McKernan should play forward and Davis in defence for Stevens. We should be more like Collingwood. They put so many games into Beams and Sidebottom last year and this year they are reaping the benefits. This year they have put games into Dawes and maybe next year they will reap the benefits. I cannot understand why we are not getting more games into McKernan - especially this week as Neil has dropped Walker. These players need game time to develop.

Taylor Walker has the nouse and presence of a footballer; just watch how opponents don't try to intimidate him.

The Broken Hill Boy has probably never played in such conditions as last week. I would love to see him settled in at CHF and get a cohesive forward group happening...

If he is continually punished why wouldn't he succumb to the advances of every other club that can see he is the gun of the very near future.

DC - Firstly, those were Johncock's words, weren't they? I dunno that any of the heirarchy actually said that to him. And he actually got suspended because he missed an injury rehab session (as a result of drinking the previous night). Now, that isn't the biggest sin I've ever heard of but the leadership group (i.e. the players, not the coaching staff) obviously set very high standards of professionalism. Maybe they should be commended for this. Obviously they have drawn a very clear line and it lets the players know where they stand with NO FAVOURITES. Reckon your outrage is a bit over the top here.



And while I'm typing, I just want to say something I've been meaning to say about coaches and how fickle we AFL fans often are. Early this year, I remember several posts on this site saying what a great coach Voss is and didn't he do well getting those big name players and why is our coaching staff so loyal to their players when there are big names waiting to be had and where's our killer instinct and take a leaf out of Voss's book. Well, what do those people think about Voss now? Now, there are likely several extenuating circumstances as to why the Lions have fallen in a heap and they may well make a big come back next year and Voss may well be proven to have been right to recruit so ruthlessly. But that's the nature of coaching, isn't it. Its a fickle game. I personally like the consistency of approach and loyalty that our heirarchy show to the players and, in my opinion, the flag will be even sweeter when it comes along for having taken the moral high ground. I remember when we didn't take the moral high ground with the Carey recruitment and what a great move that turned out to be! We've got talent and if we can put it all together and get it on the park for an extended period, we have what it takes.



GO CROWS!

I've just looked back through the past several weeks of comments. Thank goodness a couple of you do not have any official position at the AFC. I'd even be wary to be employed by you if you had a business.

Winning isn't everything! What sort of competition would it be if one club won everything all the time? Enjoy the ride. Enjoy watching kids develop. Enjoy seeing their skills even when we loose. Success is so much sweeter when it's a long time between drinks. It's just a bloody game after all.

Disgruntled Crow, you seem to be somewhat misinformed about the nature of Johncock's transgressions. The most recent incidents have both been related to not doing the things required by the club to physically prepare himself to play football; they have not been related in anyway to moral standards. The incident this year related to missing a rehab session when he was injured, nothing to do with what time he went to bed or what he drank. Are you really suggesting that it is unreasonable for the club to expect it's players (who are paid well to be professional sportspeople) to meet certain standards in physical preparation? Do you really think that the players' physical preparation is not integral to the club's on-field success?

DisgruntledCrow - 9:44 AM Thursday, 12 August 2010..... ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON. And not even a bad word to say about Rutten!!! I have been saying the same thing for 2 years. NICE NICE NICE..... I am sick of it. I bet that if Dane Swan wanted to come to the Crows we would turn him away because his Tats' don't fit in with the "image and culture we are trying to create". Premiership Glory and winning is what keeps the faith - not a choir group that is too scared to be normal. (Not the players fault I might add).

jen - 12:14 PM Wednesday, 11 August 2010...... I reckon the comments above are also the answers to your Umpiring Conspiracies. If someone at the club would just speak up and say enough is enough, we might just get a better run. Don't get me wrong, the club is run very well, but it seems we are just YES MEN on and off the ground......... As 'EJ' Whitten said "Stick it right up em!"

Tell me all you people who think you know better than the whole world about how to run a football club, keep players fit and healthy and play at elite levels, make money and keep supporters and sponsers happy, what is the magic spell we need??

And tell me, if YOU arrived at work under the influence or if you weren't doing your job properly, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU?? A good chance would be that you would be sacked. Would you be councelled and given a few chances to make things right and improve your way of doing things or even helped with problems in your life?? In modern workplaces where you are respected you would. If you read or listened properly, instead of jumping down the club's throat again, you would here Graham taking responsibility for his actions in the past and for the future. The Crows will NOT let him go, they have invested a lot of time in him and as you say he has had his best year.

Today's football is not just like "the good old days" where a "bloke was a bloke" and could just rock up and play footy on a saturday while you had a pie in the outer. It is a professional sport. What happens in the other professional sports if your prep is not up to standard - you get nowhere! Time to shake off your inferiority complex, that everybody does everything better than the Crows, and move into the modern day. Things are done differently, but certainly never without the single goal of winning a Premiership in mind.

And I think this squad would be the youngest complete squad we have ever have, correct me certainly, but we have always had a lot of players with lots of games experience. NC has ONLY been at the club 6 years, what he has done is taken the club through a major transition without having to bottom out. If you don't think the future is exciting for the team and think anything is possible then you are not prepared to work as hard at supporting them as they do in trying to win. These people live, breathe and eat football and have all their lives and some may never have played in a winning premiership. THEY ALL WANT RESULTS!!! That's what they are paid for!!! We could always sack everybody and start again, that would work........dumb!

GO CROWS!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be interesting to have a "your say" from the members and supporters on the subject of the move or not move to the Adelaide Oval. Also an idea of what the fans think of the open letter from Mr Trigg on this subject. Also Disgruntled Crow well said, just hope someone is listening.

I mean no offence here, and I hope this gets published.

Johncock on his last chance? - http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/100152/default.aspx

*** FOR GOODNESS SAKE?!? Doesn't the Crows Heirarchy EVER learn?!? ***

We already lost Ben Hudson and Scott Welsh because of this lunacy. Didn't the utter thrashing that Hudson dished up on the weekend give you a wake up call?!? Rodney Eade has taken on some alleged "troublemakers", but look at the Bulldogs now!

Johncock has been our best player all year, and we're going to risk losing him because of....what exactly did he do?....wasn't in bed by 9:00pm, and actually happened to be drinking alcohol (God forbid!) How many times do we supporters have to say this, the Crows are there for one reason, and one reason only - TO WIN PREMIERSHIPS! We're interested in RESULTS, not these absurd rules and attitudes held within the Club. To all the wowsers out there - wake up! We do not live in an ideal world, we live in the REAL world, and in this real world, players have a life of their own where they may do things (from time to time) that may not fit in with your ideal model of what "should be". Neil Craig (and many of the Crows Heirarchy) seem more interested in retaining the moral high-ground rather than winning Premierships. If players are CONVICTED (I am not talking about being accused or arrested) for a serious crime, then tell them to pack their bags. But not for this rubbish!

I am going to cut to the bottom line here - as much as I want Neil Craig gone at the end of 2010 (although I do not think he is an altogether bad Coach, not by any means), I believe he will stay on in 2011. Having said that, I'd be willing to give all you readers about a 99% Guarantee that his Coaching Contract will not be renewed; I only hope those that support Neil's attitudes within the Heirarchy join him on his way out. The only real issue between now and then is whether or not we're able to recruit any real quality stocks into the Crows ranks, and whether or not they're likely to lose such priceless players as Johncock. It's these last two points are the only things I'm concerned about, nothing else.

To the Crows Heirarchy - we're interested in RESULTS, not METHODS. PLEASE WAKE UP!!!

To the NOALL of port douglas. The evidence you put forward to back up your views, doesn't really have any merit. 8 out of 11 of the coaches you mentioned that are behind Craig with winning%, have won a premiership(s). What has Craig won?. On the subject of winning%, compare those coaches winning %'s in finals. No prizes for guessing who has the worst record!!

Yeah Craig is high on the list but 7 of the 8 below Craig have won a flag or more. His precision game plan is not going to work, too many variables in a game of footy, you cant get everything perfect. Its like Blighty once said, to win a flag you have to win a few contests. Tough, strong and uncomprimising is the way to win, not cute and perfect

To theNOALL it's all very nice to have a good win percentage ratio. However it's a personal milestone..Craig will only be remembered by footy fans for September glory and please don't for a minute suggest he is in the league of Matthews, Sheedy and Co. Craig is doing the best he can and I'm sure next year will determine whether or not he will still be around at Crowland. Optimism flourishes in the mind but it's in the doing that counts..........

Put porpliza in the forward line not done back he is probably our best kick for goal. He was damaging last year.

When's phil davis coming back. We didn't lose a game for 4 weeks until he went out and now we have lost 3 in a row confused.

To: theNOALL - Port Douglas - 9:02 PM Tuesday, 10 August 2010

There is one difference - most those other coaches above and below him have won flags. I think Neil has done a great job in his time, better than Gary Ayers, but is he the time man to take us to out next flag. Jury is still out, but needs to have a great next couple of years, especially after stating he has final got the list to where he wants it to be (remember that at the start of the season!).

Do you all seriously think that a couple of trades, get rid of these people and whatever is going to change things that much so we get a Premiership next year??? Some adjustments will be made but we can work on who we have.We have the bones of an excellent group of YOUNG players with great potential. Consider how long it took Simon Goodwin to become as good as he is and develop the obvious leadership he is loved for AT THE CLUB. And how is that going to be instantly replaced? By buying a player from somewhere else and expecting him to blend and embrace everybody and everything the club stands for and have the passion to fight and lead and bring everyone with him? Consider all the experience the club has lost over the 5-6 years that Neil Craig has been there - Hart, Riccuito,Torney, Bassett,Shirley - god these are just the names I can remember. How many seasons did they build this experience. And how many years since NC took over have we finished out of the top 8? I heard an interview with the West Coast player who is now at GC17 (what was his name?) and he said Grand Finals are VERY difficult to win; West Coast were in the finals for 10 years and won only 2 Premierships!!!

I think that if the players and coaches dropped their bundles like some of the supporters are doing there would be riots - they bust their guts every week and don't give up, why are you guys?

I also have mentioned the umpiring the last few weeks and looked at our team stats and find it very alarming that our forwards have more frees against them than for them and our midfield also is being heavily penalised. We used to be a team which "gave away" the least number of free kicks, what has changed so drastically, but then I do believe in conspiracies sometimes when it comes to the AFL.

GO CROWS - am supporting you whatever happens because I trust and believe in the Club!

Hi to all.

Please get off Neil Craig's back chaps. Check this web page

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/afl_coaches?sort=p&status=A&type=

Note his WIN%

Lyon and Thompson are only just ahead of him. Doesn't anyone remember what he did in 2009. Et tu Brute.

They were going to dump Mark Thompson and sharpening the knives to use on Alastiar Clarkson. Sydney did dump Eade.

Neil's Win% is 7th on the ALL time list...and 3rd on current coach stats.

Check the guys below him:

Blight

Cornes

Matthews

Sheedy

Roos

Parkin

Pagan

Williams

Eade

Cahill

Barrassi....makes for very interesting, eye opening reading.

Hafey and Craig have almost identical stats.

QED

Yes! I have been very disappointed with the teams progress this year, but I think we must remember we have had alot of injuries (at one count 13 )and the more experenced players have been out injured leaving the younger players with less experience to play. We've lost Tyson Edwards and it looks as if we could loose at least 2 more to retirement.

I have only been following Aussie Rules( i won't call it football because there is too much handball in the game) for 5 seasons so am very new to the game but even I can see that there are many mistakes made by the Umpires take Friday nights game 2 bad mistakes and then again on Saturday when I could see that there should have been a goal given but it was only a behind and I agree that the umpiring is not up to standard. we go to all home games and most away if they are in Melbourne although we have only been to 1 at the MCG this year but we did venture to Tassy. Lets all remember we now have a very young team and must give Neil Craig the chance to build this team for the rest of the season and training before next. Go you boys you know you can do it and we will all be behind you next season. Good luck

DC - I think you are right that we need a quality crumbing small forward. Porps isn't really that kind of player is he...more a medium size forward in the mould of, say, Medhurst for Collingwood. Jaensch has shown some promise as a crumbing forward this season. He's not top quality yet and his previous two or three games had been ordinary. However, even with this form lapse, maybe he would've been a better option in the wet than Schmidt or the third ruckman.

Look, this simply hasn't been the crows year. Pretty much everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. There is plenty of talent in this squad though and I can't imagine we could have another season like this next year. Pretty much every player has a particular area that they should concentrate on in the off-season, while the coach should concentrate on improving his reaction-time on game day, and hopefully we'll make a big come-back next year. Despite what a lot of people who comment here say, the game plan Craig has for the team is a good one and he is still highly respected by the players who believe in the approach they are taking. However, another season like this one is likely to see him sent packing from AFC. Personally, I'm going to go looking for good odds on the crows taking out the flag next year coz I don't think we are anywhere near as far from winning it as this rotten season would suggest.

Good to finally hear some peoples comments about umpiring. Its not just the decisions against us but the opposition get away with things that we get pinged for. Plus the opp teams kick scores from our infringements. Our coach needs to bring it up at a press conference like malthouse, sheedy and all the great coaches do. Cop the fine who cares the club is rich, at least itl put the cheating umpires on notice.

Thanks for the umpire stats Tacklebags - 10:25 PM Monday, 9 August 2010 - seems to confirm most of our opinions. I don't think the separate stats for each umpire would be released either. On the one hand, you can understand this, as it's not easy to maintain respect for umpires at the best of times - there's always someone upset with them for no good reason. On the other hand, I wonder how much the AFL respect their umpires and their view of the game, especially re interpretations.

In the almighty quest for speed, the rules have been stretched to breaking point. Holding the man and ball used to be pretty obvious, I think, until they wanted ever faster speed of ball movement. Push in the back and over the shoulder likewise. Evasive skills were rewarded, and first to the ball. The most scope for interpretation in those days was about whether the force of the tackle led to the spilling of a ball (which was 'play on') or the ball had been improperly disposed of: the old cry - 'Dropping the ball!' - was never accurate to the rule,but it was descriptive of the free awarded. I don't know anyone who likes the rule about 'dragging it in' as it stands - too many players are pinged when they had absolutely no chance of releasing the ball because someone was lying on top of them, or holding the ball in. On Sunday, Adelaide often went after the ball close-in and ended up penalised. I think this has to do with what I said earlier: Craig :39 PM Monday, 9 August 2010 - the Crows seem to want to perfect every phase of the game, and sometimes that actually doesn't work in your favour. You take all the risks of error and the other team takes advantage of it. You might learn and excel (that's the idea) but you can't do it all the time.

Like all of us, Lawrie, you're racking your brains about what is to be done to get the Crows to a flag. I don't agree with your solutions, and you contradict yourself as much as I'm likely doing, but you give me grist for my mill, and that's what I want.

Niel



You have been a fantastic coach and even a better adviser to the AFC (1997-1998).

You have built a team that is capable of launching us into the history books.

Maybe it is time to move aside and instead of looking for players look for a replacement and hand the reins over.

Even the great King Arthur new when to hand over leadership and put his country first.

Some of us are listening Lawrie.. Obviously not the ones that matter though. While I would love LeCras, Pav, Stokes and the like to come on board, I do believe our squad is good enough - it's just your last sentence that needs fixing.

A potential half forward line of Knights, McKernan and Dangerfield makes my mouth water. If Rodney is available this week, it could happen now. The average age of this trio is very young, and could serve us well for the next decade. With Porplyzia, Walker and Tippett in the goal mouth the pieces are all there. We just need a coach or forward mentor to organise the forward entries and structure. I'm sorry, but I just don't see ANY evidence of positive coaching for the forward line this year. Does David Noble have any qualifications in this area that warrants his being kept on for 2011?

Lawrie - 10:46 AM Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Michael Whitting - 10:45 AM Tuesday, 10 August 2010

*** HEAR! HEAR! ***

My tongue in cheek statement of yesterday re a Blighty clean out is not all that absurd. There are 3 West Coast players who would look very good in a Crows guernsey and would plug some holes. Cox, Kerr and LeCras would do nicely, and I wouldn't hesitate a minute in sending VanBerlo back to play with his brother, Bock as we have some like defenders coming through, plus he has soft tissue injuries and chuck in a first round draft pick. Get a couple of years out of Cox, some midfield grunt with Kerr and some classy finishing up forward with LeCras. Also bring back young Cameron Wood from Collingwood as he is an Adelaide boy who is not going to push aside Jolly. We can then let Maric and Griffen go. Mind you, this is if every one out there believes that it is the players who have underperformed and not the coach. I would prefer to see a new coach handle the present squad rather than having to get rid of anybody. BUT NO ONES LISTENING.....

The poor performance in the wet conditions against the Bulldogs doesn't explain the up-down efforts which have characterised the team the whole season. The general lack of confidence, the shabby treatment of Edwards and Davis, the overuse of handball, have turned me off watching them. Adelaide needs a new coach.

Hudson was the difference between us winning and losing on Sunday night, and yes we let him go, because Crows wouldn't give a 3 year contract. Please don't let this happen to Bock,rumour has it he wants 3, but Crows are only prepared to offer 2. Nathan Bock has more to offer, don't forget he has been injured for a long period. Also what about Chris Knights, have Crows signed him, hope they don't do the same as they did with Hudson.

Aside from the dominance of Hudson, the Crows didn't adapt to the conditions, with continual handball and overplaying the ball. I say it everytime, the Crows just fiddle around, instead of going direct to goal. It appears that they are scared and cautious of making any charge to the goals. Is this the direction of the coaches, or have the players decided to play this way. In wet weather the less you handle the better, surely. In relation to Lake guarding goal, the Crows have lost lots of games this season for the same reason.

This year the team seems to have lacked on field leadership in a lot of games, passion for the club and the desire to win. They appear to be slow and disenterested, also there are definitely some lazy players. Lots of work needs to be done over the break to get this sorted. Maybe I am off the mark, but most of the supporters see it the same way.

definately need to do some trading, get a good ruckman....and a goal sneak, walker and tippet too often go for mark with no one at all crumbing the ball. porp is great but isnt playing like last year,walker is lazy..and tippet needs to get a kicking coach, he kicks too close to the man on the mark and misses WAYYY to many goals right in front...

Davis is a must in the backline, along with otten and stiffy...not sure about the others...rutten is getting slow.

the crows need something new to spark them...

Craig wrote:

Craig - 4:39 PM Monday, 9 August 2010(vi)Does anybody have the year's umpiring stats? I'm biased to the Crows but I do think more mistakes are made against us than for us.

Last time I looked we were 2nd worst for free kicks against us in the comp and 3rd least for free kicks for us in the comp. About 50 down total on the opposition teams over 19 rounds. That's an average of just under 3 free kicks a game. But where the discrepency lies is against victorian teams especially those higher up the ladder. In those games we are rarely near them in free kick ratio's. I think those muppets over there in Victoria think we just have sour grapes but the statistics show I am right. Particularly when you look at indivisual umpires. Some umpires have given an almost 2-1 ratio free kick against the crows and that is worrying. Where it blends in overall is these guys rarely umpire the same crows match together. If we are lucky we get within 5 free kicks of them over 4 quarters. Usually it is closer to 10 as it was last sunday night. I will continue to monitor this and maybe send it to the AFL one day and ask the question? Fall on deaf ears I bet! Just means we have to be better than these teams as being just as good as them won't get us over the line with the men in green looking for whatever they want to see in the heat of the moment.

Hope this answers your question Craig?

If anyone knows of a site that shows indivisual umpire statistcs let me know. Something tells me the AFL wouldn't want you to know or show this information.

Tacklebags

I hope the coach was watching how Lake played, guarding the goal square and protecting the goals,That is where the game was won.

Although I didn't catch the game on Australia Network, I believe that, like the others I did see, it would have probably benefited from play for each quarter being allowed to continue until the next stoppage on or after the siren. That, and also having a countdown clock for the end of the quarter, would help to improve on the current somewhat ridiculous situation and improve the game as a spectacle - just as it does in rugby.




Any downside?

What potential, what a gifted side. Don't panic chaps because 6 months from now you won't know this team. With the young guys [Henderson, Sloane, Davis, Douglas, Martin, Dangerfield, Gunston, Armstrong, Cook, Wright, Sella, Petrenko, Moran, McKernan, Jaensch, Schmidt,etc] on a diet of pasta, baked beans, cheese and cabbage washed down with Coopers Stout we'll be able to field two competitive AFL sides. Henderson has STAR written all over him.




Good on you Neil: I think you saw that Davis, as good as he is, is but a 6'5" lad who needs to bulk up - he's got plenty of time. I think it took Bockie 4 years to become a regular.




Here's my go at a side for 2011 (got stacks of emergencies though)




Johncock......Rutten......Doughty




Davis...McKernan...Bock...Otten




MacKay......Vince (V/C)....Sloane




Henderson............Knights(V/V/C)




Porplyzia




Tippett...........Walker




(McKernan = Back Ruck)




(Tippett = Forward Ruck)




Followers: Thompson, Riley, Douglas




I/C Dangerfield, McLeod(Capt), VanBerlo, Stevens.




Emg:Martin,Sella,Moran,Gunston,Jaensch,Armstrong,Wright,Griffen,Maric,Petrenko etal...........

Even though we lost, that was a far far better effort than in recent weeks. Leaving Tippett and Walker up Forward, after half-time, was utter madness.






Julie Issom - 11:12 AM Monday, August 09, 2010 and tacklebags - 2:46 PM Monday, August 09, 2010






I normally avoid making comments about poor umpiring, but not this time. I lost count of the number of times the Crows players were held without the ball, or slung "after disposal" (Disposing of the ball during a tackle, then being slung a mile once you've gotten rid of it). In wet-weather footy, it is so common that the player who wins out is NOT first to the ball; all you have to do is concentrate on getting your opponents to fall over, and that's exactly what the Bulldogs did, all day long. The only free kicks the umpires look for these days are high tackles and holding the ball; that's it. Neil Craig has not caught on to this fact, nor can he coach in wet weather. Forget the football first up, just get your opponent to fall over. *BUT THE UMPIRING DURING THIS GAME WAS A DISGRACE!*






Darren Pine - 11:47 AM Monday, August 09, 2010






Comments regarding wet weather and coaching? Spot on.






David - 1:33 PM Monday, August 09, 2010






In terms of the Crows' "needs", you've nailed it. Along with an ESTABLISHED dominant Ruckman (or Ruckmen), the Crows need Forward Line Crumbers.....desperately. I mentioned it before, they simply cannot crumb from droppped contested marks, in wet or dry weather. The Crows do well in general field-play pressure, but not when waiting deep. So very few people notice it....including the Crows Heirarchy. I'm just glad some people are finally taking notice.






Lawrie - 3:13 PM Monday, August 09, 2010






Your comments are probably the most valid of all, except I would add one more player to your Trade List: Scott Thompson. As I've mentioned previously, exactly how many EFFECTIVE disposals does he collect? (Not to mention indecisiveness)






***And please....please....PLEASE, get a professional goal-kicking coach!!!***

Why were Walker and Tippet going for the same marks, why wasn't there a small crumber around those contests, they were bombing the ball in on a wet day. Defence doesn't win games , attack does. Great effort from the Crows though.






Next year we need a dominant ruckman, I think thats the biggest imperative. Bring in Davis, and put Bock up forward if he stays. Next years not the year for the big step forward, 2012, when they all have a few more games under the belt. Perhaps a new coach, with a bit of mongrel wouldn't hurt either, a bit more of vinces atitude.

(i)Trading sounds simple, but is it easy to get good players of the type you want? Stokes, for example, now loves the Cats with good reason. And do we need him with Petrenko and others like him already in the stable? And who do you trade? Everyone would want Bock, an attacking half back of skill, presence and maturity, especially after the old zip was evident yesterday. But who would give you the kind of player you want for Symes? Symes is too slow for mine, and I worry that Walker is too. For me, he has a number of question marks over him. But I love watching him kick. I can't see us not giving him another year. Doughty is head and shoulders above the rest of the team in 1%ers; and I'd only question his age. Stevens has been a great servant and I think often saves the day, but also is clanger prone at the worst moments. I'm waiting to the end of the sseason with others like Reilly, van Berlo. We will need some older heads in the team after losing so many great thinkers in a game, so we should value that in the players that have it. Hentschell will play for the Crows or succumb to his fateful body.






I don't want us to saddle ourselves with another Carey, which was a backward step for the club.






(ii)I can't agree with a lack of grunt in the midfield going on Sunday. The intensity was good enough. Our problems were in the ruck with the Doggies setting up well around throw-ins. That happened too often over the back. I did think the Crows were overly ambitious at times in the conditions, leading to losing the ball. Tippett was back to trying too hard again, and it was wet. Even so, he presented often enough to give opportunities to others, but not enough came from the crumbers (part of which was eachway luck), and Walker in particular. That was the wet, good Doggie pressure, and probably too many long kicks into the forward lines. I think the Crows want to dot the i's and cross the t's a bit too much - sometimes the copybook stuff should be shelved for some of Foster Williams's get the ball forward at all costs (especially in the wet).






(iii) I suspect Tacklebags's backline is too top heavy, particularly if we have to replace McLeod (who I'd love to be Captain for a final year). Sloane would be great back there, but he's great anywhere.






(iv)Rather than some of the 10 teams above us dropping to let us up, I think the focus is, and will be, on us improving beyond them. The boys beat Geelong and gave the Bulldogs a scare in a game they could have won, especially if they'd kicked better in the first quarter. I'm looking forward to the Pies and Saints for the looksee.






(v) Henderson (wait til he puts on a few kilos!), Sloane, Davis, Walker (if he gets his act together), are just 4 reasons why the current squad will produce a better team in 2011. I thought Martin was very promising before his injury. Hopefully, the disruptions of 2010 will be past, and they will be able to settle into some consistent structures. To me, that remains the core issue.






(vi)Does anybody have the year's umpiring stats? I'm biased to the Crows but I do think more mistakes are made against us than for us.






Finally, I hope we get some McKernan in the last 3 games. Perhaps we could see him at centre half forward at the Gabba while Walker has a re-look at his footy in the SANFL.

Scenario: Ball-up inside 50. Griffo stays back a kick behind the play - as he should. Tippett does the ruck work inside 50 - as he should.... But why TIME AND TIME AGAIN was Brian Lake allowed to sit in the square all by himself, just waiting for the quick kicks to mop up and get easy clearances. The same thing happened with Troy Chaplin against the Port Tards. If us Muppets in the stands can see it as a constant problem of accountability, why cant any of our experts in the box? We were predictable. Lake and Eade knew it. But more importantly, we knew Lake was going to keep floating deep to protect the square, but did nothing about it. Game day coaching deficiencies once again!!






I will say that most of the boys had a real crack this week at least. Sloane was fantastic, as well as Truck, Bocky and Stiffy once again. The talent is there, we just need to fix up the "Box".

Let's not dissect Sunday's game. I've grown tired of flogging a dead horse. Instead I would like to look at next year and to what may be. Firstly, at present there are 10 teams ahead of us on the table. Conceivably some of those teams will have to drop off for us to move ahead of them. At present I can't name any that might fall away enough for us to head. Should we go into next year without any serious trading we will enter 2011 with a squad without a top ruckman, little grunt in the midfield, a misfiring forward line and no leadership plus a stubborn coach. Hell, things are looking good. Enter Malcolm Blight.... Out goes McDermott, McGuiness and Jarman and hello.....premiership. Trade Bock









Vanberlo,Reilly,Symes and Maric. Delist Doughty, Stevens, Hentschell









and Sellar. Retired Edwards, Burton, Goodwin and McLeod. If McLeod doesn't retire, delist him. Find a good ruckman, some grunt in the midfield and let's see if Craig can turn it around. We will never ever be in the company of Collingwood, Geelong, Saints and to a lesser extent, Hawks and Doggies by dishing up what we did this year. Yeah we had the odd win against a top side here and there, but what would be the outcome if we played top sides every week. Where kidding ourselves to suggest anything better than a mid ladder finish in 2011 should our squad and coaching panel remain the same.









Go Crows...Where is the question?

I fail to understand the selection committees thinking when you have a player who 3 weeks ago wins a nomination for the rising star and the team is winning then to not select him again for 3 weeks with the team failing to win in that period also. Its time to play the kids the season is over. Good luck Phil Davis! Cheers Tony

Tippett needs to go back to the SANFL











a good player BUT! out of form

Well our finals campaign is oficially over. What is done is done and there is no going back.












I personally believe it didn't have to be over yet though. This team balance issue surrounding Phil Davis concerns alot of us fans. Even with bocky back in the side, Davis was our best stopper for weeks along side Johncock and played a big part of our defensive strength during the year. No reason why they cannot all be in the defensive half all at once. Next year I would have Davis, Otten, Johncock, Bock, Rutten, Symes all playing back there all at once. Just my opinion!












Secondly what is with our free kick counts. For a team that has the best track record in the comp for fighting/suspensions etc the umpires seem to pluck an awful lot of touchy free kicks against us week in week out. Plus free kicks for us NOT being given! Never heard the crowd boo umpires so consistently so often as I have this year. I think the bias sentiment of some umpires in the AFL has gotten out of control and we as South Australian team supporters need to speak out. In talking footy with many Power and Crows fans in the past few years tells me that fans are returning to SANFL due to the fact that at least they get to see a fair game of footy. It has become apparent to me that many see the AFL umpiring as blantalty bias to interstate interests especially in big games and is the major reason (along side cost) as why SA team fans are turning away from the game. Not only do you have to look at the Bulldogs game but the entire season so far as obvious fouls against us/frees for us are ignored by umpires. In the game against Geelong at AAMI umpire number 22 clearly saw and ignored our free's and nearly had the crowd in our pocket jumping the fence and that worries me greatly!!!












Tacklebags.

Only saw the second half, dont understand the mind set of players bombing the ball inside 50 in extremly wet conditions, took too long to switch to small forward line, possesion ball would have been more effective approach to scoring in wet. Bulldogs had numbers behind ball and we played perfectly into their game plan.

Last year Collingwood topped up their squad with 2 key players from other clubs to get rid of weaknesses. They are now top. We need a dominant ruckman and a small forward who swoops on loose balls and kicks opportunist goals. We need to move heaven and earth to Cox from West Coast, who is rumoured to be ready to leave, and Stokes from Geelong. Stokes is an SA boy who has been out of favour at times this year. Trade, give top draft picks, whatever it takes.

Even though we lost, yesterday's game was a much better effort. It's a pity the players did not show the same determination against Port and Richmond. If they had we would still be in the hunt for the finals.













This sudden turn around in intensity reinforces my opinion, at least to me, that the main cause of our performance this season has been the result of players attitudes. Not from any coaching deficiences

And by the way, if Rory Sloane wasn't nearly our best player, then I know nothing about football.

A good close hard fought game; the skill and confidence levels of the two teams showed only a couple of times. I think to say that some of their players were suffering from a virus was an bit of an excuse for Eade. They were nearly beaten on the day. However, once again, I have to take exception to Craig's comments about adapting to wet weather footy. Just who gives the players instructions if not him? Once again, he shifts the blame for the loss onto the players. Take some ownership Neil Craig; admit it when you make a mistake or error of judgement. Then we might think you are worth another year.

A good effort, kept with them and contested, definitely more aggressive and hungry - well done Ben Rutten and Johncock, Bock's yelling at players a worry. Let Tippett contest for big marks alone not with 2 or 3 other Crows plus defenders. A better outcome without the 4 points.

Better performance this week guys. Poor kicking in the first quarter plus weak defence by the Bulldogs - running through points contributed to our loss.













I have to say that the umpiring was disgusting once again and completely biased towards our opposition.













Good luck over the off season and hopefully you will come back with renewed committment, energy and resolve for 2011.

Considering the fact that it was raining cats and dogs like never before, I was hoping someone could please explain the logic and reasoning behind PERSISTING with Tippett and Walker (two tall marking targets) up Forward? Also, considering the weather, why were Johncock and Porplyzia not both thrown up Forward together? Can someone explain this to me? Anyone?













The Crows dominated the entire second half, but couldn't even BUY a goal. As I mentioned before, no contested-mark crumbing skills whatsoever. None.