Adelaide Crows should conduct analysis on list management with vital off-season ahead

The need to overhaul the list management approach at the Crows is long overdue, two-time premiership captain Mark Bickley says the next two years are critical for the club to get back on track.

Jake Lever looks on during a Melbourne training session. Picture: AAP/Scott Barbour

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If I was on the Adelaide Football Club board, I would be pushing for an audit of list management and recruiting.

Starting tomorrow.

Over the next two seasons decisions made in this area will determine how long and how successful the rebuilding of the Adelaide Football Club will be.

With the speed of the list decline and modest performances from some of the more recent draft selections, the public confidence in the current team to carry out the job has taken a hit.

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On the surface and without looking into it too closely you would say it has been poor.

But surely there must be a process of formal measurement for recruiting other than ladder position?

How do the Crows compare to their peers in the success rate of their recruits?

Have the coveted first round picks been maximised?

Have the recent trades been evaluated?

And if so how did they rate?

Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron celebrates a goal against West Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Player retention is another obvious area worth really diving into.

Particularly the loss of Charlie Cameron, Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern, who are in the key 22-25 year old demographic.

Could that have been handled better?

That same question must be asked across the whole list management and recruiting process, can we do this better?

The answer must surely be ‘yes’.

I know recruiting is not an exact science and Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie and his team have a long and successful track record of identifying talent, but that does not mean it can’t be challenged.

It goes deeper than just the actual players selected.

I see holes in the Adelaide list that haven’t been addressed in recent years.

Jake Lever battles against Geelong’s Luke Dahlhaus. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty

Carlton’s Mitch McGovern warms up at the MCG. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

The lack of ruck depth, a young big-bodied midfielder and players with outside run and speed:: areas that other clubs have targeted.

If I was sitting on the board I would want to have that information.

The people entrusted with making the key decisions in building the new list from its current low must be the best available.

AFL clubs are about to undergo an enormous shake up.

With the soft cap on the football department spending about to be reduced, with estimates between 30 per cent and 40 per cent, jobs will go.

A restructuring of list management and recruiting appears inevitable.

Many fear non-coaching departments could be cut in half.

It is the first time I can remember the industry experiencing deflation.

This will mean talented people from other clubs becoming available as jobs across the AFL dry up.

Adelaide Crows list manager Justin Reid. Picture: AAP/Michael Dodge

Adelaide Crows recruiting officer Hamish Ogilvie. Picture: Sarah Reed

This is an opportunity that Adelaide must be looking at across all parts of the football department.

With the late appointments of new coach Matthew Nicks and new general manager of football Adam Kelly the Crows were limited in what they could do last year.

This will not be the case come season’s end.

Adelaide must be aggressive, discussions must be taking place now.

Just like most deals done in trade week are crafted throughout the year, football staff appointments are no different. Especially in this year of upheaval.

After five weeks, the picture is clear of the enormous task facing the Adelaide Football Club.

If there is a positive to come out of this situation it is that there is no sugar coating how far off the pace Adelaide are.

When a team falls so far, so quickly, no one is spared, fingers get pointed at everyone.

The key is to remain laser focused on what is important.

Right now list management has to be a priority.

How it will be structured and resourced going forward are key, and are the people in charge the ones to assemble the Crows next finals list?

Considered, measured, diligent decisions are required.

It hasn’t been a strength of the Adelaide Crows in recent times.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows should conduct analysis on list management with vital off-season ahead