Round 6 vs adelaide game day thread

[Nico]

The difference between a reasonably comfortable win and a loss was the ineffectiveness of Reid and McGlynn (other than the loss of Goodes). I was particularly concerned over Reid being the only fixed tall forward given that we may have needed Goodes in the midfield. White out of the side after his excellent performance a couple of weeks ago was a bad move IMHO. At least its a no-brainer that he comes in for Goodes. I think that McGlynn's form means that he is very lucky to be in the side with the likes of TDL in the 2s and when Tom Mitchell hits his straps later he could be in trouble holding his place in the side.

Absolutly agree on McGlynn. I managed to get to Sydney for the game and was sitting right behind him when he tried to kick that goal sideways. Who does he think he is, Stevie J. Fair dinkum he slaughters the footy too much to be trying that garbage. Deserved to have his head ripped off by the coach. He missed targets by miles and you would swear he had his dough on Adelaide. McGlynn's disposal is geting worse and for a bloke who has been around for quite a while now you would reckon he might have some idea of his limitations and play a better % game. One of the most disappointing games from a senior player of his ilk I have seen for a long time. One might get howled down if one suggests he cost us the game but gee he made some horrible errors at critical times.

On Reid...right from the start they dropped a couple of players back and he was unable to get any run at his marks. Mind you he was held a lot and at a crucial stage of the last quarter after a marking contest, he was clearly held by an opponent as he went to take off for a 2nd effort and it was right in front of an umpire. It was so obvious. Last week McVeigh got a free and 50 metres for exactly the same thing that resulted in a goal. Reid should have had a kick from the goal line.

LRT... the poor bugger is a backman and we could have used him in that role last night. Might have made a difference on Walker.

Adelaide jumped as early in the first 3 quarters, mostly by clean centre clearances for easy goals. To me it was bleeding obvious we had to reverse that at the start of the last quarter but our midfield was unable to get their hands on the footy. I don't know that we can blame the rucks for that. The Crows midfielders were like lightening when they attacked the ball and got easy and clean clearances. When we finally woke up it was alas too late. Most of the game any of our centre clearances were under extreme pressure and ended up being scrappy and short.

Probably one of the most fierce game I have ever witnessed. It was a game of inches and indeed whoever lost was going to be unlucky. They got a couple of very lucky breaks for goals, one when we were forcing forward and a kick rebounded off a leg into the open straight to a Crow. That was the sort of game it was. As Wolfy said they did us on fast breaks down the fat side. It seemed we had a strategy to go to the members side in numbers and they were able to get a couple free on the other side. Noticed they went wide then around the wing had someone running through the centre for a handpass. In these tough, close games you need a bit of luck. Adelaide seemed to get just a bit more than us for it to make a difference.

No doubt Shaw was hampered by a calf injury after half time.

[Nico]

I agree with this totally. LRT was on the field and we were desperately trying to get Seabs on. I don't know why they just didn't bite the bullet and exchange a small for a tall and then a tall for a small! Very confusing I know but I could see the problem and I saw a player ready to come off to help and the bench ignored him. He saw the problem and wanted cto help and LRT was ready to come back off when Seabs was on! We lost a lot of ground over that! We would have won the game if that as anything lost us the game!!!were allowed to happen!! The small was Hannas he was so aware of the problem he was willing to sacrifice 3 mins himself to help the team but the bench was stupid to his calls. Joey also was yelling to the bench to do something and they just kept delaying!!! That as much as anything lost us the game. That was a monumental stuff up and those of us at the game were saying aloud what the @@@@ are they trying to do! Why is LRT continuing in the ruck when he is being killed and this is the difference between losing and winning! We lost! No doubt! But if Seabs could have got onto the ground five minuted before it would have made a huge difference. Basically our bench staff or coaching staff made bad decisions that may have cost us the game!!

Just shows how much we miss Mumford. Appears an undiagnosed medical problem has cost him 4 games and probably a victory.

[Xie Shan]

LRT... the poor bugger is a backman and we could have used him in that role last night. Might have made a difference on Walker.

My thoughts exactly - surely White must be a better option as 2nd ruck... when LRT doesn't play down back I feel that Grundy and Richards (as much as I think he's improved out of sight as a defender) are a bit more exposed...

Otherwise agree with your assessment of the game, most of it was played at a frantic pace. Main thing I noticed that whenever the ball was kicked to a one-on-one the Crows players almost always played in front which seemed to help them take advantage of the lucky breaks.

Incidentally, Walker has one of the most relaxed kicking actions I've seen, his set shots for goal are very Nick Davis-like.

[Captain]

Absolutly agree on McGlynn. I managed to get to Sydney for the game and was sitting right behind him when he tried to kick that goal sideways. Who does he think he is, Stevie J. Fair dinkum he slaughters the footy too much to be trying that garbage. Deserved to have his head ripped off by the coach. He missed targets by miles and you would swear he had his dough on Adelaide. McGlynn's disposal is geting worse and for a bloke who has been around for quite a while now you would reckon he might have some idea of his limitations and play a better % game. One of the most disappointing games from a senior player of his ilk I have seen for a long time. One might get howled down if one suggests he cost us the game but gee he made some horrible errors at critical times.

On Reid...right from the start they dropped a couple of players back and he was unable to get any run at his marks. Mind you he was held a lot and at a crucial stage of the last quarter after a marking contest, he was clearly held by an opponent as he went to take off for a 2nd effort and it was right in front of an umpire. It was so obvious. Last week McVeigh got a free and 50 metres for exactly the same thing that resulted in a goal. Reid should have had a kick from the goal line.

LRT... the poor bugger is a backman and we could have used him in that role last night. Might have made a difference on Walker.

Adelaide jumped as early in the first 3 quarters, mostly by clean centre clearances for easy goals. To me it was bleeding obvious we had to reverse that at the start of the last quarter but our midfield was unable to get their hands on the footy. I don't know that we can blame the rucks for that. The Crows midfielders were like lightening when they attacked the ball and got easy and clean clearances. When we finally woke up it was alas too late. Most of the game any of our centre clearances were under extreme pressure and ended up being scrappy and short.

Probably one of the most fierce game I have ever witnessed. It was a game of inches and indeed whoever lost was going to be unlucky. They got a couple of very lucky breaks for goals, one when we were forcing forward and a kick rebounded off a leg into the open straight to a Crow. That was the sort of game it was. As Wolfy said they did us on fast breaks down the fat side. It seemed we had a strategy to go to the members side in numbers and they were able to get a couple free on the other side. Noticed they went wide then around the wing had someone running through the centre for a handpass. In these tough, close games you need a bit of luck. Adelaide seemed to get just a bit more than us for it to make a difference.

No doubt Shaw was hampered by a calf injury after half time.

This is easily one of the best posts I have read on RWO for a long time. Agree with it all.

[jono2707]

Swans had 50% more inside 50's.
Most were from bombing inside; without Swans being superior in the air, it didn't work.
Adelaide were pretty accurate from set shots. Taylor Walker was freaky, particularly his haircut.

I think I've learned my lesson and will likely never again continually 'suggest' to a player to get a haircut. He nailed some pretty fine shots for goal even while I was giving him those grooming tips, so credit to him. Seems to be coming together well for him (another NSW boy to boot) and another good example to someone like Reid, and even Jesse, that it can take a while but if you keep working at it, things can come together for you.

[magic.merkin]

LRT was slow and out of his depth. I don't think he would have done any better down back, and who is he to replace? We have 3 talls that are in better form, and you just can't stop some of those quick balls in, and Walker kicked several from outside 50...

White is a better kick/below his knees/ruck (Just)/forward and quicker. LRT tackles better, reads the play better and gets to the rights spot a bit more. Not much in it to be honest, and just shows the value in Mumford/Seaby on the park. Or a fit Pyke who is a brilliant tap ruckman as a backup instead of the other 2 part timers. He has come along way, and I'd have loved to see what he was about to produce last year prior to that quad injury.

White shouldn't have been dropped, and we paid the price this last weekend. Though it just wasn't our night, on the whole. Be it bounces of the ball, fumbling, miscommunication, tactics through to injuries to key players.

BUT we were thereabouts through a solid work ethic, determination and attitude. It all could have gone differently, but it didn't. So now we have the chance to reflect on a loss, and move on.

Great game none the less!

Walsh for Goodes? Lets roll the dice.

[Triple B]

Though it just wasn't our night, on the whole. Be it bounces of the ball, fumbling, miscommunication, tactics through to injuries to key players.

Exactly what I said to my group at quarter time. Even though we were our own worst enemy at times, the bounce of the ball was cruel to us early on. The Crows just had every conceivable bounce go their way.

In the cold light of day, we weren't that terrible, but it was disappointing watching it unfold as many of us foresaw it leading up to the match, the almost saturation of media focus on how well we were travelling was always a worry and the fact that most of us who have followed the Swans for a while have seen it all before against the Crows....

[Legs Akimbo]

Reid - hmmm. He did well last year because he was able to run at a pack and launch himself taking his trademark congested grab, typically closer to goal where his yips matter less. This year, opposition teams have him work out, block his space and he can't launch himself. At the same time, he is drawing several defenders, so it works for the team (well, had worked). Could be my imagination, but when he gets it, he seems further out. Some challenges there..... I think he's a better CHF than FF.

[Nich]

Walker is a beast. Pretty damn quick as well amd super athletic. And as mentioned a great relaxed kicking style. I know his kicking can be off at times but geez he has some ability. Hard to stop that. Our boys were 1-2 metres off him each time.

[bandwagon]

... overall inability to ever really get control of the midfield and the clearances was what meant we lost the game.

I disagree with this bit mcs. I feel our midfield did enough to get us over the line. Not dominant, but enough. According to the Herald Sun "Sydney had the ball inside its forward half for 60% of the game. It's 67 to 45 inside 50 count was the highest for a losing team since Geelong in Round 1, 2003."
We could have been smarter with our entries, our manned-up Reilly to stop him marking everything, but we had enough entries to win.

[Triple B]

...manned-up Reilly to stop him marking everything, but we had enough entries to win.

If anybody ever needs an example of a definitive turning point in a game, show them the Reilly contested mark with ROK and subsequent sweeping of the ball downfield for a Crows goal late in the game. ROK can normally be counted on to win those contests, but that was the turning point...

[Auntie.Gerald]

walker is 22yrs of age and 98kg and played 50games and extra off season

big difference for a key position player vs Sam at 20yrs of age and only played around 30 games?

...........

I didnt realise walker was from NSW - Broken Hill ??

[Auntie.Gerald]

also......the ups and downs.......

Walker returned to the side in 2010 and showed fluctuating form, showing glimpses of brilliance along with some terrible form, he was again dropped from the side on a number of occasions throughout the year, sparking rumours that he and head coach Neil Craig were not seeing eye to eye and that Craig was using Walker as a 'scapegoat' for Adelaide's poor form throughout the year.

In 2011, Walker was again dropped for two weeks after showing poor form and was seen drinking a beer on live television at a SANFL game, sparking speculation that he 'didn't care' and may have signed a contract with Greater Western Sydney, the eighteenth side who will enter the AFL competition in 2012, with whom Walker had been previously strongly linked.[2] Walker made a return to the side, only to injure his knee in his first game back, sidelining him for several weeks.

Walker's contract with the Adelaide Crows ended at the conclusion of the 2011 season and Walker and his management have put off contract talks with the club until the seasons end, fueling more speculation that Walker planned on walking out on the club, or may have already signed and could already be contracted to the GWS from season 2012. However Walker re-signed with the Crows, instead losing Phil Davis to the GWS franchise.[3]

[GongSwan]

If anybody ever needs an example of a definitive turning point in a game, show them the Reilly contested mark with ROK and subsequent sweeping of the ball downfield for a Crows goal late in the game. ROK can normally be counted on to win those contests, but that was the turning point...

Agree completely, Okeefe takes the mark, even if he doesn't goal, it's a different result

[DLBIA14]

I didnt realise walker was from NSW - Broken Hill ??

Yep, one of Adelaide's NSW Scholarship players. We were too late in trying to get him. From an article I read a long while ago I think he said he was always a Crows supporter while his brother was a Swans supporter.