AFL great Kane Cornes says Adelaide needs to change its defensive set up by playing Josh Jenkins down back

RIGHT now Adelaide has the most boring backline in the competition. It cannot win this year’s premiership unless it changes its defensive set-up. Moving Josh Jenkins there could be an option, says Kane Cornes

Josh Jenkins of the Crows handballs while being tackled by Kyle Langford of the Bombers during the round one clash between Essendon and Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium. Picture: GETTY IMAGES

Right now Adelaide has the most boring backline in the competition. It cannot win this year’s premiership unless it changes its defensive set-up.

Besides All-Australian Rory Laird, who gathered an equal career-high 40 disposals and 15 intercept possessions against Essendon on Friday night, the Crows backline is made up of only stoppers.

Daniel Talia is an elite defender who is rarely beaten. In recent years he has steadily improved his offensive prowess but over his 147 game career he averages only 11 disposals and four marks per game.

Jake Kelly, Kyle Hartigan and lock down small defender Luke Brown are all defensively sound but are low possession players and offer very little attacking drive and rebound off half back.

Tom Bellchambers of the Bombers flies above Crows players Tom Doedee and Sam Jacobs on Friday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Of most concern for Don Pyke and backline coach Ben Hart was the ease in which Adelaide’s defenders were out-marked on Friday night. Essendon’s forwards took 19 marks inside forward 50 with James Stewart, Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker dominating the aerial battle.

Tom Doedee was impressive on debut gathering 21 disposals and is the obvious replacement for Jake Lever, but at this early stage in his career he cannot be relied upon as an attacking weapon.

Essendon centre half back Michael Hurley was outstanding, gathering 28 possessions. He also took four intercept marks and consistently set up attacking drives from behind centre.

The Crows need a Hurley. Josh Jenkins is that man.

With captain Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch returning to the forward line to join Mitch McGovern and Darcy Fogarty, Adelaide’s forward structure is crowded with talls and Jenkins is the man to solve the Crows bland defence.

Despite kicking two goals on Friday night, Jenkins appeared lost at times and is clearly out of form. A shift to defence could be the ticket to rejuvenating his career and ease the burden of expectation on the big man.

At 199cm and 108kg’s he possesses outstanding speed and agility, and would be an asset to the Crows back six, especially if he is given a license to go for his marks and to run and create.

Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes made the exact move from Port Adelaide’s forward line to defence late in 2003 and was a revelation. This bold move from coach Mark Williams was instrumental in the Powers 2004 premiership and that year Cornes was named as the All Australian centre half back and finished third in the Brownlow Medal.

Pyke needs to follow Williams lead and make a bold statement with his underperforming forward, the rewards could telling.

WINNERS

1. Trade wins

Many Adelaide fans were devastated when the club traded Malcolm Blight medallist and crowd favourite Bernie Vince to Melbourne at the end of 2013. In return Adelaide received draft pick number 23 which was they used to select Matt Crouch. At just 22 years of age Crouch is already an All Australian, club best and fairest winner and appears destined to succeed Taylor Walker as the club’s next captain. He continued to show his amazing ball-winning ability with 40 disposals on Friday night.

2. Triple threat.

New Port Adelaide recruits Steven Motlop and Jack Watts didn’t take long to win over the 38,000 crowd at Adelaide Oval. Both created havoc in the forward line combining for 39 disposals and five goals. Tom Rockliff was uncharacteristically quiet but has clearly won the respect of his team-mates judging by their reaction after he nailed his first goal for his new club.

3. Cough up.

Rory Laird is the most underpaid player in the competition. The out-of-contract defender is in the last year of a three year deal which sees him earn about $350,000 this year. Laird’s manager Michael Doughty will be demanding a significant pay rise with his clients value rising by the week.

Todd Marshall and Dom Barry of the Power celebrate a goal on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

4. Super draft.

When Port Adelaide swooped on young forward Todd Marshall with pick 16 in 2016 they knew they’d hit the jackpot. Ken Hinkley is in love, “Marshall could be anything” Hinkley said after observing him during pre-season training last year. He arrived on Saturday with a career-best four goals against Fremantle. The kid they got two picks later (Sam Powell-Pepper) goes all right too!

5. Potent Hawks.

Shaun Burgoyne, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo, the best forward line in the competition when fit.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Shaun Burgoyne (L) Jack Gunston (C) and Isaac Smith of the Hawks celebrate a goal during the round one AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 24, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

LOSERS

1. 50m madness.

Six 50 metre penalties were paid in Thursday night’s season opener between Richmond and Carlton, resulting in four direct goals to the Blues. Five of the penalties were paid for players encroaching on the 10 metre protected area, with the AFL umpiring department admitting three of these were paid incorrectly. The 50m penalty awarded to Fremantle’s Michael Walters against Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff was also laughable.

2. Stitched up.

That’s what Paul Connors did to the Adelaide list management committee when he negotiated a 5 year contract for his client Josh Jenkins. At 29, Jenkins is tied to the Crows on a multimillion-dollar deal until at least the end of 2021. Connors is regarded as the best manager in the game for good reason.

3. Knives out.

Was a disastrous start for Collingwood as they were smashed by Hawthorn on Saturday night. In more bad news they face GWS, Carlton, Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond in their next five games and realistically could be winless after round six. Get ready, Bucks, the wolves are at the door.

4. Achilles heel.

Port Adelaide’s top four hopes will rest largely on the recover of reigning best and fairest winner Paddy Ryder. Last year’s All Australian ruckman injured his Achilles during the third term against Fremantle and will miss now miss a chunk of the season. Having traded Ryder’s backups Matthew Lobbe (Carlton) and Jackson Trengove (Western Bulldogs) in the off-season, Port’s ruck stocks are in disarray. Dougal Howard will now have to shoulder the duties with help from veteran Justin Westhoff

5. Dog days.

2016 premier the Western Bulldogs were annihilated by a rampant GWS Giants in Canberra. After missing the finals last year, under fire coach Luke Beveridge can’t afford another lean year. Rubbing salt into the wound was the serious knee injury to midfielder Tom Liberatore.