Adelaide
Coach – Matthew Nicks
2023 –
Points For – 1st
Points Against –9th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
- Jordan Dawson
- Rory Laird
- Taylor Walker
=4. Izak Rankine
=4. Mitch Hinge
2023 Rising Star Noms
Max Michalanney (Rnd 5)
Ins – Chris Burgess, Daniel Curtin, Charlie Edwards, Oscar Ryan
Outs – Tyler Brown, Tom Doedee, Jackston Hately, Shane McAdam, Fischer McAsey, Andrew McPherson, Tariek Newchurch, Paul Seedsman
My Prediction
I wonder what odds you would have got at the start of last year on the Crows being the highest scoring team for the year. Nicks really had them humming at periods last year. When you look at their list it looks like a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. It will be interesting to see how they go and whether they can follow it up this year.
I think the most obvious deficiency in their team is their backline. They will be looking for Daniel Curtin to make an impact quickly and I think it will be back there, they have Butts and have bought in Burgess, he was a player who struggled to get a game for the Suns and they will hope the system at the Crows will bring out more in him. They found Michalanney last year who was solid and they get run from Brodie Smith and Milera. They lack depth back here and will need support to improve their defence.
The midfield isn’t blue chip but more blue collar. Dawson has been one of the best recruits in a while and seems to improve every year. Soligo has been fun to watch and Hinge is coming off a career best year. Laird is a gun and last year they had Crouch reestablish himself although will be interesting to see if they keep playing him. Sloane looked cooked last year at times but he goes around again.
The forward line is good, real good. Taylor Walker came back from being a racist tool to remind the world that if you kick enough goals, the world forgives. Izak Rankine was a great pickup and cleary enjoyed the change of clubs. Fogarty established himself and they have Rachele who may have tasted some second year blues but he is all class. They will be hoping for Thilthorpe to establish himself this year and start to realise his potential. They have a lot of avenues to goal and they can put on scores in bunches.
I don’t know what to make of Reilly O’Brien, he looks likes a world beater some weeks and other weeks look like he got lost and ended up on the ground by mistake. More consistency from him would make a large difference. The coach seems to have things trending in the right direction. That being said, the Crows are not traditionally a forgiving club and he would want to taste finals soon.
They don’t look to bat deep but their best 22 is still formidable. Nicks had things ticking last year and they were a team that took Collingwood to within a kick twice. They also had a soft draw and clearly saw the benefit of that. I don’t think the list goes deep enough to make a run at a premiership but if everything aligned, they could play finals. I think in all likelihood this year looks a little like the last one. I think they finish 8-12.
