Crows 2014

[bennymacca]

Definitely agree with that. We need a pacy winger

[daysofourlives]

Your backline stinks.
Talia, great stopper, doesnt create anything
Smith great attacking defender, defence questionable
The rest wouldnt get a game in any of the top 6 sides.

[Booney]

The biggest thing for Adelaide's back 6-8, none of them make you wonder where they are or if they're closing in on you.

[TEX07]

Your backline stinks.
Talia, great stopper, doesnt create anything
Smith great attacking defender, defence questionable
The rest wouldnt get a game in any of the top 6 sides.

I would add that the games we lost by small margins our decision making when we had the footy in defense was terrible - guys like Laird, Brown and Henderson while doing a job would definately struggle to get a game in a higher placed side - You need Talia to be a stopper, let the good forwards off and they hurt - I think if we had better help down back Smith could be pushed up the ground further - even as a defensive wingman. But I tend t agree our defense is smelly!

[Footy Smart]

I think Brown will end up being ok as the small lock down defender, certainly had an average year and seemed low on confidence.

Hartigan had a few good games and a few bad games so jury still out on him being able to hold down a key defensive post.

Jeansch had his best year, turns the ball over occasionally but he does try and take the game on. He was far from our worst.

The rest who floated through the defence certainly need to improve.

[JK]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

[Footy Smart]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

I understand what you are saying JK, Im not sure what the stats say as far as Eddies pressure acts and defensive tackles etc, but id probably rather his offensive output otherwise we may as well play petrenko if you know what I mean. I think his offensive positives far outweigh his defensive negatives.

I used to get so frustrated with Chris Knights for exactly what you have said though

[bennymacca]

I think Brown will end up being ok as the small lock down defender, certainly had an average year and seemed low on confidence.

Hartigan had a few good games and a few bad games so jury still out on him being able to hold down a key defensive post.

Jeansch had his best year, turns the ball over occasionally but he does try and take the game on. He was far from our worst.

The rest who floated through the defence certainly need to improve.

Agree with all of that except for jaensch turning it over - he goes at over 90% kicking efficiency. Now I think he kicks too short a lot of the time, and he is nowhere near as penetrating as smith, which I think he could and should be, but he doesn't turn it over.

[the joker]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

I understand what you are saying JK, Im not sure what the stats say as far as Eddies pressure acts and defensive tackles etc, but id probably rather his offensive output otherwise we may as well play petrenko if you know what I mean. I think his offensive positives far outweigh his defensive negatives.

I used to get so frustrated with Chris Knights for exactly what you have said though

he averaged 4 tackles a game.

[bennymacca]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

I understand what you are saying JK, Im not sure what the stats say as far as Eddies pressure acts and defensive tackles etc, but id probably rather his offensive output otherwise we may as well play petrenko if you know what I mean. I think his offensive positives far outweigh his defensive negatives.

I used to get so frustrated with Chris Knights for exactly what you have said though

I think when the ball is in his area his pressure acts are first class, especially his second and third efforts when the ball is in dispute, but I don't think he works hard enough when the other team breaks. You rarely see him in the half back flank following his man down etc. definitely something he can work on, but overall betts has been a win for the crows imo

[Booney]

I think Betts is happy to press, tackle and harass if the contest is within goal scoring range or at worst goal assist range. As noted, you don't see him on the back end of the wing earning a kick when he is having a quiet patch, which he does have.

.

[helicopterking]

I had a look at Adelaides List, of the blokes I have seen play, these blokes need to go.

B.Reiley, Rutten, Petrenko, Graham, McKernan, Porplyzia.

Guys I haven't seen and don't know how they go.

Siggins, R.Knight, S.Shaw, R.Atkins, Osborne, Battersby, Spina, Kelly.

You need at least 2 of those unseen blokes to really come on next year or It may be another so-so year.

[JK]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

I understand what you are saying JK, Im not sure what the stats say as far as Eddies pressure acts and defensive tackles etc, but id probably rather his offensive output otherwise we may as well play petrenko if you know what I mean. I think his offensive positives far outweigh his defensive negatives.

I used to get so frustrated with Chris Knights for exactly what you have said though

Yep fair call mate, you guys would watch them more than me and this and Benny, Booney etc explanations sound about right.

[mighty hounds]

Brisbane will be listening to offers for Daniel Merrett. Should the Crows make a play for him?

[Jim05]

Brisbane will be listening to offers for Daniel Merrett. Should the Crows make a play for him?

Reckon he will be at GWS

[Chuck Wepner]

Brisbane will be listening to offers for Daniel Merrett. Should the Crows make a play for him?

Merrett probably wants to play finals, though...

[bennymacca]

How old is he? Reckon he would be pretty solid for the crows, or any team really, where he doesn't have to hold down the defence all by himself.

[bennymacca]

He is 29, not worth it for the crows imo

[Ron Burgundy]

He is 29, not worth it for the crows imo

He is average. We have recruited enough average players in the past.

[woodublieve12]

I've defended the worth of Betts this year, but there is one downside and for mine it conflicts with one of Sanderson's recent comments, regarding the Crows collectively becoming a more defensively oriented team.

Betts statistically is very strong offensively. His numbers for goals scored and assists stack up. However on several occasions I watched them this year, when the Crows were trying to press in the midfield or half-forward Betts was the weak link, because he was already heading toward the open space in front of his goal BEFORE they had caused the turnover (and which they didn't but may well have, had Eddie contributed to it).

I'm not sure you'll be able to get both qualities out of him, but if you want a strong defensive ethos it has to run through the team to a man imho.

Will be interesting to see how Sanderson plays it.

Not wrong with going defensive.
"Offense gets membership and defence gets premierships"