Round 1 - Essendon vs Adelaide Pre-Game Build-Up Thread

[Carmo]

IMHO his problem is that he is not an intuitive footballer. When he has played at half back he takes off at speed and then tries to work out what to do next. He often gets caught or burns the ball. He is much better suited to playing as a forward with an occasional run in the midfield.

I think his problem is that sometimes he doesn't trust his first instinct - almost appears worried about making a mistake ... which invariably causes a mistake

Well, just to add another theory into the mix. I think our coaches thought his first options were often too quick, too foot oriented and too "obvious", especially in traffic.

So as a result we are trying to coach into him to hold for a bit longer, and try and find a good option and to use hands in traffic a bit more. He seems to be doing this, the downside being that he gets caught a fair bit and /or runs himself into pressure.

The result is a fast, agile, quick player getting tackled and holding the ball a lot more than you would think a player of that athletic ability should. You also see him, when he's taken too long and the pressure is now clearly coming, give pressured handballs and kicks that give lie to his actual skill level and also to his decision making a bit. In summary a work in a bit of progress. I'm happy for them to persist, he started to look good in a few games last year and hopefully he can iron those wrinkles out as when he's not in traffic he can be killer.

 

[Big Gazoongas]

Really looking forward to this now ... got a heap of work off my plate this morning, will cruise out for a quick 6 or 7 holes of golf late this arvo to blow away a few hooks, shanks and duffs for tomorrow's comp ... then it's time to get AFL going for 2018.

So many are underestimating us, including plenty on BF that are scared and scarred from last year's horrific ending ... I'm past that point now, and am just looking forward to seeing a new bunch of Crows take on the league and show that last year was not a flash in the pan effort. The club is changing, for the better.

All the debutants excite me. Doedee just looks so courageous, Fogarty looks like a menace, Murphy looks like he can create problems for the opposition.

Seeing Hampton and CEY will be great too, they have worked hard to get back after injury. They both have potential.

Can Jenkins shake off the monkey? Will someone like Mackay or Douglas shine in 2018 in a new role (remember what Brent Reilly did in 2012) ? Will setups / roles change, will our midfield take a new twist?

The two experienced players we brought in are going to be something to see. I know everyone seems to think Gibson is a bust already, but I reckon by the end of the year most will be singing a different tune. Gibbs is a lot better than people seem to give him credit for, but that opinion will fade away fast.

We scream and yell for change in the way our club handles selection, we want them to give youngsters a go earlier, we want to see talent rewarded. Well we have got that in spades in game 1.

Bring on the new season. Go you crows.

Agree. Cant believe some of the negativity posted, we still have a bloody strong team.

We've lost some experience from last year but have gained Gibbs and Gibson. We have 3 players that have not played an AFL game yet, all the others have played or been on our list for a while so it's not like there are 5 blokes to debut tonight with zero AFL experience.

As you mentioned OTC, we scream to blood youngsters and when we do its all doom....FMD!!!.

Doedee is ready
Murphy has earned his chance
Fogarty is a beast.......I predict he kicks 5 tonight
Gibbs.....we know his class
Gibson has the experience and will do his job.

Crows by 30.

 

[Stiffy_18]

ADELAIDE CROWS
B

• Jake Kelly,
  
• Daniel Talia,
  
• Kyle Hartigan

HB

• Rory Laird,
  
• Luke Brown,
  
• Paul Seedsman

C

• David Mackay,
  
• Rory Sloane,
  
• Sam Gibson

HF

• Cameron Ellis-Yolmen,
  
• Mitch McGovern,
• Lachlan Murphy

F

• Eddie Betts,
  
• Josh Jenkins,
  
• Darcy Fogarty

FOL

• Sam Jacobs,
  
• Richard Douglas,
  
• Matt Crouch

I/C

• Bryce Gibbs,
  
• Curtly Hampton,
  
• Rory Atkins,
  
• Tom Doedee

EMG

• Hugh Greenwood,
  
• Andy Otten,
  
• Reilly O'Brien,
• Kyle Cheney

So Otten is the only traveling emergency!

 

[Murray2503]

Game day. Lets go boyz. Not feeling overly confident on this one. Win or lose just want to see a 4 quarter effort.

 

[Bicks]

I disagree. Hurley, Hooker, Daniher, Merrett, Heppell, Smith, Stringer, Fantasia are all clearly better. Would have him on similar pegging to Goddard, Walla, Zaka, McGrath as on the fringe of that top 10.

Wow

McGrath & even an ageing Goddard>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gleeson

 

[Geoffa32]

Agree. Cant believe some of the negativity posted, we still have a bloody strong team.

We've lost some experience from last year but have gained Gibbs and Gibson. We have 3 players that have not played an AFL game yet, all the others have played or been on our list for a while so it's not like there are 5 blokes to debut tonight with zero AFL experience.

As you mentioned OTC, we scream to blood youngsters and when we do its all doom....FMD!!!.

Doedee is ready
Murphy has earned his chance
Fogarty is a beast.......I predict he kicks 5 tonight
Gibbs.....we know his class
Gibson has the experience and will do his job.

Crows by 30.

Not sure about your prediction of the end result, but the positive with our cha few is that most of thise comiing in have shown great JLT form.

I say most as Gibson has not impressed me. But he has not been too bad either

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Schulzycrow]

Some big names out, but those who are in have every chance to cement a round 2 spot against the hated Tigers and their supporters.
JJ
Mackay
Seed
CEY
Gibson
Hampton
Fog
Murphy

That is nearly half the team that will be going as hard as they those bolded who wouldn't be guaranteed a round 2 if others in SANFL and coming back from injury.
Not as confident as I was a couple days ago.
Should still win.

 

[eth-dog]

Wow

McGrath & even an ageing Goddard>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gleeson

This is exactly why Gleeson is underrated.

 

[Bicks]

This is exactly why Gleeson is underrated.

No. that's why Gleeson is a good average player.

 

[eth-dog]

No. that's why Gleeson is a good average player.

"Good average players" don't become a top 3 intercept player in the comp for half a season.

 

[Bicks]

"Good average players" don't become a top 3 intercept player in the comp for half a season.

Says yo, and you alone.

 

[eth-dog]

Says yo, and you alone.

There was an article on the AFL website that talked about it.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Hey guys and gals. I think I might've missed something in the pre-season hype. Did the afl change the rules about rookie eligibility? Aren't both CEY and Murphy both on the rookie list? I didn't hear anything about either one being upgraded for Smith.

 

[eth-dog]

Hey guys and gals. I don't I think I might've missed something in the pre-season hype. Did the afl change the rules about rookie eligibility? Aren't both CEY and Murphy both on the rookie list? I didn't hear anything about either one being upgraded for Smith.

Category A rookies are allowed to play at any time, only need to upgrade Category B rookies (if you have any)

 

[Banshee23]

Hey guys and gals. I don't I think I might've missed something in the pre-season hype. Did the afl change the rules about rookie eligibility? Aren't both CEY and Murphy both on the rookie list? I didn't hear anything about either one being upgraded for Smith.

Yeah, rookie elevations no longer required. Everyone on the list can be selected to play at any time.

Edit: What Eth said

 

[Jarman3]

So Otten is the only traveling emergency!

His pace may come in handy on the fast deck at Etihad.

 

[Jarman3]

So Jackson Edwards not selected in the SANFL side? What's the story there? Injury, I assume?

 

[Kerleys Ghost]

I can't help but feel that we're going to be a big bag of shit early this season and slowly improve.

Not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[beartoo]

Why does time seem to pass so much more slowly on match days than others?

 

[Bicks]

 

[eth-dog]

I had 13 that played majority AFL over VFL/SANFL (including Ambrose, who only played 10 AFL but 2 VFL).

 

[1970crow]

Just quickly on the above, Gleeson is first 18 no questions but probably sits in the 15-18 bracket of our team. Ambrose is best 22 and again sits 15-22. Colyer is fringe best 22 and I think many bomber fans would argue not having him in the best 22 even if he was fit provided we had our other small forward/mids available.

Of the 8 players missing from our final, Fantasia is the only top 10 player on our list missing. Watson (Cooked), Kelly (Slowing Down), Baguley (Slowing Down), Myers (def not in our top 15 players) are sure as hell no world beaters. Other than Fanta I think it is pretty evident we have had massive upgrades to personnel with Saad, Stringer and Smith.

From your perspective I would suggest that Walker, Crouch, Lever, Lynch are probably all top 10 players on your list and then Cameron, Smith probably in the back half of your best 22 so its a significant portion of your best 22 gone. Yes you likely had more talent to begin with than us but you have lost significantly more as well. Should be a good game hopefully!

Smith in the back half of our 22 if they forgot to repair is ACL. Otherwise, he's a pretty vital player for us and almost certainly in the top dozen.

 

[jenny61_99]

Don't worry Jen, some people are negative about everything in their life.

Bloody awful way to live.

 

[Bearded Clam]

Agree. Cant believe some of the negativity posted, we still have a bloody strong team.

We've lost some experience from last year but have gained Gibbs and Gibson. We have 3 players that have not played an AFL game yet, all the others have played or been on our list for a while so it's not like there are 5 blokes to debut tonight with zero AFL experience.

As you mentioned OTC, we scream to blood youngsters and when we do its all doom....FMD!!!.

Doedee is ready
Murphy has earned his chance
Fogarty is a beast.......I predict he kicks 5 tonight
Gibbs.....we know his class
Gibson has the experience and will do his job.

Crows by 30.

Yeah, I think most people are pretty positive about tonight... just a few that aren’t and you can see where they are coming from with so many of our regulars out.

But I’m glad we’ve only got Fogarty as our really “green”/new player if you know what I mean... out of the other new faces.. Gibbs and Gibson are seasoned campaigners in from other clubs... doedee has been around the club three years now, Murphy has been there over a year and these two lads have played in the SANFL against men so they know what to expect..

And I can’t see the fog struggling like that poor Paddy Dow lad did in last nights game.... geez he had an absolute shocker... got some touches but turned nearly everyone over, layed 5 tackles and I don’t reacon one of them stuck, looked lost when the ball came near him and got easily ragdolled around.. I think carlton had counted their chicken before it had hatched with that one, far too early to play him in the big league.. still, silvagni’s son was even worse!.

We should go alright tonight... reacon it will be close but if we don’t win it’s not the end of the world ffs...

 

[SydCrow]

Gibbs for BOG. Crows by 26.