Why Don Pyke should unleash Adelaide Crows kids in run to finals
With many senior stars playing well below their best at the top level, the fixture presents Adelaide with a unique chance to put some young talent to the test in the run to finals, writes Warren Tredrea.
Warren Tredrea
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Adelaide must use the run home to get games into their kids, that’s my message to Crows coach Don Pyke.
You only need to look at the fixture to see Adelaide has been presented with the ideal opportunity to give their young guns a decent run at senior football before the season tightens up.
Clubs will always tell you players must knock down the door with good form to get selected. And while I generally agree, right now it doesn’t apply to Adelaide.
The Crows have far too many senior players treading water and playing well below their best at the top level.
The month ahead pits the Crows against cellar dwellers Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, Essendon at Adelaide Oval, Carlton at the MCG and St Kilda back at Adelaide Oval.
These four matches come before finals-tempo battles against reigning premier West Coast in Perth, 2018 grand finalist Collingwood at Adelaide Oval and a home-and-away season finale against the in-form Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
If Adelaide is going to make anything of season 2019 it must win five matches in the run home, with the clashes against the Eagles and Magpies appearing the most difficult.
And that’s why the Crows have to make tough calls on senior players who aren’t getting the job done and give some kids a go for a sustained run in the seniors.
It’s critical to use selection as the ultimate reward, it keeps players on edge and playing their best — it also gives the players in the SANFL something to strive for.
Adelaide’s forward line is broken, and the senior players aren’t getting the job done.
With the greatest respect to Eddie Betts, who I have marvelled at for years, he’s out of form and not influencing games like he has in the past and he’s struggling to break free.
Bar a couple of flashy goal-of-the-year contenders against Richmond and the Giants, he’s been below his best, not to mention being held goalless over the past fortnight against Geelong and Port Adelaide. It can happen quickly when you’re the wrong side of 30.
With Tyson Stengle dominating the SANFL with 26 goals in 12 matches, Adelaide must bite the bullet and rest Betts for a few weeks and give him a break to sharpen up both mentally and physically for the run home, handing Stengle a taste of the big time and setting in motion the plan for life after one of the greatest small forwards to ever play the game.
But Stengle isn’t alone. Key forward Darcy Fogarty needs top-level exposure.
And while Adelaide is quick to rebut saying his form isn’t good enough, I ask why has Adelaide chose to play him as a key defender in the SANFL? Especially when Adelaide’s forwards have struggled to perform consistently in 2019 — Josh Jenkins was dropped to the SANFL, Taylor Walker is well below his best and Tom Lynch has missed time through injury — it doesn’t make sense.
Adelaide has been crying out for a key forward who crashes the pack with ferocity and isn’t afraid to use his body in a physical contest — that’s Fogarty.
Make no mistake, other clubs are circling and while he is contracted for another year, as a player you’re only happy when you’re playing.
Jenkins can’t play this weekend. He wasn’t fit in the Showdown and shouldn’t have played while co-captain Walker is struggling to cover the ground like he once did. He’s kicking goals but not offering enough.
During the Crows’ 57-point Showdown 47 loss to Port Adelaide, Walker was dominated by Power defender Tom Clurey for all but the first three minutes of the third quarter when Walker kicked a goal.
After a Showdown where Adelaide didn’t fire a shot after that moment and resembled witches’ hats, a player with Fogarty’s attack on the ball could be a welcomed addition.
The other veteran who looks in trouble is former best and fairest Richard Douglas.
At 32 and out of contract at the end of the season, his best is well and truly behind him.
After just five matches through injury, he’s averaging just 13 disposals per game, his worst output in over a decade.
Chayce Jones is something special, and after recommitting to the Crows until the end of 2023 last week, he can add freshness, speed and desperation that has been sorely missing over the past fortnight.
In his six AFL matches Jones has averaged 10 disposals, two tackles and 15 pressure acts per game and as is normal for a young player with that comes a level of inconsistency.
Adelaide needs to give Stengle, Fogarty and Jones exposure at AFL level in the run in to the finals, and if they do don’t be surprised if the youngsters bob up and show us something that has missing — energy, enthusiasm and a little bit of unknown.
Right now Adelaide’s risk of not making changes, is greater than if they do.
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