Overall mark: A
Win-loss: 8-3 LWWLWWWWLWW
Ladder position: Fourth
Leading possession winner: Scott Thompson (286)
Leading goalkicker: Brett Burton (28)
Season so far
The Crows lost more than 1000 games of experience over the summer, including arguably the club’s best-ever player Mark Ricciuto, 2007 leading goalkicker Scott Welsh and first-choice ruckman Ben Hudson.
With such significant changes in personnel, coach Neil Craig concocted a plan to move new skipper Simon Goodwin and reliable veterans Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards out of their respective comfort zones in an effort to bolster Adelaide’s attack and blood the next generation of midfielders.
Craig and his Crows had their doubters heading into the season, but the restructuring of Adelaide’s line up and injection of impressive youth, including Kurt Tippett, Bernie Vince and David Mackay, has so far proved a masterstroke.
The Crows, through their trademark competitive, uncompromising and disciplined brand of football, have claimed eight wins in the opening 11 rounds with the club’s only losses coming at the hands of top-three teams Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs and also the resurgent West Coast.
Craig continues to get the best out of his playing group and, despite a tough draw in the second half of the season, the Crows are well on their way to contesting a fourth-successive finals series.
Best win
Adelaide’s victory in Showdown XXIV will go down as not only one of the Crows’ best this season, but also one of the club’s greatest ever. Port Adelaide, who was smarting after two-straight losses, came out tough and hard, with the aim of physically putting Adelaide off its game.
The Crows lost Nathan Bassett (concussion) and Luke Jericho (cracked sternum) in heavy collisions during the game and were also forced to juggle injuries to Jason Porplyzia (shoulder), Vince (heavy knock) and Kris Massie (hamstring) in the brutal encounter.
Adelaide was reduced to just 19 fit men at several stages in the game, but the Crows, through Vince, Goodwin and Edwards, showed courage, heart and an unquestionable desire to claim a six-point win over their bitter rivals and square the ledger at 12 Showdown wins apiece.
B&F leader
The Malcolm Blight medal could be heading the way of several Crows players going on form at the half-way mark of the season. Brett Burton has made a stunning return to fitness and form with three or more goals on seven occasions this season, while Nathan Bock, who has been touted as a potential All-Australian, has enjoyed a career-best start to the year across half-back.
Burton and Bock have been brilliant, but a six-goal performance against Richmond in round 11 might just have nudged midfielder Scott Thompson ahead.
Thompson has shouldered more midfield responsibility with Goodwin and Edwards spending time up forward and, despite fielding some heavy tags, is currently Adelaide’s leading possession winner, averaging 26 touches and one goal a game. Thompson, who finished third in the club’s best and fairest count last season, also tops the Crows' tackle count and leads the way in Adelaide’s much-heralded hardball-gets.
Surprise packet
No one at West Lakes has been surprised by Porplyzia’s emergence as a class midfielder/forward this season. The 23-year-old has threatened to become a star for years, but injuries and fitness have, up until now, conspired against him.
This year, after completing his first full pre-season, Porplyzia has blossomed and wowed footy fans with his clean hands, goal smarts and undeniable class.
Porplyzia almost single-handedly destroyed North Melbourne in round seven with a brilliant third-quarter display. The former rookie has booted 18 goals to date and, provided his suspect shoulder holds firm, looks set for a fitting end to a breakout season.
Missing in action
Enigmatic forward Nick Gill quickly rose to cult status with nine goals in the last seven games in 2007. Gill, like Burton, showed an ability to do the unpredictable and, despite some erratic goalkicking, became a commanding presence in Adelaide’s attack.
The unlucky 25-year-old has been hampered by recurring soft tissue injuries this season and is only now getting some much-needed match fitness under his belt. Gill was named as an emergency for the round 11 clash with Richmond and, along with comeback kid, Trent Hentschel, will be looking for an opportunity in the remaining rounds.
Coach's award (one-percenter player)
Adelaide took the hard line on some of its senior players last season with the likes of Jason Torney, Ian Perrie and Matthew Bode vacating their lockers at West Lakes.
Veteran onballer Michael Doughty, who had one year to run on his contract, survived the cut and has repaid Neil Craig’s faith with arguably a career-best start to the season.
The 28-year-old is fitter and stronger than ever before and has inspired teammates with his supreme defensive efforts. Doughty, who is second in the club’s tackling, is still one of the lesser known players in the Adelaide line-up, but his importance to the young midfield has been highlighted by Craig on several occasions this season.
Second-half story lines
Will Adelaide continue to surprise the football world and hang on to fourth spot?
Can impressive youngsters like Tippett, Vince and Mackay go the distance in their first full AFL seasons?
Are the Crows contenders or pretenders? Craig’s men have taken all before them so far this season, but how will they fare against the best sides in the competition over the coming weeks?
The run home:
Round 12 – Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium
Round 13 – Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
Round 14 – Geelong at AAMI Stadium
Round 15 – Collingwood at the MCG
Round 16 – Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Round 17 – Sydney Swans at the SCG
Round 18 – Carlton at AAMI Stadium
Round 19 – Richmond at AAMI Stadium
Round 20 – Essendon at Telstra Dome
Round 21 – St Kilda at Telstra Dome
Round 22 – Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
