Comments on: Saints, Carltons, Lions & Adelaide 2009 Mid Season Review

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:16:53 +0000

I agree that potential only gets you so far. But luck (injuries, close games etc) & board consistency also helps. If Adelaide had more luck in injuries you could have added Burton & Hentshell (spelling??) to the forward line as well…

They also got bundled out of the finals in 2007 by a goal after the siren and lost several preliminary finals by less than 2 goals against the Eagles.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:24:15 +0000

yes…i will agree that they have alot of potential. but we all know that that is not enough. Fremantle have had massive potential and never done a thing. Richmond has had potential, but again has not delivered.
I’m not sure that Craig is the man to take them, or get them close to a premeirship. i think he has done a good job, but maybe he needs to step down and give it up to a coach who can

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:38:38 +0000

I have to agree that under Craig while Adelaide have been consistent, they never looked likely to win a premiership under him.

However he never had a forward line and this year he at least has some players who can provide consistency (Porps), big man to kick to (Tippett) & some unperdictability that can provide something exciting (Walker).

In regards to the midfield, Dangerfield, Otten, Knights etc have something but think they are a year or two away from being a top 4 side. By then Edwards & McLeod will be gone…

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:29:15 +0000

he has done well, but lets not forget, he’s been with the crows for four whole years and made the finals all four times yes.
but another coach did the same, Terry wallace coached the bulldogs into 4 finals series in a row but couldnt deliver. then the club sank big time and wallace failed miserably at yet another club, the tigers.
Craig has done well yes, but Adelaide are no Geelong or St kilda, and i have a hard time beleiving they ever will be. yes their forward line could be very dangerous but they don’t have the midfield of the top 3 teams. i cannot see the crows winning a premiership under craig. hopefully for his sake he can prove me wrong, but i still think they may need a fresh face at the helm of the team…

St Kilda have had an easy draw imo, theyve played some good teams but they’ve had it easy.
the dogs and geelong have had it a bit more rough…and i am desperate to see these two teams face off in the grand final. i think it would be an epic battle

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:38:19 +0000

Interesting Mike…

why do adelaide need a new coach?? is making the finals every year not good enough for you??

I think Craig has reinvented him and the side (original article) into more of an attacking side (last four games over 100 points) due to the forward line of Otten, Knights, Walker, Tippett, Porps & Dangerfield. Tippett needs to take the next step into a consistent marking tall and if he does, it will be even more dangerous (imo) than the Dogs.

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:34:37 +0000

Apart from playing both Geelong & St Kilda again in the last 10 weeks, Saints (and Carltons) fixtures are pretty soft so it should ensure that both teams win more than loose in the last 10 weeks.

Think Geelong & the Dogs where both handed a rough draw having to play in Perth twice in three weeks….

By: deano

deano — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:33:06 +0000

why do adelaide need a new coach?? is making the finals every year not good enough for you??

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:48:12 +0000

i think st kilda are alot better of a team than in 2004, however i don’t beleive in them yet. if they can beat geelong, the bulldogs again, then ill agree they are the real deal. but i just find they are not consistent in every game for four quarters. they cannot lapse against geelong, the bulldogs or in the finals. they need to get that out of their game
Brisbane are doing well…not really a premeirship contender unless they get more consistent but i am impressed with what they have shown
Adelaide need a new coach, but they have an exciting looking list. it will be interesting to see how they go for the rest of the season.
Carlton for me are still developing. i think they should have a few more wins but i think if they make the finals this year and maybe get a win they will have acheived alot. i think next year they will be better though

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:20:59 +0000

Brisbane have showed why using injuries is just an excuse imo. With Charman, Drummond, Leunberger, Patful & Merrett out you would excuse them to loose by 30+ to Carlton & to Hawthorn down in Tassie but they did not!

I also heard that on the bus down there, all the players where whinging and J Brown got up and said that “everyone who whinges will be penelised $50″. Now thats a sign of a real captain…

By: deano

deano — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:12:42 +0000

The Lions are the talking point for me. They have had injuries in key areas with ruckman and KPP in the backline going down yet still sit in the top 4. I thought Voss would be good and I thought that the Lions would be good but I didn’t think it would come until next year at the very least. surely the ‘roos or tigers will have to jump on Buckley now.

the Saints worry me because i don’t think that they can go any better then what they have already. Geelong will improve when they get Ottens, Harley, Taylor etc, back. The Dogs have a big youth movement pushing them along at the moment and Murphy, Welsh, Williams and Cooney will get better. The Hawks and Pies have plenty of improvement left as do the Lions. The Saints have had a dream run with injuries and are playing superb footy. However, against the Blues and Lions they have looked very much beatable and as Jer said the game against the Cats will be the big test to see how far they have come.

Adelaide are brilliant, as i wrote in the season preview, they are always in the mix. they never completely bottom out and always promote the youngsters and they should be commended for that. Again this season we have seen guys like Petrenko, Otten, Mackay and Walker step up and play solid football. from a doggies supporter it hurts to say this but they are a super organisation.