It was the perfect storm for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL grand final, as nothing went right, writes Mark Bickley

NOTHING went right for the Crows in the grand final but now they need to find a way to keep moving forward, writes Mark Bickley.

David Mackay, Riley Knight, Jake Kelly and Richard Douglas after the final siren in the grand final on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed. How Rance exposed Crows

GRAND finals have a way of shining a light on players and performances like no other game. Those who play well are lauded and those who don’t, pilloried. That is true for both the team and the individual. Adelaide has quite rightly copped its share of criticism for its below par performance but put simply Richmond didn’t allow it to play the style of game that had been so successful all year.

This is how it unfolded.

Firstly, the Tigers smashed Adelaide around the contest. After an even first quarter the tide started to turn halfway through the second, before the floodgates opened in the third where Richmond won the contested ball in that stanza alone by 19. The last quarter producing more of the same, +10 in Richmond’s favour. Norm Smith Medalist Dustin Martin was the standout with 22 of his 29 disposals contested.

When you win contested ball like that you own the field position and play the game in your half. Adelaide just couldn’t get any penetration when rebounding off half-back as it was always under pressure and lacking attacking options when trying to clear the ball.

Another key factor in the Richmond win was it kept outnumbering Adelaide around the ball. How often did you see a Crows players competing in the air or on the ground against two or three Tigers?

The uncomfortable truth about always being outnumbered is, effectively you are being outworked. Richmond’s spread from stoppage was much better, enabling it to get the extra player to the where the ball was. It wasn’t just the midfielders; the Richmond defenders were also outstanding at working hard, filling space in Adelaide’s front half. This created doubt in the mind of the defenders looking for options. Rory Laird among others was run down from behind after hesitating looking for a forward target. The flow-on effect of this was the Crows then resorted to just bombing it long and high to the forwards, making a bad day worse.

The Adelaide onballers, Sloane, Douglas and the Crouch brothers were continually being tackled by multiple opponents and not being able to get the ball going their way.

Multiple players tackling comes from a greater desire and intent to get at the opposition when they have the ball, and once again it was Richmond who rose to the occasion.

This was Adelaide’s worst performance of the year. For it to happen on the club’s biggest day in 19 years, can’t be, and I’m sure won’t be, written off as “one of those days”.

The players will look inwardly at their individual preparation and performance, asking themselves how they can do it better if the opportunity arises again - knowing full well there are no guarantees as to when that might be.

Coach Don Pyke has spoken all year, and as recently as last week, of his side’s ability to improve. It appears that scope has broadened, as it did late last year and the pre-season months will again need to be managed wisely, with contested ball still at the top of the list.

Looking ahead to next year Adelaide’s nucleus still looks strong, but there will be some holes to fill.

Brodie Smith is unlikely to play much footy next year while recovering from his ruptured ACL and Jake Lever has told the Crows he wants a trade to a Victorian club.

Alex Keath and Tom Doedee are candidates to replace Lever but Adelaide needs some elite ball users across half-back to provide the attacking rebound that Smith has become so good at.

Adding to the midfield depth should still be on the agenda, preferably a player with an aggressive nature and an ability to hunt the ball. Pyke needs more options in this part of the ground for when the A-team isn’t getting it done.

There is no denying that Saturday’s result was a bitterly disappointing end to what had been up to that point a very successful season.

There are many people who want to denigrate the players and coaches for the weekend’s performance. No one is feeling it more than they are. It is what happens next that is important.

How do you respond to a day like that? Does it crush you and hang over you like a dark cloud? Or does it drive you to be better and push you towards having the ultimate success?

Only time can answer that question.

Progress is never in a straight line.

Originally published as It was the perfect storm for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL grand final, as nothing went right, writes Mark Bickley