Adelaide

[the_boy_jake]

Who else had them in their bottom 4?

Just goes to show that form is temporary, but class is permanent and a midfield with Ricciuto and McLeod as well as some able assistants will be effective. Neil Craig has done a fantastic job over there.

[Razorblade]

Personally i believe the inevitable has only been put off for a year or two.

Hudson had a career year, and now he will be out for the next year or so.

Riccuto (30) and McLeod (29) are only going to get older and slower.

Other players such as M.Clarke (32), Hart (31), M.Stevens (30), Bassett (29), Goodwin (29), Edwards (29), Torney (28), Biglands (28), Burton (27) and Welsh (27) are all getting on and will only start to decline in their games and a couple of them will no doubt retire.

Also they have way too many young tall prospects on their lists so once you get past a few of them and the ones that are delisted they will have players looking to go elsewhere for opportunities if they are any good.

Adelaide are going to fall, and fall dam hard pretty soon, its only a matter if when, not if.

[Piping Shrike]

Still, not bad if you can win a premiership on the way down. That's the difference between a Vic club and a non-Vic club. The Vic clubs have 3-5 year plans, which, mathematically speaking, must mostly fail, to be followed by more 3-5 year plans. Teams like Adelaide have a bad year, get a new coach and then say - let's finish first next year!

I wonder, in 40 years time, when each Vic club is on its 10th or so 3-5 yr plan to finish any better than 4th once in a while, will anyone still believe them?

[the_boy_jake]

They may fall, but Craig is really dealing with Ayres' mess, and has done exceptionally well. He replaced Stenglein with the younger Thompson, and took 7 youngsters and no mature players in the national and preseason drafts.

 

[mightytiges]

Everything this year has gone right for them apart from Hudson doing his knee last week. They've been able to keep their best 22 on the park most weeks and nearly all of their second tier players are having personal best seasons. Full marks to Craig though. He was top player in SA and is a smart coach.

Ayres cops alot but one thing he did do right was picking up blokes like Rutten (FB), Bock (CHB) and Mattner from the rookie list. Suddenly they've gone from having virtually no spine last year to one of the most reliable in the space of one year.

[Rodgerramjet]

Get on them for the flag, I reckon their going to win it.

I thought they'd go close to winning the spoon at the start of the season

[mightytiges]

Get on them for the flag, I reckon their going to win it.

From a sentimental viewpoint I hope the Swans crack it after 72 years but I reckon you're on the money saying the Crows RR. Very similar circumstances to when they won the 97 flag with no standout teams.

[Razorblade]

Apprently Hart is going to re-sign with the club!

Just another old bloke, nearing retirement, who will take a spot which a youngster or two could be playing and learning the game.

I wonder if i can get on the wooden spoon for the 2008 season?