Adelaide’s three-point loss to Sydney gave their fans an early look into their rebuild
The Adelaide Crows are in a rebuilding stage for the first time in their history, and their three-point loss to the Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval gave us an insight as to what it’ll be like.
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Adelaide’s three-point loss to Sydney on Saturday gave the Crows – and their fans – an early look into the state of the club’s rebuild.
After a dramatic list turnover in the off-season, which saw the club lose 1139 games of experience, the Crows walked out on to an empty Adelaide Oval for the first time in 2020 with the seventh youngest list in the competition.
But John Longmire’s Swans are younger, with a combined 1048 games walking out the door at Sydney at the end of last year.
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And after exposing the kids over the past two seasons – something the Crows didn’t do enough of under Don Pyke – they appear more ready than an Adelaide outfit, which struggled for consistency after a six-goal opening term.
There’s hope, though. And not just in the last-quarter fightback.
Tyson Stengle, playing his sixth game, was brilliant early, tallying an equal-game-high six disposals and a goal in the first term.
Ben Davis added another dynamic to a new-look forward line, which caught the Swans off-guard early.
Former Port Adelaide big man Billy Frampton did enough to suggest he will be a part of Adelaide’s side this year.
And, after a blistering summer, Chayce Jones played an important part in the Crows’ late charge.
But, like some of their more-experience teammates, they couldn’t contribute for long enough.
On the other hand, the young Swans did.
Dashing defender Justin McInerney and tough ball-winner James Rowbottom, both in their second years, had an influence while speedster Ollie Florent (20 disposals and six clearances) was a big part of a Luke Parker-led Sydney midfield, which dominated after quarter-time.
New coach Matthew Nicks injected Paul Seedsman and Brodie Smith into the on-ball mix for Adelaide and, while their foot skills were important in an early sign of the team’s short, precise ball-movement under Nicks, the Crows couldn’t get their hands on the footy.
Sydney won the clearance count by 21 and dominated at the centre bounce 20-5.
And, while the Crows were efficient in the opening 25 minutes, booting six goals straight, they were anything-but in the next two quarters, with eight of the Swans 11 goals coming from an Adelaide turnover.
The Crows’ ball-use, combined with Sydney’s dominance through the middle of the ground, made it hard for Adelaide’s back-six.
Debutant Fischer McAsey had a tough day but there’s isn’t much any defender can do when star Swan Isaac Heeney, who finished with four goals in a matchwinning performance mostly opposed to Jake Kelly, is on.
The Swans are ahead but the Crows are close, just like they were at the final siren.
But further exposure is needed.