The AFL practice match between Adelaide Crows and Port shows one side has room to grow, and another might be in trouble | Graham Cornes

First impressions are the Crows have the talent to improve and Port might be in a little bit of trouble. But remember, first impressions are not always accurate, writes Graham Cornes.

Sometimes, first impressions deceive us.

Some of us who have spent a lifetime in football have a misguided or over-inflated belief in our ability to identify talent.

We see a brief moment of that one young footballer who stands apart from the rest and confidently predict they will have along career. Sometimes we’re right – but not always. Several years ago I watched Tariek Newchurch playing for the Crows intrial match against Port Adelaide at Alberton. Sure, he was slight but he had all the moves. Could he be the next Cyril Rioli, Bobby Hill or Kysaiah Pickett?

I followed his progress but his development stalled.

Matt Crouch of the Crows in front of Jason Horne-Francis of the Power during the AFL practice match at Mt Barker Summit Sport and Recreation Ground. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images.

He never did make the Crows’ AFL team and quietly slipped from the rookie list last year. Maybe he just needed that one opportunity but it never came.

Fortunately list managers don’t rely solely on first impressions.

They’ve been following a young footballer’s development for at least three years.

However, we saw for the first time on Friday night two young Crows players whose first impressions cannot possibly be deceiving. It’s no surprise Sid Draper is one of them.

He’s been a star all through his junior ranks and made his mark already at SANFL level. Straight into the AFL team, albeit in a trial game, he looked very much at home. He’s quick, he’s balanced and he has a great awareness.

An early pass to Ben Keays signalled his ability to win and distribute the ball. We don’t need first impressions because the Crows’ list management team has done all that work for us.

But the other one we saw for the first time who made a huge first impression was James Peatling.

It was ‘James Who?’ when the Crows traded him into the club but he’s impressive. He started in the centre square for the first bounce of the match, which indicates his future role and the impact he has made in his short time at West Lakes.

Joe Berry of the Power handballs during the AFL practice match between Adelaide Crows. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images.

He’s not flashy - more an enthusiastic, alert, bustling type of player who wins the ball in close and distributes it efficiently. You may not even notice him but his coaches do.

Trial games can be misleading and different teams have different priorities. Motivations vary. It would have been disappointing had the Crows not dominated early. They were almost at full strength despite missing the mercurial Izak Rankine, young star Max Michalanney and newcomer Isaac Cumming. But those players were adequately covered.

The Crows have to be intense at this time of the season. They know they must start the season well.

Plus there is so much competition for spots in the starting line-up. As well as missing Rankine, Michalanney and Cumming, regular players Berry, Murphy, Butts, Pedlar and Schoenberg were relegated to the last half of the six-period trial game.

For a team that hasn’t made the finals since 2017, the Crows now seem to have an abundance of talent, particularly in the forward half. Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty are the imposing big forwards who exposed Port Adelaide’s deficiencies in defence.

Port had no physical matchups for them. Miles Bergman standing Taylor Walker and competing in a ruck contest with him was a complete mismatch and highlights Port’s lack of tall defenders.

Jeremy Finlayson was used in defence on Friday night but it seems increasingly obvious he will be needed in Port’s forward line and also as the second ruckman.

OK, for Port Adelaide this trial game may have been all a bit ho-hum. When you’ve regularly played deep into September, it’s hard to be motivated for a match in February. However, the issues that weighed them down in last year’s finals don’t seem to have been rectified. Tall defenders and tall forwards!

It was obvious in Friday’s night game those issues have still to be addressed.

Mitch Georgiades will be the Power’s key forward but can Ollie Lord realise his innate aggression, realise his potential and gain some confidence and consistency with his goalkicking? Is Jack Lukosius a true forward?

The coach in me says he is better suited up the ground where his elite leg will always be a weapon but it looks like he will start forward. If he is the third tall it might work. On Friday Port had an abundance of small forwards.

The two Joes – Berry and Richards – came into the team and had their moments.

Sam Powell-Pepper made a welcome return after a knee reconstruction but they never really threatened the Crows

So again it will all depend on Port’s midfield. Gloriously talented, they will always give their team a chance but midfields alone can’t win premierships.

The more closely you look at the Crows, the more puzzling it is that they haven’t made the finals in recent years. Perhaps it’s the Riley Thilthorpe factor.

They need him fit for every game and that has not always been the case. He is the X-factor. When Thilthorpe, Walker and Fogarty are all in the one forward line it is a nightmare for opposing defence coaches.

Unfortunately, injury has hit hard and they haven’t always been able to play together.

Thilthorpe is the key. He has the potential to be the best big man in the competition.

The Crows need a full season from him.

However, there was one puzzling positional move on Friday. Dan Curtin, another prized early draft pick, started in the forward lines.

It’s not his best position. Either he starts in the midfield to provide that big-bodied presence, or he goes back into defence. His talent is wasted in Adelaide’s forward line.

However, there are other positives for the Crows. Matt Crouch continues his remarkable resurgence as a starting midfielder. Not that long ago on football’s bargain-basement list he is back.

He’s now a veteran surrounded by kids. And then there is Jake Soligo. He’s gone to another level and may be the most improved player at the club. Dynamic and now explosive, he adds depth and talent to the midfield.

The crowd flocked to the Summit Sport and Recreation Park in Mount Barker for this pre-season Showdown. Rightly so, it’s a glorious venue, but by time the sixth period reached its conclusion the crowd had slowly, steadily dispersed.

The final score favoured the Crows 22.11 to 14.15. But it was the score after three periods that was most heartening to the Crows, and concerning to Port – 14.15 to 8.9.

First impressions from that are the Crows have the talent to improve and Port might be in a little bit of trouble. But remember, first impressions are not always accurate.