We are now onto Adelaide who have had their worse year in their short AFL history. If you would like to help out by writing your own sides season review, please contact me.

Well in what was supposed to be a yearlong celebration of the Adelaide Crows 20th anniversary in the AFL things quickly turned into a nightmare. After a brilliant win in round 1 against Hawthorn in front of over 40,000 people at AAMI stadium things went from bad to worse for Adelaide. How did it all go wrong, there is more than one answer for this question.

Scott Thompson was the only standout in a dismal year for Adelaide

Firstly you have to take into account the amount of experience and leadership that the crows lost during the 2010 season. Former captain Simon Goodwin retired club legend and multiple time all Australian Andrew McLeod hung up the boots as did another 300 game superstar Tyson Edwards. I personally go a little annoyed with this excuse for the Crows poor form but it is valid. There was a massive void left after those club legends departed and it was a little bit too big for the young crows to fill.

Another reason you have to look at is the coach. Neil Craig’s 7 year reign come to an abrupt end in round 18 after the crows were annihilated by 103 points against St. Kilda and kept to their lowest ever score of 3.6 24. The writing was on the wall for Craigy. The crows seemed to only have one game plan, kick the ball long to key forward Kurt Tippett and if that failed the crows failed. The crows became too predictable and opposition teams and coaches took advantage of that and the crows were exposed week in week out.

But after suffering embarrassing defeats against Melbourne by 96 points, Brisbane at home by 40 points and against North Melbourne by 47 points there was no real shock when Neil Craig announced that he won’t be at West Lakes next season. Adelaide’s 2 time premiership captain Mark Bickley came to the rescue as caretaker coach and the Crows briefly turned their form around. Bicks won his first game in charge against cross town rival Port Adelaide, then delivered back to back wins for the first time with a brilliant come from behind win against Brisbane at the Gabba.

The crows had a bit of momentum leading into the last few rounds but once again fell into old habits and suffered two bad losses to finish out the season against Richmond and the West Coast. The hunt is on for the next coach of the Crows and the favourite is West Coast assistant and South Australian Scott Burns, Mark Bickley has put his hand up for the top job but I think the results of the last 2 games won’t play highly in Bicks favour.

Can the Crows turn things around, yes but it will take time. This year young players like Shaun McKernan, Jack Gunston (who has asked to go home), Daniel Talia, Aidan Riley and mature age rookie Ian Callinan have all showed during the course of the year that they are more than capable of playing footy at the highest level, they just need more time to develop their game. Players like Patrick Dangerfield, David McKay, Andy Otten, Rory Slone and Richard Douglas need to take their game to the next level and become elite players which they all have the potential to be.

The Crows have got some solid key position players in ruckman Sam Jacobs who has been plain awesome in his debut season for the tri colours, Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker can be a force up forward and can easily kick 100 goal between them and down back the dynamic duo of Graham ‘stiffy’ Johncock who has one of the best nicknames in footy and his mate Ben ‘the truck’ Rutten who also has a pretty cool Nickname do their job week in and week out, not to mention the skipper Nathan Van Berlo, Scott Thompson and Bernie Vince in the midfield, Adelaide have got a good foundation but needs the support around them to make the team complete and competitive.

Whoever the new coach is for Adelaide the talent is there they just need some time to get that much needed experience and things will take care of themself.

Season 2011 snapshot

Finished 14th 7 wins 15 losses worse finish in club history.
Most disposals Scott Thompson- 673
Most goals Taylor Walker- 32
Best and Fairest Scott Thompson
All Australians Scott Thompson named in the 40 man squad (probably won’t make the cut, but should)

Trade bait

Chris Knights from Melbourne and no doubt would generate interest from other clubs.
Ivan Maric strong links to Richmond may leave as no longer the no 1 ruckman.
Jack Gunston showed a lot of promise and was voted as their most promising 1st and 2nd year player before his name was taken off the award list and given to Daniel Talia instead.

Surprisingly Kurt Tippetts name has been mentioned in the media in Adelaide as he has a clause in his contract that he can go to the Gold Coast after his current contract expires in 2012 and the Crows receive a 2nd round draft pick in return. The papers are saying that the crows should trade Tippett now and get Sam Day or David Gorringe from the Gold Coast, probably won’t happen but worth a mention.

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