Adelaide’s 2016 report card: Good effort but Crows not great yet

THE Crows are not quite a “great” team yet but they will forever ­regret losing at home in Round 23 against West Coast and allow a top-four finish to slip from their grip.

A dejected Eddie Betts after Adelaide’s semi-final loss to Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

ADELAIDE started the year with considerable uncertainty — new coach Don Pyke; ­players returning after a ­summer of difficult emotional reflection following the death of coach Phil Walsh; and a tough early draw.

But the Crows’ 16 wins from 22 home-and-away games ­reaffirmed Pyke’s belief he was working with a resilient and proud team.

But there was always the fact that 12 of those wins were against bottom-10 clubs and the Crows’ strike rate dropped below 50-50 (4-6) in top-eight company.

HOW DID ADELAIDE FARE IN 2016? VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

So Adelaide’s final ladder position — sixth — is fitting for a team that is “good” but not yet “great”.

The exit, a lame semi-final performance that resulted in a 36-point loss to Sydney, continues the trend of Adelaide not winning consecutive finals since its most recent premiership, in 1998.

The Crows will forever ­regret losing at home in Round 23 against West Coast, a night at Adelaide Oval where they allowed a top-four finish to slip from their grip.

Adelaide did progress this year, but not enough to ­advance from the contenders to the real challengers.

Taylor Walker after Adelaide’s Round 23 loss to West Coast, which cost the Crows a top-four spot. Picture: Sarah Reed

2016 SNAPSHOT

WINS: 17

LOSSES: 7

DRAWS: 0

LADDER POSITION: 6th (lost in semi-final)

PERCENTAGE: 138.3

LAST YEAR: 6th (same position)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Quick “buy-in” to Don Pyke’s new playbook that emphasised a “team defence” system to protect Adelaide’s raw defence and was the springboard to the Crows’ record 113-point scoring average.

WHAT WENT WRONG

After being blessed by a low injury count from March-August, some untimely setbacks to ruckman Sam Jacobs (ankle), key forward Josh Jenkins (ankle) and defenders Luke Brown (groin) and Kyle Cheney (groin) in the lead-up to the finals.

RECRUITING DEPT REVIEW

2015 draft picks: Wayne Milera (11), Tom Doedee (17), Paul Hunter (rookie), Jonathon Beech (rookie), Hugh Greenwood (rookie), Alex Keath (rookie).

Trade-free agent acquisitions: Dean Gore (Geelong), Curtly Hampton (Greater Western Sydney), Troy Menzel (Carlton), Paul Seedsman (Collingwood).

WAYNE MILERA: The first-round draftee played eight games, but none after the halfway mark of the season. Will emerge in Adelaide’s attack when Charlie Cameron moves to the midfield next season.

PAUL SEEDSMAN: Seen as an important part of Adelaide’s game with his line-breaking plays. Unfortunately, a corked buttock against Brisbane on August 6 derailed the Collingwood recruit.

TROY MENZEL: Same old story as at Carlton. Noted for his talent, but needs to apply himself.

DEAN GORE: Part of the Patrick Dangerfield trade from Geelong. A long-term project who needs to break into AFL ranks next year.

CURTLY HAMPTON: No AFL game — and not many SANFL either — as the GWS recruit was held up by a foot injury.

Troy Menzel, recruited from the Carlton, spent most of the season in the SANFL. Picture: Calum Robertson

HIGH AND LOW

Both against West Coast. The Round 12 win against the Eagles was a highlight when the Crows held West Coast scoreless for the final term — an unprecedented achievement — to turn a 12-point deficit to a 29-point win at Subiaco Oval in Perth. However, the Round 23 loss to the Eagles in the Friday nightmare at Adelaide Oval cost the Crows a top-four finish.

THE COACH

Don Pyke returned to Adelaide — after being the midfield coach to Neil Craig a decade earlier — vowing to build the Crows with “team defence”. He created the highest-scoring Adelaide team in club history — and a playbook that was enthralling for transition football from defence to an open attack. But it did not hold up against teams with stronger midfields — and defences that held ground in the centre corridor and in front of goal. The next phase in Pyke’s work at Adelaide will be telling.

YOU SAID IT

“We wanted to play in a premiership and we didn’t.”

— Crows captain TAYLOR WALKER highlighting desire for the AFL’s grand prize has to be matched by first playing with hardness in big matches.

BEST & FAIREST

Rory Sloane to win for the second time after his success in 2013. And this time Sloane will wear the Malcolm Blight Medal with greater pride for standing up when so much was demanded of him in the Adelaide midfield.

B&F Count: Friday, Adelaide Convention Centre

SUPERCOACH STUD

So much was demanded of Rory Sloane in the absence of club champion Patrick Dangerfield after his move home to Geelong. Sloane certainly did deliver — with an average of 108.6 points per game — and has been hailed with his first All-Australian selection, as vice-captain nonetheless. Very few players do walk off the field capable of saying they have given everything — Sloane is one of these.

SUPERCOACH DUD

A lot was expected from Brad Crouch and plenty of SuperCoaches jumped on board at the $306,100 price with the young midfielder in 19.7 per cent of teams. But form and injury issues meant he played just four games in the first 13 rounds. However, he played every game from Round 14 and lifted his average from 63 to 86.6 points — which included four 100-plus scores — but by then most people had dropped off.

Rory Sloane has stood up after Patrick Dangerfield left the Crows. Picture: Michael Klein

THE LIST

ELITE: Eddie Betts, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia.

BIG IMPROVERS: Jarryd Lyons, Charlie Cameron, Tom Lynch, Rory Laird.

GONE: Matthew Jaensch (delisted), Nathan van Berlo (retired).

GOING, GOING: Ricky Henderson, Luke Lowden.

TRADE BAIT: Mitch Grigg.

WHAT THEY NEED

Adelaide needs to clear some salary cap space to be a big player in the trade market to find much-needed new midfield options. Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff remains a major target, if the Crows can deliver his asking price. They could also do with midfielders with pace. Veteran Scott Thompson will avoid the exit if he accepts a reduced contract — and no certainty of playing 15-plus games — for his 17th AFL season.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK

9.30pm. Not quite a top-four side and not a team that is about to fade. Could be two years before Adelaide has the midfield to seriously challenge for the flag.

THE STATS

REPORT CARD: ADELAIDE 2016
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Originally published as Adelaide’s 2016 report card: Good effort but Crows not great yet