Danger in Texas]

Firstly, I think we can forget Gulden and McCluggage, even if we give them all the money in the world

Think the best we can do is grab a top line midfield prospect this year in the top 6 picks, as well as maybe a couple of upgrades around the edges to improve our 11-22 quality, your Hayward/Cumming types or any other decent OOC players. Let Tex retire and send Sloane/Smith off, too, as well as any deadwood like Parnell/McHenry etc

Then go get Petty and NWM in 2025

 

[Danger in Texas]

We need to finish as low as possible, use that pick on a pure midfielder, and play that player round 1 the following year in the midfield.

I'm talking the Reid, Wardlaw, Ashcroft, Callaghan, Horne-Francis, Rowell, Anderson types. Very high draft pick, immediately in the midfield rotation

We will never rebuild until we do this

Thankfully this is a good year for that, top end right now is almost exclusively mids

 

[kirky]

Well it’s clear the optimism that it was going to be a successful one term rebuild has been blown out of the water. Add the decline of Tex and his importance to our side still and we are not much better off to when we started unless we have a successful second part of our rebuild. What would you do? I believe we need another couple of years at least bottoming out because Hamish has blown our rebuild by not drafting decent mids.

Gone Off Field 2024- Nicks, Burns, Hamish and Kelly.

Gone On Field 2024-
Tex sadly, but is there really a point in relying on him in 2025?
Sloane
Smith
McHenry for a packet of Red Rock Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream chips
Murphy for a packet of Barbecue Shapes
Hamill for a packet of M&Ms
Himmelberg for 2 Panadols
Gollant, Strachan a Pint of Asahi

Play Cook in 2024 so see if he can make it

Bring in 2024:
Goulden or McCluggage FA. Maybe the shitfighting at Brisbane might have HM having second thoughts, but I would be in the ear of his Mrs big time.
English FA
Hayward FA
Cummings or Perryman FA.

Now I know this will cost a packet, but cmon if we don’t have the room for 3-4 quality new players who the * is our money being spent on??

Draft mid with top 10 pick if we don’t get Goulden.

2025
Petty FA
Draft mid with top 10 pick.

Easy

Where is the Haigh Chocolates?

 

[FR0GGY]

Well it’s clear the optimism that it was going to be a successful one term rebuild has been blown out of the water. Add the decline of Tex and his importance to our side still and we are not much better off to when we started unless we have a successful second part of our rebuild. What would you do? I believe we need another couple of years at least bottoming out because Hamish has blown our rebuild by not drafting decent mids.

Gone Off Field 2024- Nicks, Burns, Hamish and Kelly.

Gone On Field 2024-
Tex sadly, but is there really a point in relying on him in 2025?
Sloane
Smith
McHenry for a packet of Red Rock Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream chips
Murphy for a packet of Barbecue Shapes
Hamill for a packet of M&Ms
Himmelberg for 2 Panadols
Gollant, Strachan a Pint of Asahi

Play Cook in 2024 so see if he can make it

Bring in 2024:
Goulden or McCluggage FA. Maybe the shitfighting at Brisbane might have HM having second thoughts, but I would be in the ear of his Mrs big time.
English FA
Hayward FA
Cummings or Perryman FA.

Now I know this will cost a packet, but cmon if we don’t have the room for 3-4 quality new players who the * is our money being spent on??

Draft mid with top 10 pick if we don’t get Goulden.

2025
Petty FA
Draft mid with top 10 pick.

Easy

If we need money, get rid obrien, bank some cash maybe a draft pick and don’t lose that much by playing Strachan

 

[FantasticShirt]

West Coast will win another premiership before us. Bookmark it.

 

[adelaidecrows]

The club is still going to push for finals for the first part of the season so if / when finals become unlikely / impossibility by the bye or before the bye (e.g. we are 1-6 or 0-6) I would like to see the following take place.

1. Tex, Smith, Sloane (if not already) immediately retired.
2. Sholl, McHenry, Murphy and Burgess sent back to Sanfl duty but moved on at end of the year.
This should be our goal forward set up when Thilthorpe comes back.

FF: Thilthorpe, Curtin, Rankine
HF: Rachele, Fogarty, Gollant

We need to find a forward mix. Curtin is ideal to try.

Our midfield mix
O'Brien, Crouch, Laird, Dawson should look to rotate off the bench as Dowling, Berry, Cook, Edwards, Pedlar, Taylor absorb most of our centre bounces.

With Murray coming back

Our back line

FB: Keane, Murray, Hinge
HB: Worrell, Butts, Michalanney

This is the side we should be going for by mid year to explore our youth when Murray and Thilthorpe are available

FF: Curtin, Thilthorpe, Rankine
HF: Rachele, Fogarty, Gollant
C: Jones, Dawson, Soligo
HB: Worrell, Butts, Michalanney
FB: Keane, Murray, Hinge
R: O'Brien, Dowling, Laird

Int from: Crouch, Berry, Cook, Nankervis, Pedlar, Taylor, Ryan, Bond, Gallagher, Borlase (Milera of course if back at some stage this year)

This is the squad we should be selecting from. Pumping games into our you and we drop out of form players who play a bad game to give opportunities to the extended squad.

 

[footy4ever]

Well it’s clear the optimism that it was going to be a successful one term rebuild has been blown out of the water. Add the decline of Tex and his importance to our side still and we are not much better off to when we started unless we have a successful second part of our rebuild. What would you do? I believe we need another couple of years at least bottoming out because Hamish has blown our rebuild by not drafting decent mids.

Gone Off Field 2024- Nicks, Burns, Hamish and Kelly.

Gone On Field 2024-
Tex sadly, but is there really a point in relying on him in 2025?
Sloane
Smith
McHenry for a packet of Red Rock Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream chips
Murphy for a packet of Barbecue Shapes
Hamill for a packet of M&Ms
Himmelberg for 2 Panadols
Gollant, Strachan a Pint of Asahi

Play Cook in 2024 so see if he can make it

Bring in 2024:
Goulden or McCluggage FA. Maybe the shitfighting at Brisbane might have HM having second thoughts, but I would be in the ear of his Mrs big time.
English FA
Hayward FA
Cummings or Perryman FA.

Now I know this will cost a packet, but cmon if we don’t have the room for 3-4 quality new players who the * is our money being spent on??

Draft mid with top 10 pick if we don’t get Goulden.

2025
Petty FA
Draft mid with top 10 pick.

Easy

This needs to be sent to the AFC. It clearly does because they've got no ****ing idea at the moment.



After several very promising performances throughout 2023, now proven to be false dawns, I hadn't been so optimistic about a pending season since the start of 2018 .

And now this hapless, misshapen, undermanned, under-personnelled, puzzlingly coached, demoralised team is a monte for bottom 2-4... in the space of one off-season. FMD


...However, I reckon you've been a bit ambitious asking for the Red Rock sweet chilli and sour cream chips as payment for Ned.

 

[AFC979810]

I don't think our list is that far off of it to be honest.

We saw in 2023 that we had the talent to play high quality football. We were, from memory, 3 wins and 4 losses against the Top 4 sides and our 4 losses were by a combined 13 points.

We have 9 first round draft picks aged 25 and under (Fog, Rankine, McHenry, Jones, Pedlar, TT, Rachele, Michalanney, Curtin).

2024 might be a real positive year for the club if we continue playing footy this way.

1. If we finish bottom 3 there is no way possible Nicks survives
2. A top 3 pick.

Top 4 for 2025 with a new coach and a top 3 draft pick!

 

[George Kramer]

I don't think our list is that far off of it to be honest.

We saw in 2023 that we had the talent to play high quality football. We were, from memory, 3 wins and 4 losses against the Top 4 sides and our 4 losses were by a combined 13 points.

We have 9 first round draft picks aged 25 and under (Fog, Rankine, McHenry, Jones, Pedlar, TT, Rachele, Michalanney, Curtin).

2024 might be a real positive year for the club if we continue playing footy this way.

1. If we finish bottom 3 there is no way possible Nicks survives
2. A top 3 pick.

Top 4 for 2025 with a new coach and a top 3 draft pick!

The issue is 2023 was built on Tex. He is going to be massive shoes to fill and I don’t believe anyone on our list will reach his standard in 2025, but with a decent coach in 2025 and 1-2 quality recruits we could have a spike.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Robbo's take on the Adelaide Crows so far.


4. Adelaide’s lost generation

The Crows leave the field after the team’s defeat to the Dockers. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
The Crows are a mess. They’ve lost three matches to teams which didn’t play finals last year – Gold Coast, Geelong and Fremantle – and have lost the one aspect of their game which made them dangerous. From being the number one scoring team in 2023, they’ve put up 54, 77 and 34 points across those three matches. They have teased us. Most pundits had them rising this season and right now they are in the bottom three teams and play Melbourne next. Their issues are widespread. The midfield is workmanlike. Tex is out of whack. So are young guns Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine

23

Izak Rankine

Age

24

Ht

181cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

2.0

5star

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

2.0

5star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

5star

G

2.0

5star

. And the key defensive stocks are an issue. At some stage, the bracket of players aged 21-25 have to take responsibility. Mitch Hinge and Lachlan Murphy

4

Lachlan Murphy

Age

26

Ht

174cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.8

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.6

5star

G

1.0

4star

are 25, Darcy Fogarty

32

Darcy Fogarty

Age

25

Ht

194cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.5

2star

K

5.7

2star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.7

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.3

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.0

4star

, Chayce Jones

1

Chayce Jones

Age

24

Ht

182cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.6

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

1.9

4star

MG

178.6

3star

D

8.9

2star

K

4.9

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.4

2star

T

1.6

3star

MG

143.3

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

175.0

3star

and Lachie Sholl are 24, Ned McHenry

25

Ned Mchenry

Age

24

Ht

179cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.7

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

5.7

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.3

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

9.7

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

5.7

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.3

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.0

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.0

1star

is 23, Josh Worrell, Sam Berry, Harry Schoenberg and Lachlan Gollant are 22, and Jake Soligo, Riley Thilthorpe and Luke Pedlar are 21. They are at different stages of development and games experience, but as a group, their influence is ho hum. Which of them has the ‘star factor’ beside their name? And now it’s worse because Wayne Milera

30

Wayne Milera

Age

27

Ht

184cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

265.3

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

8.5

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.5

3star

T

1.0

2star

MG

282.0

4star

D

11.4

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.4

4star

MG

182.0

3star

, a first-round draftee, will miss the season with a knee injury. People who say the Crows overachieved last year have a point because they are a long way off from the team that was denied a finals spot because of an umpiring mistake.

 

[George Kramer]

Robbo's take on the Adelaide Crows so far.


4. Adelaide’s lost generation

The Crows leave the field after the team’s defeat to the Dockers. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
The Crows are a mess. They’ve lost three matches to teams which didn’t play finals last year – Gold Coast, Geelong and Fremantle – and have lost the one aspect of their game which made them dangerous. From being the number one scoring team in 2023, they’ve put up 54, 77 and 34 points across those three matches. They have teased us. Most pundits had them rising this season and right now they are in the bottom three teams and play Melbourne next. Their issues are widespread. The midfield is workmanlike. Tex is out of whack. So are young guns Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine. And the key defensive stocks are an issue. At some stage, the bracket of players aged 21-25 have to take responsibility. Mitch Hinge and Lachlan Murphy are 25, Darcy Fogarty, Chayce Jones and Lachie Sholl are 24, Ned McHenry is 23, Josh Worrell, Sam Berry, Harry Schoenberg and Lachlan Gollant are 22, and Jake Soligo, Riley Thilthorpe and Luke Pedlar are 21. They are at different stages of development and games experience, but as a group, their influence is ho hum. Which of them has the ‘star factor’ beside their name? And now it’s worse because Wayne Milera, a first-round draftee, will miss the season with a knee injury. People who say the Crows overachieved last year have a point because they are a long way off from the team that was denied a finals spot because of an umpiring mistake.

The problem with this type of commentary is there is no mention of change of game plan and coaching. It’s too easy to say so many are out of form but why? A whole heap of players don’t lose form without their being an underlying reason.

 

[1970crow]

Nicks likely remains but Kelly, Burns and VB need to go. Everyone that sits on the list management committee needs to go or be removed from the committee.

 

[Geoffa32]

Our key issue is midfield
Second issue is key forwards who don't read the ball off the foot and lead in front regularly.

Yes our midfield delivery is not consistently great. But when your forwards play in front, you still control the play. Unless the mid puts the ball.over your head. Ie Murphy and out of form Pedlar.

But our midfield needs a massive improvement.

One positive is that the club at least tried to get Oliver. Need to target someone else this year.



Our backline is pretty decent even now with Murray out. Well organised. Michalanney and Worrell a key reason for this. I hope we don't waste trade/good draft capital here.

On SM-A325F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[1970crow]

If we need money, get rid obrien, bank some cash maybe a draft pick and don’t lose that much by playing Strachan

We should also force one of Laird/Crouch out. Even a few pick upgrade on Melbourne's second rounder. I doubt there'd be takers, but having them both on the list is a waste. We should at least try.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

The problem with this type of commentary is there is no mention of change of game plan and coaching. It’s too easy to say so many are out of form but why? A whole heap of players don’t lose form without their being an underlying reason.

I think as Crows supporters we drank our own bath water. We had good matches last season and we had shockers. After years of terrible results, we thought we could see a light at the end of the tunnel. Any improvement may have been a mirage.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

We should also force one of Laird/Crouch out. Even a few pick upgrade on Melbourne's second rounder. I doubt there'd be takers, but having them both on the list is a waste. We should at least try.

We could always move Laird back to where he won AA.

 

[hugecannon]

I know his numbers look good and he’s probably been our most consistent midfielder since he’s been reinstated, but does anyone really believe that the midfield as a collective is improving or becoming a bigger issue with Crouch back in there?

A midfield of Crouch, Laird and Dawson with the occasional cameo of Soligo and Rankine (and Pedlar/Rachele last year) isn’t going to get it done against anyone of note.

What’s our record since we brought Crouch back overall?

 

[Scorpus]

I know his numbers look good and he’s probably been our most consistent midfielder since he’s been reinstated, but does anyone really believe that the midfield as a collective is improving or becoming a bigger issue with Crouch back in there?

A midfield of Crouch, Laird and Dawson with the occasional cameo of Soligo and Rankine (and Pedlar/Rachele last year) isn’t going to get it done against anyone of note.

What’s our record since we brought Crouch back overall?

3 wins 6 losses since we brought him back last season

7 wins 14 losses with him over the last 3 years