THE LOCKERS have been emptied, the footballs have been stowed and, now, all that’s left to do before the focus switches to ’09 is to reflect on the season that was.
This year 33 players, including six debutants, pulled on the Adelaide guernsey and today afc.com.au wraps up its review of the individual performances in 2008.
Andy Otten
Games: two
The 19-year-old made a seamless transition from TAC Cup to SANFL footy in 2008, displaying consistently good form in the lowly ranked South Adelaide league team. Otten was rewarded with an AFL debut against Hawthorn in round 12, but received limited opportunities and was forced to wait seven weeks for his next game.
The 19-year-old made a seamless transition from TAC Cup to SANFL footy in 2008, displaying consistently good form in the lowly ranked South Adelaide league team. Otten was rewarded with an AFL debut against Hawthorn in round 12, but received limited opportunities and was forced to wait seven weeks for his next game.
Jason Porplyzia
Games: 18
Porplyzia, who booted a career-best 32 goals, won plenty of fans with his ball smarts, clean hands, bravery and superb skills this season before eventually succumbing to a nagging shoulder injury. He has the potential to become an elite player in the competition and will be looking forward to more time in the midfield next year.
Porplyzia, who booted a career-best 32 goals, won plenty of fans with his ball smarts, clean hands, bravery and superb skills this season before eventually succumbing to a nagging shoulder injury. He has the potential to become an elite player in the competition and will be looking forward to more time in the midfield next year.
Brent Reilly
Games: eight
Reilly’s bad run of injuries returned to haunt him this season after a career-best 2007. The onballer showed ominous signs in round one with 20 possessions to half time before breaking his wrist in the third term. Reilly returned to the Crows line-up only to strain his knee and was eventually forced to play out the season in the SANFL.
Reilly’s bad run of injuries returned to haunt him this season after a career-best 2007. The onballer showed ominous signs in round one with 20 possessions to half time before breaking his wrist in the third term. Reilly returned to the Crows line-up only to strain his knee and was eventually forced to play out the season in the SANFL.
Ben Rutten
Games: 22
The ever-reliable full back created a formidable partnership with All-Australian centre-half back, Nathan Bock, this season and helped Adelaide retain its mantle as one of the best defensive units in the competition. Rutten routinely performed against the big guns of the AFL and continued to show a cool head on the last line.
The ever-reliable full back created a formidable partnership with All-Australian centre-half back, Nathan Bock, this season and helped Adelaide retain its mantle as one of the best defensive units in the competition. Rutten routinely performed against the big guns of the AFL and continued to show a cool head on the last line.
James Sellar
Games: one
Sellar, who showed promise during the NAB Cup, kicked a goal on debut in round seven, but was unable to hold his place the following week. The 19-year-old spent the latter half of the season in the Glenelg reserves and coach Neil Craig has already identified 2009 as an important season for Sellar.
Sellar, who showed promise during the NAB Cup, kicked a goal on debut in round seven, but was unable to hold his place the following week. The 19-year-old spent the latter half of the season in the Glenelg reserves and coach Neil Craig has already identified 2009 as an important season for Sellar.
Rob Shirley
Games: 21
Shirley averaged fewer possessions and fewer marks this year than in 2007, but improved by taking his defensive game to another level. The reliable tagger kicked two goals pitted against All-Australian skipper Chris Judd in round 18 and also finished the year ranked fourth at West Lakes in clearances.
Shirley averaged fewer possessions and fewer marks this year than in 2007, but improved by taking his defensive game to another level. The reliable tagger kicked two goals pitted against All-Australian skipper Chris Judd in round 18 and also finished the year ranked fourth at West Lakes in clearances.
Scott Stevens
Games: 23
Stevens played arguably the game of his life in the elimination final against Collingwood with his six goals capping off another consistent season. The former Swan underrated outside Adelaide, but is capable of plugging holes up forward, in defence and even in the midfield.
Stevens played arguably the game of his life in the elimination final against Collingwood with his six goals capping off another consistent season. The former Swan underrated outside Adelaide, but is capable of plugging holes up forward, in defence and even in the midfield.
Brad Symes
Games: 16
The move across Port Road appears to have already paid off for Symes, who easily could have doubled his career games tally in his first season with Adelaide, if not for a seven-week ankle injury. Symes slotted straight into the Crows’ midfield and picked up 20 or more possessions on 10 occasions, while also laying 57 tackles.
The move across Port Road appears to have already paid off for Symes, who easily could have doubled his career games tally in his first season with Adelaide, if not for a seven-week ankle injury. Symes slotted straight into the Crows’ midfield and picked up 20 or more possessions on 10 occasions, while also laying 57 tackles.
Scott Thompson
Games: 23
Thompson continued his rise to prominence in 2008 by racking up more disposals, more tackles, more clearances and more contested possessions than any other Crow. The gritty onballer was forced to overcome greater attention from opposition taggers, but still picked up 20-plus possessions in 17 games, including a massive 36 against Collingwood in round 15.
Thompson continued his rise to prominence in 2008 by racking up more disposals, more tackles, more clearances and more contested possessions than any other Crow. The gritty onballer was forced to overcome greater attention from opposition taggers, but still picked up 20-plus possessions in 17 games, including a massive 36 against Collingwood in round 15.
Kurt Tippett
Games: 19
Tippett, like his good mate David Mackay, put a frustrating first year in Adelaide behind him to force his way into the Crows’ line-up for round one. The competitive Queenslander retained his place until round 17 and, along the way, picked up a NAB Rising Star nomination for his four-goal haul against Melbourne.
Tippett, like his good mate David Mackay, put a frustrating first year in Adelaide behind him to force his way into the Crows’ line-up for round one. The competitive Queenslander retained his place until round 17 and, along the way, picked up a NAB Rising Star nomination for his four-goal haul against Melbourne.
Nathan van Berlo
Games: 23
Van Berlo ditched his tagging role in favour of a more attacking approach in 2008 and the move paid off in the latter half of the season. The emerging leader, despite nursing an adductor strain, finished fifth at West Lakes in total disposals, second in tackles and clearances and also third in the inside 50 count. Van Berlo picked up 98 touches in three weeks between rounds 18 and 20, including a career-best 40 against Carlton.
Van Berlo ditched his tagging role in favour of a more attacking approach in 2008 and the move paid off in the latter half of the season. The emerging leader, despite nursing an adductor strain, finished fifth at West Lakes in total disposals, second in tackles and clearances and also third in the inside 50 count. Van Berlo picked up 98 touches in three weeks between rounds 18 and 20, including a career-best 40 against Carlton.
Bernie Vince
Games: 21
Vince started to deliver on his bottomless potential in 2008, playing 21 of a possible 23 games with the Crows. The laconic country lad lifted his work rate over the pre-season and was rewarded by winning the Showdown Medal for best on ground in round three. Vince finished the season ranked fourth at the club for inside 50s and will be looking to add an element of greater consistency next season.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
Vince started to deliver on his bottomless potential in 2008, playing 21 of a possible 23 games with the Crows. The laconic country lad lifted his work rate over the pre-season and was rewarded by winning the Showdown Medal for best on ground in round three. Vince finished the season ranked fourth at the club for inside 50s and will be looking to add an element of greater consistency next season.
