AFL Power Rankings: Adelaide Crows’ loss more than just a bad day
ADELAIDE will never use it as an excuse but there is context surrounding Sunday’s horror result in Alice Springs, writes Reece Homfray in his Round 10 Power Rankings column.
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ADELAIDE will never use it as an excuse but there is context surrounding Sunday’s horror result in Alice Springs.
The Demons are flying, this is as good as the club has played in arguably 10 years, and they are fully fit.
They mean business and if they can replicate that form in September then it’s no wonder people are saying there’s a whiff of the Western Bulldogs in 2016 about them.
The Crows, meanwhile, are swimming against the tide, hit by injuries to some of their best players but also their leaders.
How desperately Adelaide needed either captain Taylor Walker or vice-captain Rory Sloane out there yesterday to direct traffic, rally the troops and deliver the peer-to-peer message that echoed coach Don Pyke.
So while the Crows will say they go into every game with a team they believe is capable of winning, right now it’s just not reality.
“That’s been the case for us all year and we’ve managed to pull through and get the job done, so we got a few players back this week and they’ll slowly come back as we progress, but we’ve got trust in everyone coming in and playing their role — today just wasn’t the case,” David Mackay said last night.
But Pyke doesn’t want wild ups and downs.
“We don’t want to be a side that fluctuates with the highs and the lows, we want to be a consistent side in that space,” he said.
There are losses, and then there are losses, and the insipid football Adelaide dished up against Melbourne at Traeger Park was more than just a bad day.
“That’s a bit of an understatement,” Mackay said.
“It was a really poor performance by us today and we’ll obviously go through what happened during the week and the focus will be on responding.
“That’s not what we want to stand for as a football club and unfortunately we can’t do anything about it now, but it’s an opportunity to try to bounce back and come with the right attitude to perform next week.”
It was the Crows’ biggest loss since 2011 but Mackay isn’t sure where it ranks in his time at the club.
“I’m not sure you go through and rank them, but it’s pretty simple, it was a really poor and disappointing day and there’s no shying away from it.”
It was very un-Adelaide like and they can’t just forget it and move on because after GWS this week they have Fremantle in Perth, Hawthorn, West Coast and Richmond.
“We never brush over things, we’ll own our performance and deal with that and really this group will be about responding and putting in a better performance next time we run out,” Mackay said.
The Monday review won’t make easy watching but it will be essential viewing if they are to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
GOOD WEEK FOR ...
West Coast’s recruiters. There were a few raised eyebrows in 2016 when the Eagles took Willie Rioli high in the national draft from Glenelg. With his injuries gone, he’s now proving why.
BAD WEEK FOR ...
Adelaide’s leaders. Without Tex Walker and Rory Sloane (captain and vice-captain) they rest needed to lift. Tom Lynch was well beaten by Hibberd and Matt Crouch was part of a midfield that was smashed. The Crows need others to stand up.
BURNING QUESTION
How serious is Paul Seedsman’s injury? Hurt his adductor in the warm-up and will be assessed this week. After finally overcoming a horror injury run, here’s hoping it’s not a major setback.
AFL POWER RANKINGS
WEST COAST (9-1)
The Eagles have passed another massive test, perhaps even more significant than beating the Tigers at home last week. How good is it to see Willie Rioli shining on the big stage?
RICHMOND (8-2)
The 2018 version of the Tigers is better than last year and Josh Caddy is evidence of that. He’s kicked 23 goals in nine games this season compared to 21 for the whole of last year. Beat St Kilda with two men down at quarter-time.
N. MELBOURNE (6-4)
Litmus test for the Kangaroos yesterday and they passed — again — beating Fremantle in Perth. How much more evidence do we need to say they’re definitely playing finals.
MELBOURNE (7-3)
So that’s seven out of 10 games Melbourne has scored over 100 points and their past five weeks have been 108, 106, 146, 159 and 146. And the spread of midfield depth with Viney, Oliver, Jones, Brayshaw, Harms is scary.
SYDNEY (7-3)
That’s three on the trot for the previously inconsistent Swans. Just had to tough that one out in the wet against a plucky Brisbane and move on.
PORT ADELAIDE (6-3)
Week off after the trip to China. Terrific to see Todd Marshall back via the SANFL and Jasper Pittard had 30 touches if Port wants either a key forward or more run off half-back to play Hawthorn this weekend.
ADELAIDE (6-4)
Worst loss under Don Pyke and worst since 2011. The context is Melbourne was fully fit, Adelaide far from it. They lacked leadership, poise and forward threats all of which is currently on the sidelines. The Crows will never use it as an excuse but it’s fact.
COLLINGWOOD (6-4)
Mature win from the Pies on Friday night. Rapt for Matthew Scharenberg. 14 games in four years at Collingwood and now nine in a row this season and looking great in defence.
GEELONG (6-4)
Got the points but it was far from convincing against the struggling Blues, and now Ratugolea gone with a broken leg things aren’t exactly flying at Geelong.
ESSENDON (4-6)
What a response from the Bombers in the past two weeks. Beating Geelong then the Giants who had their backs to the wall on the road and suddenly they are alive again.
HAWTHORN (5-5)
The Hawks are on the nose a bit after three consecutive losses and this week’s clash with Port Adelaide is huge.
GWS (4-5-1)
That’s four losses in a row and the only team GWS has beaten in the past six weeks is Brisbane. Call it now, they won’t be playing finals. Start planning for next year.
W. BULLDOGS (4-6)
Competitive against Collingwood but we’re about to find out whether the Dogs are for real with games against Melbourne, Port Adelaide and North Melbourne coming up.
FREMANTLE (4-6)
Fyfe had another 31 touches and the Dockers won clearances by +5 but nothing to show for it at the end of the day against North Melbourne at home.
BRISBANE (1-9)
Another spirited effort from the Lions who only lost by a respectable three goals to Sydney albeit in the wet. Stefan Martin with a season-high 58 hit-outs.
GOLD COAST (3-6)
Reckon the Suns would have almost taken 3-6 at their bye if you offered it to them at the start of the year. Geelong, GWS and St Kilda up next.
ST KILDA (1-8-1)
It might be cold comfort for Saints fans but that was a competitive performance against Richmond, albeit who were down two men early in the game, and can at least be something to build on.
CARLTON (1-9)
When you’re coming off a 109-point loss a 28-point defeat doesn’t look so bad. Competitive for three quarters against Geelong which was a positive.
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