Adelaide v Richmond

*crickets chirping*

Well - after last week's effort Adelaide fans can be forgiven for pretending it's not footy season for a few days.

I have lost a certain amount of faith in my team after last week to be brutally honest. Well that's not totally true - I have faith in their overall talent and potential and do think they are heading in the right direction - but I have lost faith in our chances this year.

I think the Tippett affair knocked a bit of wind out of last years sails, and the suspension of Dean Bailey has certainly contributed. The sharp drop in form of most of the experienced players (Vince, Van Berlo, Reilly, Porplyzia, Callinan, Johncock) in the line up has also been a shock, and very disappointing. The young fellas have done their best to make up this shortfall, but as the season wears on they are flagging also.

I have grave fears for this weekend's game to be honest.

Richmond coming off their bye to win by 35 points.

Yes, back to reality for Adelaide.  There just seems to be a few obvious problems with the way we're set up.  We seem to play 'pretty' football and I wonder if we just need one or two 'socks down', tough types (can we get Gary McIntosh back8)).

Steve Morris does it for Richmond.  Perhaps Aiden Riley instead of one of the clones.

I agree but I don't think there's anyone ready made to slot in unfortunately.

Probably at least 4 young fellas that I can think of off the top of my head who will fill that role with time - but no one right now.

This will be one of the typical games Richmond drop - I know, I'm a Richmond supporter!

The way the Crows are going this year, it wouldnt surprise me if they won this - their form-line is fairly random and doesnt really follow any real pattern.

So they'll probably either lose by 14 goals, or win by 10 points.

Another lacklustre performance. Just what has happened to this team this year?

3 steps forward in 2012, 2 steps back in 2013.

Didn't they look ordinary.  Terrible skills and a low work rate most of the day.

Jacobs looks really pedestrian, McKay is an average player, Vince poor, Van Berlo over-rated, Thompson not fit, etc, etc.

Liked Talia, Dangerfield a star.

Every week there are a handful of individuals who play quite well, but as a team they are just completely dysfunctional.

I'm glad I'm not Brenton Sanderson. I wouldn't know where to start to be honest.

Interesting they dropped Kerridge a couple of weeks after his effort against North.

Re van Berlo, this will surely be his last season as captain, and will be replaced by Dangerfield next year.

Porps do you think he needs a run in the SANFL

You're hoping Thiele?

Porps actually played pretty well yesterday, 20 odd possessions and a goal. That will keep him in the side for a few more weeks you would think.

Yea the Kerridge dropping was interesting FF, but they were saying that it was to give him a bit of a rest and I can see that point of view.

Speaking of selections, I see in the paper today that they were suggesting the decision to drop Reilly was the wrong one - I don't agree. He has been horribly out of form this year.

I guess that's the thing that really disappoints me about this year - the terrible form of our experienced players. They need to be the backbone of the team and yet it's basically left to the youngsters almost every week.

Yes, there just seems to be a lack of will this year.  I know it sounds silly, but do you think they're a bit mentally weak and are suffering a 'nearly made the GF' hangover?

On a more serious note, you can't take out Tippett and Walker and expect to do as well, especially replacing them with very inexperienced players who need time.

One other disappointing factor is that players who have shown a lot in one game (eg:  Lynch, 10 goals), Kerridge, 6 goals) can't reach anywhere near the same standard subsequently.

The talent is there, it needs to be more consistent.

I suppose when you lose a close PF like last year, it can go either way.  Either you're more hungry to make a GF the following season (re: Essendon 1999-2000) or it can completely deflate you.  I think here the latter has certainly happened.  Or Sando has been worked out by others as a coach.  Maybe the expectations were too high?

PS.  Of course I enjoyed the win yesterday, but I'm still not listening to any talk of the Tigers making the 8 come the end of the season!!

The number 9 must ne Richmond's least favourite.

I know this flies in the face of thinking about how a players form in the SANFL translates to form in the AFL, yet I think Sanderson needs to take a punt on Richard Tambling and give him a shot at it. Tambling was a high draft pick player and has played some very good footy in the past, he is out in the wilderness no doubt for several reasons yet if you speak to him, his passion and desire to wear the AFC jumper is overwhelming. Give him his chance and you might be surprised at how well he goes.

He certainly has not been playing badly for Sturt.
Last year's B&F and a solid contributor week in week out.
Makes a mistake or two, but I think I'd rather a player with some spark than someone who plays safe and doesn't do much.

Was solid again yesterday.
You would think he ought to come into contention for the Crows.
The one who has got me baffled as to why he can't get a game for the Crows is Aidan Riley. He is by far Sturt's best midfielder and just about leads the league in clearances. Is like a bulldog at the ball. Surely the fruit tingles could use a bit of that?

Good call on both counts gents. Tambling deserves one last crack at it I reckon.

If Tambling is the answer then we might as well shut up shop for the rest of the year and blood the youngsters.

Very Disappointing month since the NM game.

bigclock wrote:If Tambling is the answer then we might as well shut up shop for the rest of the year and blood the youngsters.

Very Disappointing month since the NM game.

How many of you thought you were lucky to win that game too?