Gary Buckenara analyses Adelaide’s list after the 2018 season

ADELAIDE had a horror season on and off the field in 2018 and while many expect them to bounce back next year, is it that simple? Gary Buckenara has some concerns about the Crows’ list and explains why.

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A GRAND Final appearance one year and then missing the finals completely the next? It was a year to forget for the Adelaide Football Club.

Obviously there are some serious questions that need to be answered at the club following the well-documented pre-season training camp and how much that negatively impacted on the playing group this season.

But let’s focus more on where the Crows are at with their list and whether this year was an aberration and Don Pyke’s team will be back at the top of the ladder in 2019 and contending for the premiership.

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Last year proved Adelaide’s list is good enough to challenge for and potentially win a premiership but I believe a lack of depth is the club’s main problem.

Losing players such as Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Brad Crouch, Kyle Hartigan and Brodie Smith to injury for various stages of the year tested the depth and they failed that test. While it’s hard to cover stars like Walker and Sloane, we’ve seen clubs including Collingwood and GWS overcome injuries to its best players, including stars such as Adam Treloar, Jamie Elliott, Josh Kelly and Tom Scully but still play finals.

Taylor Walker had an injury interrupted pre-season and season. Picture: Getty

That’s why I’ve got concerns about Adelaide. When the guys I mentioned were out injured, the team really struggled and fell away badly to be bundled out of finals contention pretty early.

When fit and firing, however, the Crows can challenge the best teams and we saw exactly that in Round 2 when they defeated Richmond by six goals at Adelaide Oval.

The major positive from a bitterly disappointing season was the emergence of Tom Doedee and Darcy Fogarty. Doedee slotted into the back six perfectly following the departure of Jake Lever to Melbourne and performed at a consistent high level every week, while Fogarty showed he’s a star of the future as a powerful forward with a long and accurate kick.

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Wayne Milera also provided a glimpse of the talent that saw him taken with pick 11 in the 2015 draft. He’s got a bright future ahead of him and can add a dynamic new mix to the side.

Hugh Greenwood took on a more permanent midfield role and impressed, Paul Seedsman had arguably his best season in the AFL across halfback, Rory Laird continues to go from strength to strength, Matt Crouch averaged 32.2 disposals and Bryce Gibbs came in and did what the club expected him to do as a midfielder.

There is, however, a lot of improvement to surely come from this group given Walker, Sloane, Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts had inconsistent seasons for various reasons.

Rory Sloane was another Crow to be sidelined with injury this year. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Crows have a really powerful forward line and when up and going, it’s seriously hard to stop which is why it’s so important Sloane and Brad Crouch both get themselves really fit so they’ve got more depth in the centre to give the forward group the supply they need to kick big scores.

We saw with West Coast in the Grand Final this year that having dominant key forwards is still the way to win premierships, there just needs to be a balance with the smalls who can apply pressure to lock the ball in your forward half. That also comes down to the defensive side of the midfielders as well.

Adelaide’s forward line has been weakened a little by the departure of Mitch McGovern to Carlton but the club did extremely well to secure pick No.13 in a very strong draft in exchange for him. The bonus is the Crows landed Fogarty last year, who I rate very highly, who can step straight into McGovern’s spot.

The Crows will head to the draft with a very strong hand, with three selections inside the top 16, which should net them three very good players given how strong this draft is, particularly at the top end. I’ve got no doubt Adelaide will be eyeing the top South Australian talent — I could see them taking locals with their first four selections. They’ve positioned themselves well.

Darcy Fogarty should play regular senior footy next year. Picture: Getty

ADELAIDE’S LIST NEEDS

Adding speed through the midfield should be the focus for Adelaide, as well as finding a ruckman to replace Sam Jacobs. Jacobs is now 30 (he’ll be 31 early next season) and while he has been incredibly durable, there were some signs this year that perhaps he might not be able to carry the heavy workload he’s been able to in the past. Finding some help for him must be a priority.

McGovern’s departure will leave the Crows a bit light on for key position depth up forward, so targeting one either through the draft should be on the radar. Walker (28 years) and Jenkins (29) aren’t getting any younger, so bringing in another tall to develop alongside Fogarty, who is more of a third tall, and Elliott Himmelberg would be ideal planning for the future.

The Crows addressed their need for a quick small forward during the trade period by securing Tyson Stengle from Richmond and Shane McAdam as a pre-listed player from the SANFL from Carlton.

Eddie Betts wasn’t at his brilliant best in 2018. Picture: Sarah Reed

PLAYERS WHO NEED TO STEP UP IN 2019

Walker, Jenkins, Betts and Sloane wouldn’t be looking back on season 2018 fondly and that should provide the fire in the belly these proud footballers need over the off-season and into the pre-season train hard and set the standards for their teammates. All three are experienced players, the leaders of the football club that need to lead by example and say OK, 2018 wasn’t our year for a number of reasons but we’re going to work hard to find our love for the game again and get back to playing the sort of footy that took us to the Grand Final in 2017.

For Walker, Betts and Sloane, it’s critical all three get their bodies right so they can be the players their team and club needs them to be. Their fitness is critical to Adelaide’s finals hopes.

CRYSTAL BALL

Adelaide is in the premiership window despite their disappointing season this year. The Crows should be back in contention in 2019, providing the list is fit and the off-field issues are resolved.

It’s critical this club and its players can, over the off-season, find the hunger and enjoyment for the game again and regroup and unite in the pursuit of a premiership.