Bone’s beef: Adelaide Crows have far bigger problems than Taylor Walker
Taylor Walker has come under heavy criticism this week. But a closer look at the stats suggest the Crows co-captain is playing a lone hand up forward. Blog live with Bone at 12.30pm today.
Chris McDermott
Don't miss out on the headlines from Chris McDermott. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Tex reveals reason for dodging contest
- Walker slammed for ‘unacceptable’ effort
- ‘We can dig ourselves out again’: Greenwood
- The Moment: $1.5m Crows talent running
With Adelaide on the brink of another season without finals, several commentators are asking is co-captain Taylor Walker the problem?
Former Swans star Jude Bolton says yes, after Walker’s heavily criticised attack on the ball against West Coast captain Shannon Hurn at the weekend.
BLOG LIVE WITH BONE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FROM 12.30pm
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt agrees and says the Crows co-captain should be dropped back to the SANFL immediately.
You can’t be serious?
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Walker’s effort was disappointing and will be of most disappointment to the proud player himself but to call for his dumping is a massive over-reaction.
Let’s look at his numbers for the Crows this season after 10 rounds.
He ranks No.2 for goals with 16.
No, 2 for goal assists.
No, 1 for contested marks.
No, 1 for marks inside 50m.
He has done it all as a lone tall soldier in attack in the absence of the departed Mitch McGovern, the lack of form of Josh Jenkins and the reluctance to play youngster Darcy Fogarty.
Perhaps we are looking at the wrong end of the ground here?
The Crows’ defence is solid but has little or no offence. It's a one-trick pony at the moment.
The Crows’ midfield lacks penetration by foot and Bryce Gibbs was in the SANFL side last time I looked.
It is too easy to blame the man at the end of the chain.
The buck stops with Don Pyke.
It always stops with the coach.
The Crows rank seventh for inside 50s with 53 a game. The Eagles rank 17th with 46.
Both are tied for goals kicked a game with 11.3
It is not the sheer volume of inside 50s that matters. it's the delivery and the structure of your front six.
It’s time to focus on the sum of all parts, not just one player.
Second chances rarely pay off for AFL coaches
History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
When two tribes go to war
It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.