Adelaide must get creative if it wants to make finals and atone for its 2017 grand final flop
THE Crows must stop playing with fear and show some run and aggression if they are any hope of making the AFL finals in 2018, says Chris McDermott.
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OUCH! Just when Crows fans dared to dream, they were rudely woken by a rampaging, confident and smiling Richmond Football Club.
Today, the Tigers are an all but unstoppable force on their way to back-to-back premierships. Maybe more.
On Friday night they equalled an all-time MCG winning streak in the process.
The last team to win 17 games on the trot at the ’G was Melbourne in the 1950s.
The Demons also won five premierships from seven consecutive grand final appearances in that time.
Be afraid.
This grand final rematch was over much quicker than the original. Ten minutes, give or take.
Adelaide kicked the first goal and it was all downhill after that. Despite the half a spark late in the third term, there would be no comeback.
The Crows are officially broken, beyond repair, in 2018.
There may be some reasons due to injury but if that is to be used as an excuse, there are similar excuses for nearly every team.
Adelaide’s pre-season must be exposed as the beginning of the problem. There will be no sympathy or understanding if there is no full disclosure. To this day there hasn’t been.
You can’t ask something of your playing group if you can’t make the same commitment yourself.
Again we refer to Richmond, the role model in this department, with chief executive Brendon Gale and general manager of football Neil Balme at the helm, leading from the front.
I’m not sure those in similar roles at West Lakes have been anywhere near as prominent. Or as effective.
Ultimately, this is and always will be a team issue and a complete review of the team should have started yesterday, if not sooner.
The senior list of 39 plus the five rookies must be reassessed one by one and divided into three groups – the “keepers”, the “others” and the “trades”.
Let’s not worry with players not committed to this football club. Embrace the era the game is in. Understand player power, like it or not. Deal with it as men and move on.
Fans will be disappointed but they too move on.
If LeBron James can move from Cleveland to Los Angeles, anyone can. Just make the most of it and turn it into a win for your club.
Rory Sloane and Mitch McGovern’s looming departures must be wins for the Crows, not just for the players.
Adelaide has a chance to fill its boots with some outside run and midfield grunt.
In this game, it’s the quick or the dead and as Port Adelaide has proven in 2018, act quickly and act smart and improvements can be made fast.
The same applies on field, the quick or the dead – and the Crows are moving at a snail’s pace at the moment – gripped in fear of making a mistake and turning the ball over.
It is time to throw caution to the wind; for the handbrake to be removed and to play with some freedom and enjoyment of the game they love.
The 2018 season is over for Adelaide but there is no time to rest.
The race for the 2019 premiership can start now.
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