Match Day Thread Rnd 22 Adelaide V Sydney. Adelaide Oval 19.50 pm. Or 19.20 ACST.

[Bill Posters]

A couple of other players I didn't notice much ended up being very influential on reflection - Reid in particular. Is Reid our most under-rated player now? Doesn't get much talk, but is one of our most important. It is no co-incidence that when the Hawks beat us, he wasn't playing.

I just rewatched the last quarter. Reid was immense, as were Jones and Mills.

[Ludwig]

There is a story to tell about the game time numbers:

• Tippett - 66%
• Sinclair - 67%
• Hayward - 63%
• Towers - 68%

Tippett is too slow to be a full time forward. Our ruckmen, even if Naismith comes in, are not good enough to carry 2 of them. It puts extra pressure on the rest of the team in that they are more likely to tire out.

Hayward and Towers can't be trusted to put in a normal amount of game time when the heat is on. Again, others who have been busting a gut, have to put in extra minutes to cover for them.

The margin in these games is so small that little things like this can make a big difference.

Hayward won't learn from the experience. He played as well as he could. He's very talented. He just needs another preseason to work on his strength.

There were far too many times that Towers didn't go hard enough at the ball carrier. He had touch on players and just let them get away.

Tippett is our best option to play in the ruck. Newman is a hard physical player who plays a finals type of game. We need to find 2 others.

We may have to face the fact that we will have to overcome some of the same kind of umpiring we saw last night and in last year's GF, so we not only have to match the best sides, but exceed them by some margin. Last night we got lucky that the Crows missed so many easy shots on goal. They could have easily won by 30 points. Despite beating the top 4 teams this year, I feel that we will go into the finals as the 3rd best side behind Adelaide and GWS (who are now getting closer to full strength). We just need a bit more improvement and we've got a good shot at a title.

[ROK Lobster]

That's exactly right - had to chuckle at that. I think it was BT, after the free kick count was shown at one point, he was fairly dismissive with words to the effect "I haven't noticed the umpiring". But as Matt says, all night he and the others were repeatedly saying "surely a free kick to Sydney" or "[fill in the blank with an Adelaide indiscretion] not paid".

There were a number of instances of the commentators commenting on the free kick count and suggesting that Sydney were getting the rough end of the stick, in addition to the high frequency with which the free kick graphic was being shown. Then, post match there were the comments from Bruce and Carey that they "did not noticce the umpires". I jusy figured that a message came through from the AFL to Ch 7 to remind them that the umpires are not to be criticised.

[Markwebbos]

There is a story to tell about the game time numbers:

• Tippett - 66%
• Sinclair - 67%
• Hayward - 63%
• Towers - 68%

Tippett is too slow to be a full time forward. Our ruckmen, even if Naismith comes in, are not good enough to carry 2 of them. It puts extra pressure on the rest of the team in that they are more likely to tire out.

Hayward and Towers can't be trusted to put in a normal amount of game time when the heat is on. Again, others who have been busting a gut, have to put in extra minutes to cover for them.

The margin in these games is so small that little things like this can make a big difference.

Hayward won't learn from the experience. He played as well as he could. He's very talented. He just needs another preseason to work on his strength.

There were far too many times that Towers didn't go hard enough at the ball carrier. He had touch on players and just let them get away.

Tippett is our best option to play in the ruck. Newman is a hard physical player who plays a finals type of game. We need to find 2 others.

We may have to face the fact that we will have to overcome some of the same kind of umpiring we saw last night and in last year's GF, so we not only have to match the best sides, but exceed them by some margin. Last night we got lucky that the Crows missed so many easy shots on goal. They could have easily won by 30 points. Despite beating the top 4 teams this year, I feel that we will go into the finals as the 3rd best side behind Adelaide and GWS (who are now getting closer to full strength). We just need a bit more improvement and we've got a good shot at a title.

Agree we are behind Crows and GWS and need to improve. And agree that improvement can come by replacing Towers and Hayward with Newman and probably Cunningham.

Don't agree re: Tippett. Think his mobility is a HUGE, LUMBERING problem. And wonder if we wouldn't be better off without him and getting him to stay out of the gym and onto the track.

Naismith is a better ruckman and should play.

Jacobs did towel up Ryder the other week, so he's a good chance for AA this year.

[Blood Fever]

There were a number of instances of the commentators commenting on the free kick count and suggesting that Sydney were getting the rough end of the stick, in addition to the high frequency with which the free kick graphic was being shown. Then, post match there were the comments from Bruce and Carey that they "did not noticce the umpires". I jusy figured that a message came through from the AFL to Ch 7 to remind them that the umpires are not to be criticised.

Even though we were hosed by the umps last night, it is understandable that commentators don't go over the top criticising umpires. If they behaved like fans, it would be a circus every week. Have to say that free against Lloyd that led to a goal was a shocker unless there was something that happened before the vision that was shown.

[MattW]

I haven't been convinced that Naismith is the answer since McEvoy tore us apart a few weeks back. I would like to see him be more competitive in marking contests - he doesn't have to win them, but he needs to at least turn them into a 50:50. Both Tippett and Sinclair are ahead of him in that regard I think. (Sinclair had a team-high 8 one percenters, equal with Mills). Tippett in particular was very good in the first half but faded later in the game - in the final quarter he looked cooked. I wonder if he needs a bit more conditioning following his injuries and stint in the NEAFL.

I think that was a good learning experience for Hayward. That was a finals-like level of intensity that he hasn't been exposed to before and he will have a much better idea of what's required now. I'm not writing him off for the finals just yet, but he does need to lift if he wants to be in the team at that level.

I don't think enough credit is given to Franklin's game which was immense, even by his standards. Kicked three great goals himself and had a direct hand in at least a couple more (Rohan's second and Papley at the end).

A couple of other players I didn't notice much ended up being very influential on reflection - Reid in particular. Is Reid our most under-rated player now? Doesn't get much talk, but is one of our most important. It is no co-incidence that when the Hawks beat us, he wasn't playing.

Good post. Franklin has been very good the last couple of weeks and is generally excellent in close games. He is looking very fit and determined.

I agree re Reid. His last month or so has been excellent; I think he's improved since signing the contract. Good to see him kicking straight of late.

We also missed Lloyd and Rohan from that Hawthorn game - both critical players, in my view. Rohan is clutch. Finishes tight games very well.

And you're right - Hayward's first finals-like game. Big call whether to gamble on him improving for his second or shifting to Cunningham. I think the Carlton selection will show their hand - can't see Cunningham returning to the team in a final.

[MattW]

There were a number of instances of the commentators commenting on the free kick count and suggesting that Sydney were getting the rough end of the stick, in addition to the high frequency with which the free kick graphic was being shown. Then, post match there were the comments from Bruce and Carey that they "did not noticce the umpires". I jusy figured that a message came through from the AFL to Ch 7 to remind them that the umpires are not to be criticised.

Except that they kept banging on about the 50m penalty to Mills.

[Jeynez]

On a more positive note for Hayward, he was one of our top players in terms of pressure acts. The effort is definitely there, but it's hard when you're considerably smaller than your opponents.

He might have to make way for a Cunningham come finals unfortunately

[barry]

You guys are being far too hard on Hayward. He'll learn a lot from that game. I'd like to see how he bounces back next week before thinking about dropping him.

[jono2707]

Must be turning into a good year when the biggest whinge we seem to have on a weekly basis is that those nasty commentators don't like us as much as we'd like them to.

And I hope Wolfy has had a bex and a good lie down after his disgraceful comments about one of our great young talents.

[Mel_C]

I nearly fell off my chair this morning listening to Dermie on the radio. He said the 50 was there because the umpire hadn't called play on. (Even David King agreed!) Then he said that we had the raw deal with the umpires because when we tackled and the crows dropped it there was crowd silence and no free. But when it was the other way around the crowd went nuts and the free was paid. They also brought up the Betts hand in the back that he seems to get away with.

Maybe Dermie hates the crows more than us ????.

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[stevoswan]

I am not sure why it should be mentioned? Likely due to the CH 7 team. I seen the exact situation at least 6 times throughout the year, its not play on until the umpire calls play on, simple rule. I notice in Longmire's voice that the Bias umpiring is starting to get to him, he is only human. 150% more free kicks in GF, 100 % more frees yesterday. Maybe during the finals the umps will strive for a 200% more free kick count. Even though we won, I did not enjoy last nights side show. Can we bring back Bill Dellar?

The dream 3 GF umpires would be Bill Deller, Harry Beitzel and probably the best ever, Glenn James. Then we'd see great officiating. These three make todays umpires look like complete cheating amateurs.....

[stevoswan]

I thought this one summed it up. Brett Bonetti on Twitter: "How is this a free kick to Adelaide?? ???? #AFLCrowsSwans https://t.co/WC7T3Qhqs3"

Who knows, only the scumpires, but I love this reply:

"No idea! Just like most of the fees tonight. But tough @@@@ Crows, you lost!!"

[mcs]

I nearly fell off my chair this morning listening to Dermie on the radio. He said the 50 was there because the umpire hadn't called play on. (Even David King agreed!) Then he said that we had the raw deal with the umpires because when we tackled and the crows dropped it there was crowd silence and no free. But when it was the other way around the crowd went nuts and the free was paid. They also brought up the Betts hand in the back that he seems to get away with.

Maybe Dermie hates the crows more than us ????.

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Dermie talking sense - there is a first time for anything

[treespirit]

I nearly fell off my chair this morning listening to Dermie on the radio. He said the 50 was there because the umpire hadn't called play on. (Even David King agreed!) Then he said that we had the raw deal with the umpires because when we tackled and the crows dropped it there was crowd silence and no free. But when it was the other way around the crowd went nuts and the free was paid. They also brought up the Betts hand in the back that he seems to get away with.

Maybe Dermie hates the crows more than us ????.

I loved his comment that we got "reamed with the rough end of the pineapple" by the umpiring. I gave up on the C7 commentary and switched to SEN and they were commenting on the umpiring during the game.