Adelaide Crows fans need to get used to off-Broadway games after fixture reveal

The Crows had a glut of prime-time games early in the year after campaigning for a better fixture. But after a slow start, they will line up in off-Broadway timeslots, SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON writes in The Lowdown.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: Crows fans celebrate a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 08 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval on May 02, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

An upset win on the road for the Power and a confusing draw at the Adelaide Oval Simeon Thomas-Wilson runs through the likes and dislikes

THE LOWDOWN ON …

Crows fans will need to get used to lesser slots after a prime-time bonanza to open the season. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide got the redress it pushed for with its glut of prime time fixtures to start the season. Crows fans will have to get used to being more off-Broadway again now the AFL released the second batch of fixtures. While the Crows were involved in one of the games of the year on Sunday against Brisbane the slow start to the season will go against Adelaide. So will the opponents with the Crows home games to still be scheduled against GWS, St Kilda, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs. None of them are teams that draw huge crowds for games, while you Port Adelaide’s home Showdown in Round 23 will be on a Saturday night.

DISLIKES

1. HOW WAS THIS OK?

Aliir Aliir with Lachie Jones are both helped by club doctors last season for Port Adelaide, in an incident which caused the Power to cop heat over its treatment of concussion. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

You have to wonder how Port Adelaide are feeling after the AFL said it was comfortable with how Geelong handled the Jeremy Cameron concussion. The Power, rightly, had the book thrown at it for its handling of the Aliir Aliir, Lachie Jones incident last year. But it would be well within its rights to feel hard done by in some ways given Geelong won’t face any action. It was uncomfortable to watch Cameron seemingly try and avoid the Cats’ doctor after what we could all see was a heavy hit of his head on the ground. Technically he did have a HIA on the ground, and passed a SCAT6 test on the night, but it was just a terrible look that he seemingly was waving off the doctor and trying to avoid him. It also must not be forgotten that Cameron was involved in a head-clash with Willem Drew in the third quarter. Again it makes you question the response of clubs and the league to the biggest issue in the game right now.

Should Jeremy Cameron have been forced to come from the ground for a HIA?

2. GOING TOO EARLY

We saw a tactical sub masterstroke on Friday night when Geelong coach Chris Scott pulled Rhys Stanley out of the game in the second quarter. On Sunday at Adelaide Oval we saw the risks of going early. To put it bluntly Dan Curtin was having a shocker in the first half against the Lions. But subbing him out of the game at halftime was a risk and when Josh Worrell broke his wrist all of a sudden the Crows were a man down.

Daniel Curtin has only played five quarters in the opening two games of his AFL career. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

And they could have done with a player who stands at 197cm in their backline against the Lions’ damaging forward line. You also wonder how Curtin would be feeling after this. He was subbed out of the game at three-quarter-time in his debut in the Showdown and only lasted a half in his second game. The Crows have been careful with Curtin after drafting him, especially given what happened with Fischer McAsey. But could they have let him try and salvage his game rather than the early shower?

LIKES

1. DROUGHT BREAKERS

Port Adelaide’s win over Geelong is one of the best of the Ken Hinkley era. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Where would this win rank for Ken Hinkley at the Power? Top three? It isn’t an outlandish claim. The Power copped it for its Showdown performance, were without its captain Connor Rozee, a hugely important player in Sam Powell-Pepper, had to play its third-choice ruckman and were going to a place where it hadn’t won in 2007 and against a side that had been flying so far this year. If the Power coughed that one up it would have been one of the great chokes we have seen in footy for some time but now Port have the monkey off its back and have claimed a big away victory – which of course has been something it has not done all too often. The Power now have Hawthorn and North Melbourne in its next two before it hosts Carlton at Adelaide Oval in a Thursday night blockbuster. It was a horror performance and result in the Showdown, but the Power now have the chance to get some serious momentum. Last week we said Willie Rioli was one of the Power’s most important forwards, he might be in the running to be its most important player.

2. BUTTERS AND WINES

Ollie Wines celebrates a goal with Zak Butters during his side’s win over Geelong. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Power were without its captain but the vice-captain and former co-captain had captains games of their own. The duo sound like a British TV show set in the countryside, but they were both inspirational against the Cats. This masthead spoke to Butters after the Showdown loss and you got the sense that his next game was going to be a big one, so disappointed and angry he was. In his first game as acting captain he set the tone for the Power. He tore maniacally around the field and just looked to be willing the Power along at times. When the Power did make the big call to refresh its leadership group and not have Wines a part of it, Hinkley said he still would be a leader on the field for Port. The Brownlow Medallist was back to his best on Friday night with a game-high nine clearances to go with 33 possessions, seven marks, seven tackles and a goal. His return to form cannot be underestimated for the Power this year.

3. IZAK RANKINE

Izak Rankine proved again he is worth every cent as the forward lit up the Adelaide Oval on Sunday night. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Who said the Crows paid too much for Rankine again? The Adelaide star is right in the mix for All-Australian honours this year, amid a career-best run of form. So far this season he has kicked two goals, two goals, no goals, one goal, three goals, one goal, four goals, three goals and three goals. It is a remarkable run of consistent form for Rankine so far in 2024. The thing for the Crows is how do they split his time between the forward line and midfield given how damaging he can be in both positions. It looks to be something they will tackle on a game-by-game basis, but in Rankine they have a guy who is truly a game-changer for the Crows.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows fans need to get used to off-Broadway games after fixture reveal