Round 6 vs adelaide game day thread

[bandwagon]

1. Adelaide are a really good side. We could have won if one or two little things had gone our way, but we did not 'deserve' to win as some have posted. But I'm sick of losing to them - different coach, different game plan, mostly different players but the same result.
2. As others have highlighted, we need a competitive 2nd ruck.
3. We need to improve our forward line - players, structures I don't know, but we can't go through the season relying on our midfield for the bulk of our goals.

[Scottee]

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.

[Bob Neil]

Tom the gambling man

Maybe Swan's new sponsor, Tom Waterhouse, had an impact.

[Hartijon]

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.

For those of us who think form should be the only criteria for selection we have paid the price for playing an out of form Reid who is probably carrying an injury. This will catch us out against good sides and Adelaide is a good side who we should have beaten if we continue to think we are top 4.I love Reid as much as any one and have supported his selection from day 1 but I don't think anybodies interests and particularly Sam;s interests are served by playing him out of form.Be fair on the kid and give him a well deserved rest to get the body back in order and we may also not lose these close ones!

[mcs]

I think it is very harsh to blame it solely on Reid and Mcglynn. Neither are playing near the top of their game, but they weren't the reason we didn't win the game. I think far more importantly (outside the moments of luck that went either way that could have won it for us), our overall inability to ever really get control of the midfield and the clearances was what meant we lost the game. Adelaide have several players with the ability to deliver the ball wonderfull well into their forward line - but unlike against the Wooboys or Dawkthorn, we never really took control of the midfield and stopped the supply. Hence several times Adelaide kicked goals quite close together and swung the momentum - most importantly at the start of the last quarter.

If Sammy is injured, then he should not be playing, simple as that. He is not a player we should be risking serious damage to, and his current lack of form is not doing anyone any good. I don't think he should be dropped from the firsts team, but simply given time to rest if his body is not right.

[Doctor]

Let's face it, Adelaide kicked straighter for goal than us. They took the pressure chances and we missed a couple of them. Apart from that it was very close. As long as we continue the way we've been going rather than letting the loss kick the mental stuffing out of us we should be fine.

I do agree that Reid is out of form but I genuinely don't know if dropping him or playing him through it is the best approach. I'll trust the coaching staff to figure that one out. McGlynn was pretty good against the Hawks so I think he deserves more time.

[wolftone57]

It was a tough final quarter to sit through, I thought the team did well to get back to where they did- part way through the first Adelaide really were on top of things. I thought that the coaches did well to adjust to Adelaide,

On the backup ruck, if the coaches really do not think that much on the importance of the backup ruck position and are happy to sacrifice ruckwork for versatility then they really need to think again; down late in the fourth in a close game, glancing across and seeing the number 1 ruckman stranded on the bench whilst the backup seemed unable to get his hands to the ball at multiple stoppages- it did feel like the Crows managed to suck a lot of time out of the game there.

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!!

[Doctor]

LRT is getting slaughtered in the ruck. He's doing his best and it's not his fault but he's not up to it. White? Pyke? We've got to use someone else.

[liz]

I thought it was interesting that during the reserves game yesterday, White played substantially in the ruck, with relief from Pyke, while Pyke mostly played forward with short spells in the ruck. Guess they are trying to develop the area of each respective player that needs the most work. I thought Pyke was moderately effective up forward, while White was relatively anonymous in the ruck (though I missed the first 5 minutes and I gather White started like a house on fire).

Last week against Northern Thunder I thought Pyke looked a bit out of sorts. But even allowing for the vastly different quality of opposition yesterday, he looked far more "with it". Wouldn't mind seeing him plonked in the forward line against the Tigers. I think their defence struggles a bit with height and he can certainly clunk a mark. His kicking for goal has been a bit ponderous this year though, certainly compared with last year when he was nailing them from all angles.

[wolftone57]

LRT is getting slaughtered in the ruck. He's doing his best and it's not his fault but he's not up to it. White? Pyke? We've got to use someone else.

Agreed but there is the other problem that in an important period we couldn't get a ruckman onto the ground even though several smalls were willing to sacrifice themselves to get him on! The coaching staff were asleep at the wheel!!!That is even more frightening!!!There is also another point. LRT is probably the worst second ruck of all time and that is not his fault, after all he is not a ruckman. But I have seen second rucks at district footy level in Adelaide that were better! He is a crap ruck and should never be in that posie ever again!!! Bloody well lost us the game yesterday!!!

[Lucky Knickers]

I hate close losses because you are just left rueing those chances.
24 hours on I am positive.
Yes Reid is a little ineffective right now but he is learning his craft and he is absolutely smashed week in week out but he does not drop his head, nor does he stop competing and contesting the ball. He's also showing he can play through the bumps.
Parks struggled this week. Dan, I thought had another good game. He's put a couple of games together.
Jetta is improving and wow what a kick to ROK for a goal in Q3. HAve we every had a player that can nail that quality of pass into the forward line?
Reg had his best game so far and AJ is a young tough bugger.
Goodes is such a champion.
Be patient because they are learning and hardening up and they played a great game last night to get back in touch after a big lead.
We were good last night. Crows were better. It's a near top of the table clash with a kick in it.

[wolftone57]

I thought it was interesting that during the reserves game yesterday, White played substantially in the ruck, with relief from Pyke, while Pyke mostly played forward with short spells in the ruck. Guess they are trying to develop the area of each respective player that needs the most work. I thought Pyke was moderately effective up forward, while White was relatively anonymous in the ruck (though I missed the first 5 minutes and I gather White started like a house on fire).

Last week against Northern Thunder I thought Pyke looked a bit out of sorts. But even allowing for the vastly different quality of opposition yesterday, he looked far more "with it". Wouldn't mind seeing him plonked in the forward line against the Tigers. I think their defence struggles a bit with height and he can certainly clunk a mark. His kicking for goal has been a bit ponderous this year though, certainly compared with last year when he was nailing them from all angles.

Can I tell you what I think they are trying to do. They are trying to get Jesse to play as much in the ruck as possible for a return to the seniors and to be bigger in return

[The Big Cat]

But I have seen second rucks at district footy level in Adelaide that were better!

Put LRT in Adelaide district footy and he would win the B&F where ever he played! Comparing the two is like comparing rocket science with making paper aeroplanes!

[Triple B]

I heard they had trouble swapping the rucks on and off the field at one stage...

[Bob Neil]

.... I think far more importantly (outside the moments of luck that went either way that could have won it for us), our overall inability to ever really get control of the midfield and the clearances was what meant we lost the game. Adelaide have several players with the ability to deliver the ball wonderfull well into their forward line - but unlike against the Wooboys or Dawkthorn, we never really took control of the midfield and stopped the supply.

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.