Quick Glance at 2011: What went wrong, what went right?
What went right for the Crows in 2011? Not a lot. Although they started the season strongly, beating eventual preliminary finalist Hawthorn by 20 points in the first round, things began to go downhill from then on.
Adelaide suffered a large amount of injuries in the 2011 season. Indeed, they could scarcely play consecutive rounds without losing one of their best 22, the result being they struggled to consistently field a competitive side.
A 103-point thrashing at the hands of St. Kilda in round 18 led to long time coach Neil Craig resigning after popular demand, and Adelaide finished the 2011 season a lowly 15th on the ladder, with a win- loss record of seven and 15.
The 2011 season was further soured by the poaching of several key players from opposition clubs.
However there were some positive signs in terms of player development.
Midfielder Scott Thompson took his game to another level, ranking second in the competition for total disposals, at an average of 31 per game. He was also ranked tenth in the league for clearances.
Patrick Dangerfield had a stellar season, kicking 23 goals, and averaging 17 touches a game. His pace and flair will be a problem for opposition teams this year, as Adelaide will use him to break down opposition defences and feed the ball quickly to their tall forwards.
Key Players:
All-Australian full-back Ben Rutten is pivotal to the Crows as their defensive lynch pin. The epitome of understated efficiency, Rutten is rarely beaten, and has obtained a level of consistency that few can match. He is even more important now that the inexperienced defensive line-up has lost young defensive prospect Phil Davis to GWS.
Ex-blue, Sam Jacobs made the most of his transition to Adelaide, becoming the number one ruck choice, and will continue to develop into one of the premier big men in 2012. At 203 centimetres, Jacobs can take a good grab, and should rotate through the forward-line well with Kurt Tippett.
With the loss of talented forward Jack Gunston to Hawthorn, and Ivan Maric to Richmond, young Jacobs will have to shoulder a big load in the 2012 season.
3 Most important games and why?
There is the sense this year that Adelaide may be strong enough to pinch the scalp of one of last year’s finalists.
If Adelaide can win all, if any, of the following three games, they will prove to themselves and the football world that they belong in the September action.
Round 6 vs. Sydney at the SCG.
Adelaide has a difficult first half of the season ahead of them, in which they face last year’s top three. A win against Sydney away from home at that stage will look like more of a must than just a scalp. Momentum here would hold them in good stead for their round seven clash against Geelong.
Round 8 vs. Carlton at Etihad Stadium
This match marks the third week of a tough month for the Crows. Carlton away from home should be an enthralling encounter, with both teams seeking to move the ball quickly around the small, sheltered confines of Etihad Stadium. Once again, a win will give the Crows some thrust heading into the next week’s match against Collingwood.
Round 17 vs. West Coast at AAMI.
Can they repeat their NAB Cup heroics against a powerful West Coast outfit?
This match may come to be one of the most crucial of the season. For all teams. A win would certainly damage the Eagle’s top four aspirations, and for the Crows? Well the undemanding second half of the season just gets a lot easier.
What to expect in 2012:
Adelaide will be one of the teams to watch in 2012.
Former Geelong Assistant coach Brenton Sanderson has got the top job at the Crows in 2012, and has wasted no time tempering their game plan to the Geelong-like style of running the ball through the centre of the ground.
This style, combined with a potent forward line, (Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippet, Tom Lynch and Jason Porplyzia) and an inexperienced backline, means big scores will be kicked both for and against Adelaide. Expect exciting stuff.
Captain Nathan van Berlo will be more important to Adelaide than ever. In this hectic time between changing coaches and playing styles, the club will desperately need his consistency and leadership.
Taylor Walker and Bernie Vince are set to take the competition by storm, and key defender Daniel Talia should have enough pre-seasons in him to hold down the premier centre half forwards in Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy, Travis Cloke etc.
Ladder Prediction: 6-9.
Michael Pollock is a third year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University.
