West Coast or Adelaide - Who is better placed?

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The big problem for Adelaide was not so much the attack as the run of injuries they continued to suffer after Taylor Walker went down. I believe Podsiadly won't do much, he was hopeless in a preseason match against the Port Adelaide childcare centre and Betts was lucky to get at least 2, maybe 3 of his goals in that match. Adelaide have a good list, they just need to get them all on the park and in form. Scott Thompson's form took a dive in 2013. West Coast can improve as well, like Adelaide they were decimated by injuries at times and both could be challeging for the eight this year.
 
As an Adelaide fan, I'm not convinced on our forward line.
-Who knows how long it'll take Tex to get back to 2012 form (and his return).
-Not sold on JPod so far.
-Jenkins and Smack need a lot of game time and experience, and consistency!!!!
-Always talk of Porps being on the cusp of never playing AFL again.
-Just lost Callinan, yes his form in 2013 went down (but 3rd highest goal scorer in 2012???) with Petrenko's input always being questionable (to me).
 

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Don't watch West Coast games often, so haven't followed their list too closely, but I would think the Crows' list are a bit better. Both teams have good players and contributors, but despite the Tippett saga I think the Crows have addressed their lack of forward options pretty well in the past year: having drafted Betts and Podsiadly helps, and they have Walker of course, but backups in guys like Jenkins, Kerrige, Lynch means they have more options and unloads the pressure off Dangerfield and Thompson to go forward. Their midfield is one of the best (Dangerfield and Sloane are their next McLeod and Riccuito) and their backline is in pretty good shape also.

Long term is too difficult to predict, but since the Crows had four rising star nominees last year to West Coast's zero, and a winner in Tahlia not long before that, you'd think the Crows have a bit more upside going forward.
 
2 Players..Rory and Danger are the difference between us and the Crows, we don't have those kind of elite mids that damage like those 2. I would take Rory over Danger and we should of thrown the kitchen sink at him to get him over here a few years back when he was behind a few other Crow mids. Rory is "Ablettesque" and will become their best player this year if he stays on the park without injury.
 
2 Players..Rory and Danger are the difference between us and the Crows, we don't have those kind of elite mids that damage like those 2. I would take Rory over Danger and we should of thrown the kitchen sink at him to get him over here a few years back when he was behind a few other Crow mids. Rory is "Ablettesque" and will become their best player this year if he stays on the park without injury.

Need to keep your eye on Talia too.


The whole team is fitter and better prepared than last year. Sando thought bigger bodies were going to be the trend. He misread this.

We have players who bulked up last year who are trimmer and more mobile. Even Sauce Jacobs is looking nimble. Our depth this year will be better than last year as a result.

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Not sure there'll be too many players better than Danger this year.

Anyone who says Danger isn't one of the top players in the comp are idiots and need their heads examined. He's a top 10 player imo, unstoppable when he's on song, which is quite often.
 
2 Players..Rory and Danger are the difference between us and the Crows, we don't have those kind of elite mids that damage like those 2. I would take Rory over Danger and we should of thrown the kitchen sink at him to get him over here a few years back when he was behind a few other Crow mids. Rory is "Ablettesque" and will become their best player this year if he stays on the park without injury.

Don't forget Thompson.
 

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The last game between the two was an 86 point win by Adelaide at Subiaco. A bit has changed since then.... WC new coach, couple of additions as already mentioned, LeCras and others back in, etc. Crows a new home ground, add Betts and Pods, Walker will be back mid year, etc. am quietly confident of vast improvement this year for us, WC will (should?) improve too but don't think they'll make the 8.

To be honest, I've never seen West Coast play as badly as that. They just weren't interested at all. Even Tambling was able to run the ball all the way through the midfield uncontested to slot a goal in from about 35m out. I wouldn't expect them to come out and play like that again anytime soon.

I'd still rate the Crows ahead of the Eagles but certainly not 86 points ahead. The Eagles have better rucks, Crows have a better midfield but I'd say we're on par everywhere else.
 
A tie. Both teams are well off the pace and have obvious structural weaknesses. Pods and betts are not worth half a Walker, who may manage half a year at half pace, the defence is suspect, and jacobs has been underwhelming. Nice midfield though!

Out west the defence is solid, and a fully fit attack dangerous. Ruck strength is top notch, but the midfield blows dog. Plus a new coach rarely bears fruit in season one.

Sorry Crows and Eagles fans, this just aint your year!
 
Our midfield is our key and is on the verge of being one of the best midfield(s) in the comp

Dangerfield, Thompson and Sloane are all A-Grade while Douglas is much under-rated, has won a club B&F, finished runner up in last years B&F and just missed out on 2013 AA selection. Supporting this group is the rapidly rising and rising star nominations of Brad Crouch, Mitch Grigg and Sam Kerridge, not to mention a now fit Jason Porplyzia and the likes of Matty Wright and Brodie Smith who are working hard to move from their current roles to break into the midfield.

Last but not least there is also Matt Crouch who will play some AFL this year.

This midfield should give the likes of Tex Walker, Josh Jenkins, Jpod, Betts, Tom Lynch, Lewis Johnson and Shaun McKernan enough service to kick winning scores more often then none.
 
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A tie. Both teams are well off the pace and have obvious structural weaknesses. Pods and betts are not worth half a Walker, who may manage half a year at half pace, the defence is suspect, and jacobs has been underwhelming. Nice midfield though!

Out west the defence is solid, and a fully fit attack dangerous. Ruck strength is top notch, but the midfield blows dog. Plus a new coach rarely bears fruit in season one.

Sorry Crows and Eagles fans, this just aint your year!

every team has structure weaknesses

well of the pace yes we dropped in 2013 however there were reasons for this however a midfield led by Jacobs, Dangerfield, Sloane (who are all 23-24 years now and entering their best football), Thompson and Douglas supported by rising star nominations of B Crouch, M Grigg and S Kerridge will drive a 2012 like resurgence

I cant believe how under-rated Betts is, statistically he is the best small forward of the past 5 years and is the missing link to the forward structure and players like Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch will benefit from Tex's return, Jpod's inclusion and the experience of leading the forward line in 2013

I would not swap our midfield for any other club's midfield as I have said both Danger and Sloane are now entering that phase of their absolute best football, Thompson and Douglas consistency is unchallenged and the club's next breed have all received Rising Star nominations there's Brad Crouch who by seasons end was already gathering elite numbers, Sam Kerridge who as a midfielder / flanker has already kicked a 5 goal haul in an AFL game and Mitch Grigg who will explode this year

Down back there is nothing wrong with our structure that is led by Talia, Rutten and Otten
 

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West Coast or Adelaide - Who is better placed?

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