Crows 2015

[Fricky]

The Adelaide Crows have become invisible in their own backyard, writes Michelangelo Rucci

MICHELANGELO RUCCI CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER
The Advertiser
February 23, 2015 8:30PM

HAPPY 25th anniversary Adelaide Football Club.

Tomorrow night the membership can gather at West Lakes for the Crows’ first annual meeting as an independent football club, released from the SANFL’s hold.

“Free at last, free at last ...,” chairman Rob Chapman, an SANFL appointee, can finally say after having that speech on hold for two years.

The members — or “customers” as chief operating officer Nigel Smart calls them — will for the first time in 25 seasons appoint two directors after considering nine nominees. Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto is a lock.

A new era begins at West Lakes. As much as season 2015 is about reflecting, celebrating and admiring the most successful start-up expansion club in VFL-AFL history — the Crows have never needed a bail-out, there is much-needed hope for the future to sell.

New coach in Phil Walsh. New captain in Taylor Walker. New chief executive in Andrew Fagan. And very much a new tone to the Adelaide Football Club that appears to be moving further away from its SANFL roots than before.

The Crows seem to have adopted from American football, in particular the New England Patriots, a philosophy of: “Say nothing, say nothing and then say even less”. It is the bubble Ross Lyon built at St Kilda and taken to a new level in AFL.

Closed training sessions. Minimal public exposure with the location of workouts kept as an ultra-secret. Strangely, even the Crows’ membership/customer count — that may have fallen behind Port Adelaide’s 54,492 for the first time — is a guarded number, no longer on the club’s website.

Walsh has made the most significant statements on how the Adelaide Football Club is to look and behave in his time.

While his squad lives “elite standards” with a “team first” attitude, the now 25-season-old Adelaide Football Club is to be “authentic” with “no spin”. So are the Crows living up to this grand vision?

Among the nine candidates for the two seats to the new Adelaide board is commercial lawyer Daniel Kiley. He is a man from the outer. By his own profile — on the impressive website 19thdan.com.au — it is clear he is one of the “rusted-on Crows” who stayed attached to the same seat at Football Park for 15 years.

Kiley has perfectly reflected the frustration of a supporter and membership (or customer) base that notes the Crows have failed to live to the pre-Walsh ideals of being “Uncompromising. Inclusive. Proud.”

Kiley’s vision for this new, independent Adelaide Football Club has resonated louder than anything officially declared at West Lakes in the past six months (with the exception of Smart continuing a string of bizarre tweets by referring to the Crows members as customers). Why? Because officially, the Crows have never been more silent. At least that ensures no spin, as ordered by Walsh.

There is no doubt the Crows have been an overexposed football club at times.

Right now, they have overcorrected ... and perhaps that explains why by membership/customer count it is no longer No. 1 in SA.

[Booney]

I think Rucci missed something, the AFL released figures the other day, showing :

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/h ... 7233781930

ADELAIDE

So far in 2015: 57,103

This time last year: 49,000

Members in 2014: 57,231

PORT ADELAIDE

So far in 2015: 54,342

This time last year: 41,200

Members in 2014: 55,750

So the chump missed out on this little tid bit, pretty much making his whole article bollocks.

On the other "silent" point, is it the tail wagging the dog, or the other way around? Adelaide have given the media plenty to write about since Tippett, Trigg, Sanderson etc etc.

So while the club is taking stock and making changes internally the media has nothing to report. It's not like Adelaide have just disappeared, is it?

They're just doing things a little better. ( Hopefully not for long.... )

[MW]

Yep and that is exactly what is frustrating him...

[Fricky]

I think Rucci missed something, the AFL released figures the other day, showing :

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/h ... 7233781930

ADELAIDE

So far in 2015: 57,103

This time last year: 49,000

Members in 2014: 57,231

PORT ADELAIDE

So far in 2015: 54,342

This time last year: 41,200

Members in 2014: 55,750

So the chump missed out on this little tid bit, pretty much making his whole article bollocks.

On the other "silent" point, is it the tail wagging the dog, or the other way around? Adelaide have given the media plenty to write about since Tippett, Trigg, Sanderson etc etc.

So while the club is taking stock and making changes internally the media has nothing to report. It's not like Adelaide have just disappeared, is it?

They're just doing things a little better. ( Hopefully not for long.... )

I guess Rucci missed the mark again.

Great to see both clubs will be north of 55K members this season, having close to sell out games all season will be great for SA.

[mighty_tiger_79]

perhaps Rucci deliberately made a mistake in hoping someone from the club would take offence to it, like Roo

[MW]

perhaps Rucci deliberately made a mistake in hoping someone from the club would take offence to it, like Roo

lol yeah Rucci "deliberately" misses the mark

[stan]

perhaps Rucci deliberately made a mistake in hoping someone from the club would take offence to it, like Roo

lol yeah Rucci "deliberately" misses the mark

Rucci couldn't hit the mark if he tried.

[Booney]

Adelaide post a $400k loss for 2014.

How was that stadium deal then?

[Special One]

Adelaide post a $400k loss for 2014.

How was that stadium deal then?

Crows are depreciating assets so they can move in to city soon!

[dedja]

Well, they increased revenue by $4M but spent $5M more last year, including a large payout to Sando.

Shame SMA, shame.

[MW]

Payout to Sando, lump sum payment for license to SANFL...there are reasons.

[dedja]

Yep, apparently some write-offs included.

[Spargo]

Payout to Sando, lump sum payment for license to SANFL...there are reasons.

On the flip side, the staff wage bill was significantly lower in September again....

[whufc]

Well, they increased revenue by $4M but spent $5M more last year, including a large payout to Sando.

Shame SMA, shame.

Come on mate don't get in the way of what the masses want to believe

[MW]

Payout to Sando, lump sum payment for license to SANFL...there are reasons.

On the flip side, the staff wage bill was significantly lower in September again....

The fringe must be in town with this type of comedy gold

[Spargo]

Payout to Sando, lump sum payment for license to SANFL...there are reasons.

On the flip side, the staff wage bill was significantly lower in September again....

The fringe must be in town with this type of comedy gold

Wait 'till the season starts, then you'll see some of my sharpest stuff.

[Footy Smart]

Did anyone watch the match? I only managed to see parts of it. thoughts?

[hawks21]

Did anyone watch the match? I only managed to see parts of it. thoughts?

Scrappy game from both sides being the first hit out for both clubs and both missing some experienced players.
Walsh gave a lot of game time to the younger players so I was surprised at the lead we had at 3 quarter time. Tried a few different things up forward, trying to isolate Betts one on one out the square. VB got better as the game went on and showed promising signs 12 months out the game.

Young O'Brien got smashed in the ruck all game from Daw and Currie but the young giraffe did a few nice things as a raw 19 yr old. Ramsey also looked good across half forward. Crouch, Lyons and Grigg were our better players, especially around the contest. Ellis-Yoleman found plenty of the ball but turned it over a lot.

Our pressure on the ball carrier was excellent for the first 3 quarters, the last quarter I wouldn't take any notice of, North had the breeze and our back line for most of the quarter had Siggins, Kelly and Wigg in it, the young kids through the midfield ran out of puff.

All in all a good first hit out I reckon!

[Footy Smart]

i noticed Pods across Half Back and also Sloane at one stage.

[Booney]

Scott Thompson blows a hamstring at training. :

Adelaide veteran Scott Thompson is "touch and go" for Round One after suffering a minor hamstring injury at training.

Thompson has been ruled out of the Crows' NAB Challenge clash with Geelong on Thursday night at Simonds Stadium and is likely to miss the Club's final clash against Port Adelaide on March 21.

Coach Phil Walsh described the injury as a minor setback but the midfielder, who turns 32 on Saturday, remains in doubt for the season opener against North Melbourne on April 5.

"Thommo's had a slight setback with his hammy so he's probably touch and go for even next week (and Round One)," Walsh said.

"We'll just monitor that one as we go along.

"We've still got four weeks (until Round One), most hamstrings are only three weeks but he did have a slight setback."

See Adelaide’s 29-man squad for the clash with the Cats

Thompson suffered some back-related hamstring issues last season but Walsh said this twinge is not related to those issues.

"They tell me it's not (related)," Walsh said.

"It's really minor but at this time of the year we want Thommo 100 per cent fit and ready to go."

Young midfielder Matt Crouch has also been left out of the squad to face Geelong as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, while ex-Hawk Luke Lowden is still being monitored after undergoing a modified training program before Christmas.