Blog replay: Crows’ Sloane ranger finds a timely sidekick as Brad Crouch hits top form
DOES Adelaide need Brad Crouch to fire in the finals to win the premiership? Replay Andrew Capel’s blog and see what he had to say about Crouch’s new four-year deal.
A PLAYER with just 36 games under his belt could hold the key to the Crows winning one of the most unlikely AFL premierships ever.
Brad Crouch’s ascension from a gifted player with great potential to the genuine article in the past seven weeks could be the difference between Adelaide making up the numbers in September and securing its third flag and first in 18 years.
Champion Data has revealed the major hole in the third-placed Crows’ premiership hopes is their lack of star midfield talent.
By Champion’s rankings, Adelaide has just one player in the elite or above average category among its deep on-ball group — Brownlow Medal contender Rory Sloane.
All other seven current top-eight sides have at least two, and six of them have three or more.
The Western Bulldogs — ripped apart by a series of serious injuries — have a competition-high seven midfielders ranked above average, while Geelong, which has twice beaten Adelaide this season, has five.
The lack of gun on-ballers is Adelaide’s biggest concern heading into September, according to Champion.
The Crows, who have admirably overcome the tragic death of their 2015 senior coach Phil Walsh and departure of their best player Patrick Dangerfield to Geelong to emerge as a surprise premiership contender, appear to have every other base covered.
They are the league’s highest-scoring team, averaging 113.7 points, and are strong defensively, conceding 80.6 points.
Adelaide and upstart GWS are the only two clubs who sit in Champion Data’s premiership standard window — which suggests teams have to score more than 100 points and concede fewer than 86 to win the flag — with three rounds to go.
Fourteen of the past 15 premiers have succeeded with this formula.
But while first-year Crows coach Don Pyke preaches a team approach, is the lack of star support for Sloane that could bring the club undone against the competition’s big boys.
Sloane, who is averaging 26 disposals, including 13 contested, five clearances and seven tackles, is the only Adelaide player ranked by Champion among the top 35 per cent of midfielders and mid-forwards in the league after round 20.
Champion’s ratings are calculated on a players’ all-round game, including an ability to stand up at key moments.
Crouch, his brother Matt, veteran Scott Thompson and the vastly-improved Jarryd Lyons are ranked in the average category.
Rory Atkins, David Mackay and Paul Seedsman are ranked as below average compared to players from other clubs.
But Brad Crouch, who signed a four-year deal on Friday, could be the big finals difference-maker.
After being held back by a club-imposed suspension, injuries and form issues in the first half of the season he has exploded into elite territory in the past seven rounds.
In his first four matches this year — in rounds one, two, seven and eight — Crouch averaged 17.8 disposals and 63 SuperCoach points.
Since returning from injury and good SANFL form in round 14 against North Melbourne, the 22-year-old has reeled off seven strong games, averaging 27.1 disposals, 7.4 tackles and 102 SuperCoach points.
He has had at least 20 disposals in all seven matches, culminating in a season-high 34 against Brisbane last week.
Crouch has given the Crows the dynamic one-two midfield punch they have missed since Dangerfield fled and desperately need to make a big impact in the finals.
The Crouch-Sloane partnership is not yet in the same league as Geelong’s Dangerfield-Joel Selwood pairing but if Crouch can continue his rise it just might be enough to prove a finals-winning combination.
Crows’ teammate Rory Laird lauded Crouch’s game-turning ability after the 138-point thumping of the Lions.
“His intensity around the ball is elite, he’s a good inside player and can break the lines outside too,’’ Laird said.
“He’s getting continuity on the park and it shows.’’
Crouch is timing his run to perfection.
SLOANE RANGER
Rory Sloane is the only Crow ranked by Champion Data as being above average or elite for a midfielder/mid-forward after round 20.
Every other top-eight club has at least two players rated in this category.
MEN IN THE MIDDLE
When Adelaide’s midfield struggles, so do the Crows, with their clearance and inside 50 differentials at polar opposites in wins and losses.
MAKING WAVES
Brad Crouch is hitting top form at the right time, with his ranking points average rising from 63 to 102 in his past seven games.
WHY THEY’LL WIN IT
Top-8 strengths
WHY THEY WON’T
Top-8 weaknesses
andrew.capel@news.com.au