Why the Crows must pick Shane McAdam to bring excitement back to their game
Adelaide has become the most boring team in the AFL, writes Mark Bickley, but if Matthew Nicks adds youth and speed, he can help to overcome this and bring some hope for Crows fans.
Mark Bickley
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Let’s cut to the chase, the Crows are the most boring side running around.
They are not dangerous in attack, concede more goals than any other team and own the worst performing midfield.
But they do have someone waiting in the wings that can bring some excitement to fans in what is going to be a long, lean season.
Selection this week must include another debutant, athletic forward Shane McAdam.
Adding McAdam to the front half is a must. Not only does he have speed but he has genuine X- factor, something in short supply in the Crows ranks.
Who is creating headaches for opposition defenders? When was the last time this season a Crows player swooped on a half chance to snare a goal?
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When has an opposition player this year been caught or pressured into a turnover in the Crows’ forward 50? The answer is, no one, never, and rarely.
McAdam has the potential to do all of these things and deserves the opportunity.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing since arriving at the club via the 2018 draft and trade period.
After an injury interrupted 2019 season, 2020 sees him in much better shape, fitter, stronger and able to contribute to games for longer periods.
There were flashes of brilliance in his JLT Community Series appearance but he struggled to sustain it across four quarters.
Crows general manager of football Adam Kelly admits that since arriving at the club McAdam had taken some time to match his considerable talent with the requirements of professional football.
He also noted how recently: “Shane has made rapid improvement, developing professional habits, and for that he is getting rewards with his performance”.
McAdam has been among the best in both of Adelaide’s pre game trials over the past fortnight.
With the departure of Betts, Cameron and McGovern in recent years it has robbed the Crows front half of that instinctive, mercurial game breaking player. Shane McAdam is not at the level of any of those players yet, but has characteristics of all of them.
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Will Hamill’s debuted against Gold Coast provided some much needed dash across half back
But rarely this year have we seen anything really instinctive or creative from this Adelaide team. It is time for Matthew Nicks to start selecting players that have natural flair and encourage them to use it.
Often when young players come into the team they worry about structures and not getting in people’s way or making mistakes. All of which are the natural enemy of instinctive attacking footy.
With a side this weekend that could boast as many as eight players with less than 25 games of experience (including four teenagers) you just have to let the youngsters play.
The exuberance of youth has to be better than the general air of malaise that surrounds the team at present. And don’t be surprised if some of that enthusiasm rubs off onto the more senior players.
The Crows narrowly surpassed the club’s lowest ever score last weekend, three goals six in Neil Craig’s last game as coach in 2011.
Craig stepped down after the 103 point drubbing with just four wins from 16 games.
The side that night was also in transition and included two teenagers, Brodie Smith in his 11th game and Daniel Talia in his third. It had three 21 year olds making their way called Dangerfield, Sloane and Walker and a 30-game ruckman named Sam Jacobs. Out of that diabolical situation came opportunities for young men to show what they had.
The same opportunities present themselves again for a new generation of Adelaide players.
So play McAdam, persist with Chayce Jones, Fischer McAsey, Ned McHenry and Hamill.
Try players like McPherson and Gollant. Because what Crows fans want at present, maybe even more so than wins, is hope.
Hope that the talent amassed in recent years is sufficient to replace the ageing stars, and like the green shoots of 2011, form the nucleus of a side that can once again challenge for the club’s long awaited and elusive third premiership.