ADELAIDE will train behind closed doors this summer as the Crows attempt to tinker with their game style away from the ‘prying eyes’ of rival AFL clubs.
The Crows will alternate training locations between the open spaces of Max Basheer Reserve, which backs onto two main roads, and the more secluded Norwood Oval.
The Max Basheer sessions will be open to the public, but coach Neil Craig said his team would take advantage of the increased privacy while working out at Norwood.
“We’re acutely aware of some of the areas we got stifled in last season with our ball movement pattern, in particular,” Craig said on Thursday.
“We just want to be able to practise that behind closed doors and away from the prying eyes of other AFL clubs. A lot of the Melbourne clubs do it now, so it’s just a degree of privacy.
“It’s always difficult for us because [we train a lot on] Max Basheer Oval and it’s hard to have a closed session out there.”
Adelaide adopted a faster game style last season, but Craig conceded his team had still struggled against certain opposition game plans.
“I don’t think we’re disastrous in that area [ball movement] of our game, but I see it as an area where we can make significant inroads,” he said.
“We were very good against certain opposition and certain styles of play, but we were very poor against a couple of styles of play. We just need to make sure that our style of ball movement and play can handle varying styles of opposition.
“It’s no big deal and the reality is, if we do it really well, from a spectator’s point of view, you might not be able to pick it up. That’s how subtle it will be.”
The Crows held their first training session on Thursday with a light skills session on Max Basheer Reserve.
Andrew McLeod, who will resume full training in three months after undergoing knee surgery, was a noticeable absentee as was Jason Porplyzia (shoulder), who won’t resume competitive training for another four months.
Ruckmen Ivan Maric (hip) and Jon Griffin (hip) are both on track after their respective surgeries and should commence training with the main group in a fortnight.
Nathan van Berlo is good to go after a post-season groin operation, while skipper Simon Goodwin (back) will remain on a modified program until Christmas.
Brett Burton, who is four months into his recovery from a knee reconstruction, has been given clearance to start running and prized recruit Patrick Dangerfield will join his teammates full-time in two weeks, after the completion of his Year 12 exams.
