2015 season – 6th (post finals)
2016 prediction – 14th
THE BRIEF
Without doubt a ballsy call if I do say so myself, but there is little doubt the Crows overachieved last season in the wake of one of the sport’s greatest tragedies; the death of their coach, Phil Walsh.
How they pulled it together to continue not only playing but playing at a such a high level was a credit to the organisation on many levels.
This season, I feel the fairy tale is well and truly over.
Patrick Dangerfield has made his way home to Geelong and while a new coach (Don Pyke) can often have an impact early days, Adelaide has one of the toughest draws you could ever have the misfortune of being given.
In the opening eight rounds of 2016, the Crows play six sides who played finals last season in North Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney, Hawthorn, Fremantle and the Bulldogs.
Their other two matches are against expectant risers Geelong and Port Adelaide.
After a cushy opening to 2015, it’s not hard to see the Crows going 0-8 to start the 2016 season.
They certainly have class players to win games. Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Daniel Talia and Eddie Betts are A graders, or close enough to, but I can’t help but feel there are too many other factors conspiring against them to have Adelaide inflicting a great deal of damage on the competition.
THE LOCK
Rory Sloane: Tough call given Taylor Walker is one of my favourite players to watch and seems to thrive with the captaincy; a masterstroke by the late Phil Walsh. Sloane though is all class. He, like Walker, leads by example but has an edge in terms of consistency. With no Dangerfield running through the midfield with him this season, he can expect far more attention from opposition teams and that will be the greatest challenge of his impressive career to date. But, as I said, he is class and I think he can handle it. In terms of a value bet, the absence of Dangerfield could well mean more Brownlow votes for Sloane. IF the Crows can win enough games, and that’s a decent sized if, then a top three finish for him in the Brownlow at $9 could be worth a go.
THE STOCK
Troy Menzel: Still staggered the Blues traded him away. Sure, I didn’t see a heap of Carlton games last season but what I saw of this kid, I really liked. And if he has an attitude half as good as his brother, Daniel, (who has recovered from four knee reconstructions) then I am happy to invest in him. A genuine player of the future.
THE SMOKIN’ BARREL
Paul Seedsman: He was consistent enough at Collingwood but he is the type of player who gives me the feeling he could thrive in a new environment. Sure, there’s a fair amount of focus on a Crows player in AFL-obsessed Adelaide but away from that Magpie bubble we could see the best of ‘The Seed’ in the red, blue and gold.
