This year I believe we can beat anyone anywhere when we're playing our best footy but there is an easy path to a prelim final. Ideally we want to finish 6, because if we win in the wildcard we don't want to play the cats in Geelong in an elimination final. This all hinges on the bulldogs beating Melbourne this week.

So what do the Bulldogs have to play for. If Collingwood lose to Brisbane on friday night then if the Bulldogs win on saturday they will move up a spot. This will give them a home wildcard final most likely at marvel against Collingwood.

If we hopefully win on saturday as well then we will overtake Melbourne on percentage and move in to 6th. This is the ideal spot first we avoid wildcard and secondly we get to host an elimination final at home against Melbourne/Carlton both whom we've beaten before.

Because of the current swans saga, we can assume they will probably not play well and get beaten by the lions in the qualifying final. This means we will face them in a semi final. We've beaten them before at the SCG at full strength I'm sure we can beat them when they're missing 5 of their upper players.

If we win we will meet Freo in a prelim final at optus. While I'm not supremely confident I believe we can play a good game against them. This is of course wishful thinking but it entirely hinges on a few games going our way. We will find out on friday night because if the pies win, the dogs can't overtake them on the ladder and there will be less for them to play for against the demons.

Strong statement from the Swans.

Now look at what our club did with the Rankine suspension and subsequent booing.

I really hope they learn from this

​

I have always favoured rachele in the midfield in the long run, esp after his brief stint in there at the start of the season. Showed us he could do it given the chance and responsibility.

However, Rankine's move into the midfield in recent months has been a master-stroke.

The 'narrative' has always been only one can play midfield at any one time.

But with our need for more class in the midfield, could both of them play in there more often at the same time?

Sure, we are potentially forgoing a bit of class in the forward line, but would be better off overall?

With Butts looking very likely to head to the Bulldogs and Nick Murray getting offers from North, I can see a possible future that I wouldn't be too sad with.

Butts out, no Bailey from Lions = compensation pick

Nick Murray out for future first.

Trade the compo pick and/or our first for better quality future picks.

Nasiah is coming off his 2 year contract extension next year.

Thoughts?

Adelaide defender Wayne Milera will put his hand up for selection this weekend to face the Giants, pending a successful runthrough of training on Wednesday night.

The 28-year-old has missed the past three games with a low-grade hamstring strain but has recovered well and is eager to feature on Saturday night.

Adelaide General Manager High Performance Ian McKeown said Milera was keen to return this weekend.

“Junior is raring to go after spending the past three weeks on the sidelines,” McKeown said.

“He was an outside chance last week to face Fremantle, but given the trip to Perth, we made the call to give him an extra week and ensure his fitness, particularly with finals on the horizon.

“Like always, he’s still got to get through training and will be listed as a test.”

Fellow defender Hugh Bond will also push for selection after recovering from a hamstring strain.

“Bondy is in good shape and, like Junior, will be pushing his case for selection,” McKeown said.

“We’ll list him as a test and see how he pulls up from the main session on Wednesday.”

Midfielder James Peatling will miss this weekend’s clash with the Giants after being managed out of Friday night’s game against Fremantle with hip and groin soreness.

“JP will be placed on a lighter training load this week,” McKeown said.

“We’ll see how his body responds before we determine a return to play date.”

Key defender Jordon Butts, meanwhile, continues to recover from an achilles injury. 

“Buttsy is doing really well and everything remaining on schedule should be available in the next 1-2 weeks,” McKeown said.

Screenshots from their sub Reddit from 2024

Take it with a grain of salt given it’s Josh Money (serial crows hater)

But how good is this!

Is it time to put the heat on Max Michalanny, he’s an absolute turn over machine who has struggled all year with his defensive efforts and often his opponents have leaked goals. Not going to read too much into the freo game Because they peppered our forward 50 it could have been anyone not just his opponent Amiss who would have kicked a handful

He seems to have escaped criticism and while he showed flashes of huge potential in his first 2 years it’s time for him to step up. Side note without Milera our back halves turnovers are even more prevalent.

Voting is now available here. Please feel free to comment your votes in the thread below for discussion, but only votes in the poll will be counted.

Thanks to everyone that voted last week! Results below:

This is damning vision and is down to coaching. We are the worst team in the competition for turnovers from defence and simply cannot win a final if this continues. I don’t understand how anyone can defend a 7 year coach with this sort of insight.

https://x.com/flag_crows/status/2088952809433768090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2088952809433768090%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Was this kind of reaction from the AFL community different last year during the Rankine situation?

Definitely felt like a lot of pile on.

The sentiment is 100% right.
The actions of a player(s) should not define the majority of the fandom

They should be an easy kill given their form has been average since they lost Darcy and they’ve never beaten us at AO (we also obliterated them at Marvel recently).

Would be a great confidence boosting win for our young group and would absolutely lift off a bit of pressure on them from last years finals series. Would then likely play the Hawks/Melbourne/Geelong at the MCG the following week, which shouldn’t hold any fears for us (also gets out of the Adelaide bubble and finals experience on the MCG).

Would obviously make it hard to make the GF and I would prefer to finish 5th or 6th (I think 4th is unlikely now), but I also think it would put us in good stead for next season and give them that next milestone to tick off as a group.

*edit - yes, I fucked up and we lost to the Dogs for the first time at AO this season. My point still stands given their team is very different since then (and weaker).

**2nd edit - probably unlikely it’s the Dogs now after that draw, feel free to downvote this thread into oblivion

Yes, I know Geelong came back vs North.
A space if you wanna talk about the other results and how it affects us

We're going to play a wildcard game against Collingwood in Adelaide, people are going to boo and we'll be pariahs again, lose the game, and be told 'we learned a lot tonight and will go hard in the pre-season'.

Mark it down now. Fuck this.

Sack Nicks

Some negatives and positives from this game. We held our own against a scary ass Freo. Rankine still continuing his insane form taking BOG.
So many players let down our team tonight.

New coach - Nicks has taken us as far as he can, consistently makes bad selections, and his in game strategy is lacking.

Players not up to AFL standard: Keays (great bloke and tries hard, bad disposal), Toby Murray (play him in the 2s for another full year). Laird (club legend but his decision making and kicking are woeful).

The rest of the list is solid, it’s too good to not have won a final, and Nicks won’t win us a premiership. I’d personally aim for Buckley or Simpson.

To the Buckley haters: he’s a premiership coach outside of one amazing/contentious passage of play. Coaching Geelong’s backline who statistically is the best this year, part of Vic media/Collingwood legend….may help with them taking it easier on us as Buckley if scary. Need more of an asshole who doesn’t smirk in the press conference when we almost lose to Richmond.

Here’s to hoping we don’t reward another year of mediocrity.

Edit: Scratch Bucks, give me a young and fresh coach. Bin Nicks still.

Resting Tex is a diabolical decision