Adelaide

Went to the NAB Challenge game last night and was pretty happy with what I saw given how early it is. Sam Jacobs is noticeably thinner than previously but played really well so hopefully it will bring him back to his best form after a quiet year last year.

Yes, reading the reports this morning it seems that it was a bit of an arm wrestle until the last term when Adelaide kicked away.

How was McKernan in your opinion IATW? A few reports saying that he had a pretty good night. I've always thought he's had a lot of potential, but a lack of discipline and footy smarts have seen him never quite make it. He's got the build and knows how to split a pack open.

didn't see or hear the trial game but they said on the radio today it was a very scrappy affair, was this due to the pressure of the game or was the ground covered in heavy dew ?

McKernan was good but he reminds me a bit of Ian Perrie- capable of playing a good game on his day but never threatening to become consistent. He has a great pair of hands and is mostly a good kick but he lacks the around the ground skills that would guarantee him a spot in the side. (IMHO)

The ground was lovely last night Bayman- I put the scrap early down to tactics- there was a lot of flooding around the ball which only broke up in the second half of the game. The last half was a lot more watchable that's for sure.

I watched Cam Ellis Yolman play for the Eags last year- he'd only just broken into the league then and I thought he was miles short of afl standard. He has bulked up a huge amount over the summer and while I still don't think he's nearing the first 18 yet he's a lot closer than he was this time last year.

Your Ian Perrie analogy is a great one IATW. Very good comparison.

Gingernuts wrote:Your Ian Perrie analogy is a great one IATW. Very good comparison.

Agree totally. McKernan should, given his size and ability, dominate at SANFL level but IMO he is good rather then great. Can't see him making the leap to AFL level on a consistent basis.

How is the press basically manufacturing some news around free agency this week?

So the Crows and the Power have confirmed they are looking at the free agency market. All 18 clubs have think tanks thrashing out this stuff. So Bryce Gibbs is on the radar. Again, surprise surprise, he is one of the highest profile names on the list up for grabs at the end of the year, he is probably on everyone's radar.

Talk about generating headlines already.

UncleHuey wrote:

Gingernuts wrote:Your Ian Perrie analogy is a great one IATW. Very good comparison.

Agree totally. McKernan should, given his size and ability, dominate at SANFL level but IMO he is good rather then great. Can't see him making the leap to AFL level on a consistent basis.

someone that was in Souths coaches box last year told me they got rid of him because when going for marks he drops his head, i watched him more closely when he arrived at Glenelg & while Mckernan won Glenelg at least one & possibly two matches by himself, however he did tend to drop his head in pack situations, i don't think it is because he is soft, i think it is a sub conscious thing, i think his biggest flaw is his kicking, imho he drops the ball from a way too high position which causes his kicks to spray

For all that, he is a big man, and it's well documented that big men traditionally take longer to develop their game. The usual school of thought is that around 24 yrs old onwards is when a ruckman should be hitting his straps.

So who knows, maybe he will come on this year. As an Adelaide fan it would be a bonus, but it's certainly not an expectation.

http://www.afc.com.au/news/2014-03-04/2014-chants-hour

Let's get together and practice our chanting / cheering!   

Might avoid having to flash *CLAP NOW* up on the screens.

Yes, I did get that email a couple of days ago. Dear oh dear.

"A - der - laide - clap - clap - clap" obviously doesn't cut the mustard anymore.   

Booney wrote:http://www.afc.com.au/news/2014-03-04/2014-chants-hour

Let's get together and practice our chanting / cheering!   

Might avoid having to flash *CLAP NOW* up on the screens.

Oh dear.

Never know. Might work.   

In all seriousness I do find this type of fluff a bit annoying. Here's an idea - how about just go out and win. That will get the crowd going.

Over the years there's been fireworks, blow up Crows to run through, blah blah blah.

Some stuff has been okay. I don't mind the 19th man concept when it comes to getting the crowd up and about, or putting off an opposition shot at goal. I don't even mind the dude that runs out before the team carrying that big **** flag.

But the line between creating atmosphere and creating cringeworthy moments gets crossed far too often for my liking. Too often I feel embarrassed to be an Adelaide fan rather than proud, and the source of that embarrassment comes almost exclusively from this sort of off field stuff.

Sadly, for the sensible like you Ginge, I bet there's hundreds at the shed next week to practice. As I type this my smile is ear to ear,I just can't help it! Heck, I might even go along!!!

Like you said, get 50,000 people to winning games and the rest takes care of itself.

Must be a slow news day...

sapaul wrote:Must be a slow news day...

Or the news is ridiculously newsworthy.  

does that mean the majority of Crows supporters (still) don't know how to support ?

the majority had no idea when i went to AFL games 5+ years ago

if some this 'majority' go to the crows sanfl matches they'll have no idea what hit 'em....i look forward to that

SANFL footy for real football people

AFL footy, is footy for theatre goers (not all of them)

i'm a bit like Mr Booney, it could be an entertaining evening

first chant line they might suggest is when Kurt is lining up for goal yell out ''your mother wears army boots'' lol

Quarter time in the trial match at Blacktown

GWS 5.2.32
Adelaide 3.5.23

Very sloppy first quarter by the Crows. Our defence in particular has been embarrassing letting the Giants slot a couple of easy goals.

Surprisingly both teams have headed into the change rooms for quarter time. Considering it's only about 25 degrees there, I find that quite odd.

Half time in the trial match at Blacktown

GWS 5.5.35
Adelaide 8.8.56

A tight first 15 minutes was blown right open with 4 goals in 5 minutes to the Crows to see them take a 21 point lead at half time.

Tom Lynch has injured his shoulder though. Club suspects it's an AC joint. Otten looked like he went down with what looked like a knee injury, but he left the field unassisted so he should be ok.

The problem with the new SANFL setup is that I'm less bothered about an injury to a Crows or AFL player now, as it's one less good player for their SANFL team.

Hope nobody gets a serious injury, but one or two game injuries are fine with me now.

3 quarter time in the trial match at Blacktown

GWS 7.7.49
Adelaide 11.10.76

With the Crows down to 1 on the bench, the 2nd half is flat 20 minute quarters, and again, there wasn't much scoreboard movement until the last 5 minutes. GWS with the first couple, before the Crows responded with some late goals to set up a 27 point 3 quarter time lead.

redandblack wrote:The problem with the new SANFL setup is that I'm less bothered about an injury to a Crows or AFL player now, as it's one less good player for their SANFL team.

Hope nobody gets a serious injury, but one or two game injuries are fine with me now.

Are West Adelaide one of the clubs who offered top up players?

If so, lots of Adelaide injuries may mean them calling on more players from West, therefore reducing your depth and impacting upon your club.

Final Score (last quarter just 17.5 minutes)

GWS 11.8.74
Adelaide 12.10.82

A few injuries to come out of the game:

Lynch - dislocated shoulder
Otten - knock to the knee (should be fine for round 1)
Douglas - Heavy knock to the groin, and in hospital
Shaw - Hamstring tightness

All up, it was a necessary hitout, but the injury toll is a bit of a concern. GWS won't be the easybeats this season, while the Crows maybe not as good as what some fans are claiming they will be.

Booney wrote:

redandblack wrote:The problem with the new SANFL setup is that I'm less bothered about an injury to a Crows or AFL player now, as it's one less good player for their SANFL team.

Hope nobody gets a serious injury, but one or two game injuries are fine with me now.

Are West Adelaide one of the clubs who offered top up players?

If so, lots of Adelaide injuries may mean them calling on more players from West, therefore reducing your depth and impacting upon your club.

Yes, Booney, we have the promising Jye DeZylva with the Crows.

They have plenty of backup, so it won't affect us or other SANFL clubs.