Adelaide coach Don Pyke is making the moves of a coach who is struggling to motivate a broken squad
Brutal training session — tick; dropping big-name players — tick; pizza at the coach’s house — tick: Don Pyke has run the clichéd moves of a coach under pressure and has nowhere to hide if the Crows lose to the Saints, says Kane Cornes.
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Crows coach Don Pyke has, in the past fortnight, used every trick and gimmick in the coaching playbook to try garner a response from his underperforming and broken playing squad.
A timeline of Pyke’s actions is the best evidence of the pressure and desperation he currently feels.
The first place any under-fire coach turns to is the training track.
“Make sure you pack your mouthguards for training this week boys,” the coach usually scowls.
It is something footballers from all levels have been subjected to after an insipid performance such as the one Adelaide served up against Essendon a fortnight ago.
Pyke didn’t disappoint.
Today, when recovery after a demanding game is the main focus, players may only train for 90 minutes a week.
It is rare for things to get physically willing.
However, in the lead up to last Saturday’s loss to Carlton at the MCG, Adelaide’s main training session was described by its players as a brutal encounter.
All-Australian defender Daniel Talia labelled the session as the most physical he endured in the past two years.
These training sessions usually deliver a strong response on game day.
Pyke followed up the training battering with a strong message at selection.
He dumped fan favourite and the club’s leading goalkicker this season, Eddie Betts, to the SANFL.
It was the biggest selection call at Adelaide to compare with the moments Graham Cornes and Malcolm Blight axed spearhead Tony Modra in 1994 and during the 1998 finals respectively.
Hugh Greenwood also paid the price, and these selection shocks are designed to give the entire playing group a wake-up call.
Picture the feeling you get when the water in the shower suddenly turns cold.
That little voice inside most of the Adelaide players’ minds should have been saying, “if they are prepared to drop Eddie, then I might be next”.
If the rough training session didn’t harvest a response, surely these selections calls would.
Surprisingly, the Pyke moves backfired as Adelaide was torn apart but a hungry Carlton side which had nothing but pride on the line.
On the major measure of intent in a football game, Carlton smashed Adelaide by 23 in contested possession and 22 in clearances.
Post-game, Pyke was unsure if the selection calls had affected his group’s morale and confidence and he admitted he would question his players for their views.
However, Josh Jenkins confirmed to SENSA on Wednesday this discussion is yet to be taken up with the players.
The gimmicks didn’t end on Saturday at the MCG.
Pyke hastily organised a gathering of his players and staff at his home on Sunday night. Many players were absent.
A circuit breaker was also put in place this week with the team’s training session being moved to the new AFL MAX facility which is owned by former Crows player and assistant coach James Podsiadly.
According to respected AFL journalist Caroline Wilson, Pyke is on the nose and his actions speak of a coach trying to win back his playing group while the season is still alive.
No one can’t fault Pyke for trying to salvage a falling campaign.
But brutal training sessions, selection shocks, unplanned social functions and different training venues are small signs of a club in turmoil and on the edge of crisis.
This week, co-captain Taylor Walker was emphatic in his public support for the coach.
He denied Pyke had lost the players and the group was fractured.
But would he say otherwise in his paid public forums?
Walker must realise that in stormy times actions speak louder than words.
The gimmicks are done, there are none left.
If this week was intense at West Lakes, another home loss tomorrow night — against another bottom-10 team, St Kilda — would mean no one is safe.
WINNERS
1. STARS
Media identity James Brayshaw believes Adelaide doesn’t have any A graders on its list, he’s wrong. Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane, Rory Laird, Brodie Smith and Daniel Talia are all elite.
2. HOLDING FIRM
Well done to Adelaide for rejecting the long-term contract demands of out-of-contract players Hugh Greenwood and Alex Keath. Neither of the inexperienced duo deserve or warrant the lengthy deals they are demanding.
3. SELECTION AXE
Credit goes to Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley for his brave call to drastically overhaul his broken forward line for tomorrow’s clash against Essendon. What’s that saying? Desperate times call for ….
4. JUST LIKE DAD
There is nothing better in football than the romance of the father-son rule. To see son of a gun Rhylee West kick his first goal in his debut for the Bulldogs on Sunday was magical.
5. LOCK HIM IN
Carlton’s Patrick Cripps will be named the All Australian captain and no player in the competition this year is more deserving of that honour.
LOSERS
1. DEFYING LOGIC
In what was his strangest decision this year Adelaide coach Don Pyke omitted his best defender Alex Keath due to injury yet flew him with the squad to Melbourne as the travelling emergency. If Keath is fit he plays, if not, he stays at home and rests. Bizarre.
2. MISFIRED MATCH-UP
In Round 11 Bryce Gibbs blanketed Melbourne gun Clayton Oliver. Oliver shares similar dimensions to Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps and Gibbs was the obvious choice to curtail Cripps. The job instead fell to captain Rory Sloane who was outmuscled by 12cm and 11kg. No wonder Cripps had 19 clearances as was the matchwinner.
3. OPPOSITION SCOUTING
You have to question the planning and coaching from Port Adelaide last week. The Giants great strength is its intercept defenders and the Power played right into the hands of Phil Davis and Nick Haynes who took 10 intercept marks between them.
4. GASTRO MYSTERY
St. Kilda marquee recruit Dan Hannebery hasn’t played since Round 15 and the club continues to deny he is injured. On Tuesday he was ruled out with gastro, which is unusual so early in the week. It’s impossible not to be suspicious.
5. LIST (MIS) MANAGEMENT
The spotlight has shone on Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley this week but Power list boss Jason Cripps shouldn’t escape scrutiny. Scott Lycett is the latest of his big name recruits to be axed. This followers the below par performances from key recruits Jack Watts, Steven Motlop, Charlie Dixon, Patrick Ryder and Tom Rockliff since joining the Power.