Mark Bickley column: After Adelaide’s big loss to Melbourne, is a premiership still a realistic chance in 2018?
LAST week Matthew Richardson said the Crows were better placed to win a flag in 2018 than they were last year. After a big loss to Melbourne and growing disenchantment from Adelaide fans, does that statement ring true?
Mark Bickley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Bickley. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ‘Crows better placed to win flag this year’: Richo
- Betts’ ‘exciting’ Indigenous Round pledge
- Walker: ‘They made us look like schoolboys’
- Ricciuto savages Crows effort
- Crows’ loss more than a bad day
THE Crows are better placed to win the 2018 Premiership than they were last year: That was the line that caught my eye from the weekend’s Sunday Mail. The article quoted retired Richmond champ Matthew Richardson.
At first I thought the Crows must be lining up against the Tigers in the near future. It sounded like the type of false praise you heap upon the side your team is playing that week to make it sound as if you’re paying them great respect.
Adelaide has had a shortened, disrupted pre-season, one that lacked continuity of training for many of its key players. This has progressed to an injury riddled start to the season which has seen all of its senior leadership group miss multiple games and described by most as a crisis. And just to top it off, belted by the Demons on the weekend.
Better placed in 2018? Really?
Of course, “Richo” had some very well made points about the opportunities provided to younger talent, the successful testing of the Crows depth, the competition for spots upon the return of the star players and, importantly, their ability (up until the weekend) to keep winning.
At six wins and four losses they are almost certainties to make finals and will strongly challenge for a top-four spot.
It made me ask myself, why are the Crows fans so on edge? I know the Melbourne game was very poor, but even before that it seemed that every stumble so far this season had been met with pessimism.
After lamentable losses against Essendon and Collingwood the Crows were able to respond the next week with memorable wins against Richmond and Sydney. Their character has been strong, but it is being questioned again.
Is it because Crows fans are starting to get nervous — maybe impatient?
Adelaide’s list is capable of winning a premiership. An undeniable fact.
But there are no guarantees, as Crows fans know only too well.
The Neil Craig-led teams of 2005 and 2006, boasting names like Ricciuto, McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards, Hart, Clarke, Rutten, Bock and Burton, almost all at their peak, had their campaigns sabotaged. Suspension, injuries and who knows what, denying them a grand final appearance after being a dominant force in both years.
Combine that with last year’s almost perfect season (minus the Smith and McGovern injuries late) ending so badly on grand final day.
That really cut the Crows fans deep.
I am not sure that wound has totally healed.
The Crows over the past five years have built a great list through good drafting, astute trading and developing a number of young draftees and rookie-listed players. With that in mind, not having the ultimate success with this generation of players scares the daylights out of Crows fans.
They understand that Sam Jacobs and Eddie Betts are not ageless, that Rory Sloane and Tom Lynch are still unsigned and that replacing the recent drain of talent over the past two years, while impressive will be much more difficult if asked to do it again.
Perhaps that is why people like Richardson, who are removed from the Adelaide bubble, who aren’t as invested in the success of the Adelaide Football Club, can sit back and admire the resilience shown and the ability to overcome numerous setbacks. The Crows’ persistence to always be challenging and never bottoming out.
That has long been a strength to the Crows fans. To be able to see the bigger picture, and as hurdles arrived or players left, accept the timeline for success kept getting pushed further away.
Until last year, when the Adelaide Football Club’s moment arrived.
That moment is still there for the Crows and the fans are hoping like crazy that nothing derails the team this year.
Is it possible for the die hard fans to detach their emotions slightly from the team they follow so religiously? To not worry so much about the injury list, or the odd poor performance? Just as long as the wins can keep rolling in.
The Crows should win at least two of their next three games and in doing so go to the bye with eight wins and five losses. The exact same win-loss ratio of last year’s premiers, Richmond, after 13 rounds.
The second half of the season provides Adelaide with plenty of upside with the expectant return of a number of key players.
So as difficult as it may be, keep the faith.
The old saying of “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” could apply to the Crows.
Maybe Richo is right and what they have been through earlier this year and are going through now, could see them better prepared for when it matters most.
Which of course is September.
LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >
Bicks’ shock selection move for Power final blockbuster
Port Adelaide are flying, having won their past six matches going into Friday’s preliminary final, but Mark Bickley says the Power need to make a change for the Tigers clash.
Why Hinkley’s heroes could be better than ‘04 Power pioneers
Mark Bickley knows a thing or two about winning flags, having captained two Grand Final wins at Adelaide and he believes Port Adelaide’s current incarnation has eerie similarities to the 2004 Power side that claimed the Power’s first premiership.