Adelaide 2024 preview: Can the Crows gain consistency next season and return to the finals?
The Crows have plenty of young talent, and a hot competition for spots, meaning its a vital year for some young guns as they look to earn themselves a new deal. ADELAIDE SEASON PREVIEW.
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Despite the controversial way in which Adelaide’s finals hopes were ended in 2023 there is plenty of optimism at the Crows. With plenty of signs that they are on the right track the Crows will be looking to end their finals drought in 2024.
The Crows are right among those at the front of the line when it comes to the teams hoping to gatecrash the top eight.
While inconsistencies ultimately cost Adelaide dearly, Nicks’ side played a thrilling brand of attacking footy and were the league’s highest scoring team.
Their backline has been hit by injuries and departures but the Crows will be bullish about what they can do in 2024.
What happened in 2023?
Adelaide fans were left scratching their heads at a sluggish start to the season.
After losing their first two games of the season, the Crows upstaged Port Adelaide – wearing its prison bar guernsey – in the Showdown.
This kicked them into life and they showed just what they could do with a huge victory over Carlton in Gather Round.
That coincided with captain Jordan Dawson being sent into the midfield, giving the Crows the big-bodied midfielder they had been crying out for.
Taylor Walker’s career renaissance continued with the superstar’s best season yet, including 10 goals in his 250th game against West Coast, to earn him All-Australian honours alongside his captain.
However, close losses to Collingwood and Melbourne, a fade out against the Gold Coast in Darwin and a home loss to GWS ended up putting the Crows behind the eightball when it came to finals.
Adelaide’s tall defender stocks were also hit hard with Tom Doedee and Nick Murray suffering ACL injuries and Jordon Butts copping a season-ending foot injury.
The Crows did look like they could make a late run, but their finals chances were extinguished in controversial circumstances against Sydney when what should have been a goal to Ben Keays was ruled as a point in the dying stages of the match.
Where do they finish in 2024?
Finals will be well within Adelaide’s sights in 2024.
The Crows haven’t featured in September since going down to Richmond in the 2017 Grand Final, but Nicks’ side will be confident its drought could end very soon.
Adelaide has been rewarded by the AFL in the fixture department with some big games at Adelaide Oval, where they play so well.
The top-eight will be a tight race but the Crows will be backing themselves after another season under the belts of their young guns.
There are still some questions around the Crows backline, though, with Doedee leaving for Brisbane and Murray out for most of the season as he recovers from his ACL.
And can they get another year like they got from Walker?
It’s a tough start for the Crows but if they can begin the season well they will be right in the mix.
Biggest improver in 2024?
The Crows will be hoping it is Riley Thilthorpe.
He started 2023 out of the side, with Nicks wanting him to work on some areas of his game. However, Thilthorpe returned with a vengeance in the first Showdown of the season, with Port Adelaide unable to deal with the former No. 2 pick.
While he ended the season in quiet circumstances with questions again rearing their head around his development, Thilthorpe has strong work ethic and will put his best foot forward over pre-season in the quest to be the key forward the Crows hope he can be.
X-factor
Did the Crows waste one of the great years from Taylor Walker in 2023?
That has been the question asked by some at West Lakes upon reflection of the campaign.
The spiritual leader at the club, Walker was the Crows’ talisman on the field in a career best-season at the tender age of 33.
It was another sensational year as Walker continued his late-career resurgence.
And unlike 2021 and 2022, he had some serious days out in front of goals with bags of nine and 10 against the Eagles and seven against the Power to win his first Showdown Medal. When Walker is up and about the Crows are an extremely hard team to stop.
Coach status
Matthew Nicks is out of contract at the end of 2024 but unless things go drastically wrong he doesn’t really have much to worry about.
Adelaide powerbrokers are enamoured with Nicks, who they believe is a “next-generation” coach.
While they haven’t put a timeline on an extension for Nicks, expect one to come in 2024. Another thing to look out for at the Crows is how they deal with James Rahilly returning to Geelong.
Under Rahilly as forwards coach, the Crows had become one of the best attacking sides in the competition and he could be a big loss for Adelaide.
Who is in last year of contract?
Sam Berry, Hugh Bond, James Borlase, Brayden Cook, Billy Dowling, Lachlan Gollant, Will Hamill, Elliott Himmelberg, Mitch Hinge, Ben Keays, Ned McHenry, Patrick Parnell, Luke Pedlar, Lachlan Sholl, Rory Sloane, Brodie Smith, Taylor Walker
Outs for 2024
Tom Doedee (Free agency move to Brisbane), Shane McAdam (traded to Melbourne), Paul Seedsman (retired) Tariek Newchurch (delisted), Tyler Brown (delisted), Andrew McPherson (delisted), Jackson Hatley (delisted), Fischer McAsey (retired)
Ins for 2024
Chris Burgess (Gold Coast), Dan Curtin (pick no. 8), Charlie Edwards (pick no. 21), Oscar Ryan (pick no. 27)
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Originally published as Adelaide 2024 preview: Can the Crows gain consistency next season and return to the finals?
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