‘Really comfortable’: Adelaide midfield coach Nathan van Berlo backs Crows’ midfield mix

The Crows have come under fire for a lackadaisical approach in the guts to start 2024, but midfield coach Nathan van Berlo has been happy with how they have fared.

Rory Laird in action during the match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Adelaide midfield coach Nathan van Berlo says the Crows engine room “has been more than competitive in and around the footy” but does need to improve its metres gained from stoppage.

The Crows midfield has come under fierce scrutiny in their winless start to the season after four games.

Much of this has centred around an perceived sameness and lack of damage in the engine room.

Van Berlo said he had been happy with how the Crows midfield had largely fared.

“I can understand and appreciate that there is commentary around certain styles of players that we have and the looks we have around the footy,” he said.

“But we are really comfortable that those guys are able to play those roles that we need them to play and I would say to date the midfield has been more than competitive in and around the footy.

Rory Laird in action during the match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“Yes we can get better with some of our metres gained from stoppage but the guys have been playing the roles that we need, we had Izak (Rankine) come around the ball, we played Josh (Rachele) higher than normal which gave us a bit of a different look through the midfield.”

The debate around whether Matt Crouch and Rory Laird can coexist in the same midfield has again reignited following the Crows’ poor start to the season.
Van Berlo said that was the “mix we are going with at the moment”.

“We believe we are generating enough supply off that but we will continue to review it,” he said.

“We have a conversation every week around our mix in there, and where we can get best bang for buck with guys in form, and guys with different roles inside the team.

“One of the pleasing things at the moment for us at the moment, is that we are generating enough supply. We just need to be more efficient.

“We will keep tinkering where we can and if that means structural changes to improve we will make them.”

Van Berlo said it was “pretty identifiable what is breaking down for us at the moment” and the way out of the slump was training.

“Because we do believe there are aspects of our game that are in good shape that will hold up strongly when it all comes together,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Really comfortable’: Adelaide midfield coach Nathan van Berlo backs Crows’ midfield mix