Review The bad, the dumb and the bad v Eagles

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I saw people arguing "of course he's only getting 154 metres gained, his a first possession mid who farms it out!" except for the part where he had 1 clearance and 2/3rds of his possessions are uncontested, which would indicate he's not winning first possession, he's just involved in the chain and not doing much with it

He receives chip passes at half back

1) Doesn't play on ever

2) Doesn't get back off the mark quickly. Just stands there

3) When the umpire is about to give him a hurry up he waddles back a few metres

4) Then chips it backwards to someone else hoping to get the kick back from them

There is zero urgency to his play. He's a speed of ball movement wet blanket. Has no penetration to his kicks so the field shrinks when he gets it. Defence closes in.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Matt Crouch:

18 CBA 1 clearance
1 clearance for the game
2 tackles
12 pressure acts
154 metres gained
7 contested possessions, 20 uncontested

Now for a midfielder such as Crouch, does this game make sense? If he’s not winning clearances and contested possessions whats the point of him? What benefit do his uncontested possessions have?

Let alone his lack of defensive pressure

The perplexing thing about this crab is that I heard Nicks state a few weeks ago he is part of our future!!
FFS

 

[Danger in Texas]

The perplexing thing about this crab is that I heard Nicks state a few weeks ago he is part of our future!!
FFS

Nicks also said we wouldn’t be taking an MSD pick

Point being, I wouldn’t take presser comments like that as absolute gospel for what we should expect in the future

 

[Maddogmetro]

He receives chip passes at half back

1) Doesn't play on ever

2) Doesn't get back off the mark quickly. Just stands there

3) When the umpire is about to give him a hurry up he waddles back a few metres

4) Then chips it backwards to someone else hoping to get the kick back from them

There is zero urgency to his play. He's a speed of ball movement wet blanket. Has no penetration to his kicks so the field shrinks when he gets it. Defence closes in.

I think the most infuriating thing about his game is when he receives it by hand...and instead of looking forward for a target, or looking for a player running through, his first instinct is to give it BACK to the player who gave it to him. Zero gain, in fact usually worse off.

But an extra possession for his count.

 

[George Kramer]

I think the most infuriating thing about his game is when he receives it by hand...and instead of looking forward for a target, or looking for a player running through, his first instinct is to give it BACK to the player who gave it to him. Zero gain, in fact usually worse off.

But an extra possession for his count.

He’s shit

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The perplexing thing about this crab is that I heard Nicks state a few weeks ago he is part of our future!!
FFS

If Nicks want a future... he may soon change his mind...

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Crouch had 19 of a possible 23 CBAs today for 7 contested possessions and 1 clearance.
vs
Berry had 13 of a possible 23 CBAs today for 13 contested possessions and 8 clearances.
Hately had 1 of a possible 23 CBAs today for 8 contested possessions and 3 clearances.

The reckless short-termism of our match committee instead of investing in the long term growth of the playing list is nothing short of embarrassing, not to mention that even if you're chasing a sugar hit, it's becoming hard to defend Crouch as a more impactful on-baller even in the short term. The kids are okay!

Laird and Keays, despite how maligned they are, as always showed up and had a crack. 17 & 16 CPs, 8 & 5 clearances. Sure, they butcher it, but at least they're winning the ball to give each other a chance to turn it over. In Crouch's case, he's not doing that, he's not defending and he sure as shit isn't the bloke you want getting it on the outside. It's beyond the pale.

You do understand the difference between CBAs and clearances?

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

You wouldn't know it from the discussion here but Adelaide absolutely destroyed West Coast in the centre square today.

We won the centre clearances 13 to 6. Probably less obvious on the tiny tellie at the nursing home.

 

[Danger in Texas]

You do understand the difference between CBAs and clearances?

Surely you can’t deny that 1 clearance is pretty damning for Matt, especially as he was given the most opportunity to rack them up of the trip

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Ugly: someone will get 3 Brownlow votes for that game. Same number of votes as the best player in the Freo vs Bris game today!

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Surely you can’t deny that 1 clearance is pretty damning for Matt, especially as he was given the most opportunity to rack them up of the trip

Please bump all my posts that have pumped up Crouch this year.

My point was it is pointless looking for a correlation between CBAs and total clearances.

Our bunch of spuds won the centre clearances 13-6 against a midfield that included Shuey, Gaff and Kelly who have all been All Australians.

 

[Danger in Texas]

Please bump all my posts that have pumped up Crouch this year.

My point was it is pointless looking for a correlation between CBAs and total clearances.

Our bunch of spuds won the centre clearances 13-6 against a midfield that included Shuey, Gaff and Kelly who have all been All Australians.

I mean, it’s relevant when the guy that gets the most midfield CBA’s gets the least clearances. Shows that he’s not doing his job in the centre square, as well as the stoppages

And in regards to the last paragraph, getting clearances obviously isn’t our problem at present, we’re 6th in the comp in that area - finding effective ways inside our forward 50 is our problem. That’s where finding a balance between classy ball users and grunt midfielders is important. Having Matt in there is superfluous to what we need

 

[Interloperer]

Not so sure about that.

'New player' shine is wearing off at incredible rates these days (due to the club being bad.) The mob has already turned on Sholl, who less than a year ago was the future of the club to many. Despite him changing nothing about his game for better or worse.

At this rate, I fully expect Parnell to be on the discard heap by game 3 or 4 if he gets that far.

The perplexing thing about this crab is that I heard Nicks state a few weeks ago he is part of our future!!
FFS

Nicks and the club's BS coming back to haunt them here. It's perfectly reasonable to expect multiple years of strong performances and even improvement out of a 27yo.

Unfortunately nobody will believe you when 2 years ago you were dumping everyone over 23 (including a 26yo defending club champion) due to them being basically at retirement age.

Ugly: someone will get 3 Brownlow votes for that game. Same number of votes as the best player in the Freo vs Bris game today!

3 votes is probably Walker. Fogarty possibly overtaking club legend David Mackay in career Brownlow votes

I mean, it’s relevant when the guy that gets the most midfield CBA’s gets the least clearances. Shows that he’s not doing his job in the centre square, as well as the stoppages

And in regards to the last paragraph, getting clearances obviously isn’t our problem at present, we’re 6th in the comp in that area - finding effective ways inside our forward 50 is our problem. That’s where finding a balance between classy ball users and grunt midfielders is important. Having Matt in there is superfluous to what we need

Crouch is in there because all of the inexperienced midfielders are not capable of preventing a conceded tap in the centre becoming a centre clearance and are not capable of stopping that centre clearance becoming an uncontested attacking move. It's been commentated on multiple times during Adelaide's games.

It may not be Crouch's strengths. Or even something he isn't bad at. But he's dramatically less comically inept than the alternative.

 

[George Kramer]

'New player' shine is wearing off at incredible rates these days (due to the club being bad.) The mob has already turned on Sholl, who less than a year ago was the future of the club to many. Despite him changing nothing about his game for better or worse.

At this rate, I fully expect Parnell to be on the discard heap by game 3 or 4 if he gets that far.


Nicks and the club's BS coming back to haunt them here. It's perfectly reasonable to expect multiple years of strong performances and even improvement out of a 27yo.

Unfortunately nobody will believe you when 2 years ago you were dumping everyone over 23 (including a 26yo defending club champion) due to them being basically at retirement age.


3 votes is probably Walker. Fogarty possibly overtaking club legend David Mackay in career Brownlow votes


Crouch is in there because all of the inexperienced midfielders are not capable of preventing a conceded tap in the centre becoming a centre clearance and are not capable of stopping that centre clearance becoming an uncontested attacking move. It's been commentated on multiple times during Adelaide's games.

It may not be Crouch's strengths. Or even something he isn't bad at. But he's dramatically less comically inept than the alternative.

If Crouch isn’t winning a clearance and he’s not applying pressure, look at his pressure acts and how slow he is, how is he stopping an uncontested attacking move? It’s one of the more bizarre explanations I’ve read especially when it’s his teammates winning clearances and not him. Is he a human shield?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Please bump all my posts that have pumped up Crouch this year.

My point was it is pointless looking for a correlation between CBAs and total clearances.

Our bunch of spuds won the centre clearances 13-6 against a midfield that included Shuey, Gaff and Kelly who have all been All Australians.

No doubt we won the midfield battle, but apart from Gaff, the rest of the West Coast star midfielders are a shadow of their former selves... or they are in tank mode.

 

[FR0GGY]

Please bump all my posts that have pumped up Crouch this year.

My point was it is pointless looking for a correlation between CBAs and total clearances.

Our bunch of spuds won the centre clearances 13-6 against a midfield that included Shuey, Gaff and Kelly who have all been All Australians.

Given Matt plays only on the ball I don’t think it is, he would be at every stoppage that occurs whilst he’s on the ground.
Which only makes his stats look worse.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Given Matt plays only on the ball I don’t think it is, he would be at every stoppage that occurs whilst he’s on the ground.
Which only makes his stats look worse.

Anyone who is justifying Crouch in the team on current form doesn't know football.

He needs to go back to the sanfl & see if he can reinvent himself.

 

[FR0GGY]

Anyone who is justifying Crouch in the team on current form doesn't know football.

He needs to go back to the sanfl & see if he can reinvent himself.

I think his best chance is to find a club that wants him for what he is.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

Terrible game of football. Throw the replay in the bin and a couple of our players while we're at it

I can't even find the reply to watch on the AFL website. They have all the other games from the weekend, but a Suns / Freo AFLW game instead of ours - possibly this is because of how bad our game was. I really wanted to see the 3rd quarter, as from the game day thread it seemed we dominated I50's only to kick 1-4 for the quarter...I was hoping to analyse what went wrong compared to the first qtr.

 

[jackster83]

I think his best chance is to find a club that wants him for what he is.

Port Melbourne maybe.

 

[CrowBloke]

The BAD: well, the game as a whole, apart from the first quarter.
Please don't remind me that it was wet and slippery, or that Adelaide are a young, rebuilding side.
Adelaide were able to kick 5 goals in those conditions while holding WCE to a single point. I know, I know, the Eagles clogged up the play --- one poster described it aptly as "a rolling maul" --- but the win is a distraction from 3 vital issues:
1) Confusing selection policies which favour experience over performance, which leads to
2) sings
"How do you solve a problem like Matt Crouch

5

Matt Crouch

Age

29

Ht

183cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

28.4

5star

K

12.0

4star

HB

16.4

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.8

5star

D

24.9

5star

K

9.7

4star

HB

15.1

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.4

3star

CL

4.4

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

10.8

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

CL

2.0

4star

?".
Plenty has been said above to which I need not add. His selection is hindering the development of Berry and Hately.
3) poor skill levels.

The UGLY: well, the game as a whole.
This was the ABC report on the match, in its entirety:
"It was a tough watch on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval. West Coast managed to lose by only five goals, which marks clear and depressing improvement. Adelaide played a good quarter, which is basically all they needed to do." (their emphasis)
Nothing to see, there. Even the ABC knows an ugly game when they see it.

AFL Round-Up: Melbourne's demons return, and Freo are poised to pounce

Another Melbourne slip up and a massive Freo win have set the second half of the 2022 AFL season up to perfection. We digest the week that was.

www.abc.net.au

GOOD:
Soligo, super-impressive.
Berry
Fogarty --- and this is the first time that I have posted positively about him for a while.
Hamill, coming along.
Hately too.
McAdam, definitely playing better!
Parnell looks like a player. Puberty will help him progress, after it hits.
PLUS, the ususal suspects, like
Dawson, who impresses week after week with his effort and skills, and will be much more damaging after Butts returns + Crouch is dropped + Berry ==> midfield, with Dawson on a wing.
Tex, love him , and
for all their kicking deficiencies, Laird and Keays.

See? I'm not all doom and gloom .
Just old and cranky .

 

[CrowBloke]

Port Melbourne maybe.

Back to Ballarat.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

Was there any upside to the SANFL game to note? One thing I did see is that our reserves kick to handball ration was something like 2.41, yet the AFL game was 1.21. Normally the former is better for wet weather footy, as you often want to just get the ball moving forward, rather than looking for a handball. Would be interesting to see why the disparity - and was it obvious in game style? How did the likes of Jones go, and where did they play him? I see he and Cook got a bit of the ball, and Newchurch got a couple of nice goals again. Would like to see all three of them in after the bye.

 

[Skippos]

You do understand the difference between CBAs and clearances?

Yes. But attending the CBA generally indicates you are the designated 'onballer' who follows the ball around.

Obviously for around the ground stoppages we might run with more than 3 around the ball (i.e. Hately being sucked in as a thin side winger or extra around the ball from a flank would be how he got his 3 in spite of 1 CBA - but even if he is sucked in to a stoppage structurally you'd want the spare/winger in a receiving position out of it) but I mean what are you suggesting? That Crouch attended 19 CBAs and then sat behind the ball while Hately attended the around the ground stoppages? I'd suggest that presenting it in the context of CBAs vs stoppage attendances probably makes Matt look even better than he deserves.

Crouch had 19 of 23 (82%) CBAs and played 80% TOG in a game with 93 stoppages. You'd assume based on those CBAs and that TOG he probably attended 74 stoppages (give or take a few). One clearance. It looks even worse for him.

Edit: obviously clearances are a 'team' thing not an individual thing and I recognise that it could be Crouch playing a role in that stoppage mix that doesn't have him the designated ball winner (i.e. setting up defensive side and working to be a first receiver or something). But if Crouch's role in our stoppage mix isn't that of a ball winner, then he's either in there to defend against the oppo's clearance (in which case, a bloke who moves like a crab laterally doing that? no thanks) or position himself to receive and distribute from the stoppage (why would we want the ball in his hands out of a stoppage given his lack of desire to move the play forward in any way). So either Crouch isn't doing his job, or Nicks has put him in a role that seems incongruous with his attributes as a footballer.

 

[BRL121]

Was there any upside to the SANFL game to note? One thing I did see is that our reserves kick to handball ration was something like 2.41, yet the AFL game was 1.21. Normally the former is better for wet weather footy, as you often want to just get the ball moving forward, rather than looking for a handball. Would be interesting to see why the disparity - and was it obvious in game style? How did the likes of Jones go, and where did they play him? I see he and Cook got a bit of the ball, and Newchurch got a couple of nice goals again. Would like to see all three of them in after the bye.

None whatsoever. I only watched the first half and it was absolutely appalling. Cook should come in, but noone else is really AFL standard.