Is Neil Craig under pressure in 2008 ?
Well Neil Craig must be feeling the pressure over there in Adelaide one would think. Adelaide fans and the club were disappointed with their results in 2007 and they only just scraped into the 8 at the end of the year and had an elimination final loss. I guess the fact that Riccuto missed most of the year didn’t help their cause. The Crows have had a turnover of 14 players which has given the Crows a very different look in 2008. A new leadership team lead by Simon Goodwin has also been put in place.
Lets first take a look at who Adelaide has gained and lost for the 2008 Season
ADDITIONS:
Exchange period – received: Brad Moran (Kangaroos), Brad Symes (Port Adelaide)
Rookie elevation: Greg Gallman
Scholarship elevation: Taylor Walker
NAB AFL Draft: Tony Armstrong (Calder Cannons), Aaron Kite (Calder Cannons), Myke Cook (Sandringham Dragons), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Falcons), Jarrhan Jacky (Subiaco), Andy Otten (Oakleigh Chargers)
DELETIONS:
Retired: Mark Ricciuto (veteran – outside list)
Exchange period – traded: Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs), Martin Mattner (Sydney), John Meesen (Melbourne)
Delisted: Matthew Bode, John Hinge, Ian Perrie, Darren Pfeiffer, Jason Torney, Scott Welsh (second list lodgment), Rhys Archard (rookie), Andrew McIntyre (rookie), James Turner (rookie)
High Possession Team
Adelaide are a very high possession team and play like a game of keepings off, Neil Craig is very big on “Tempo Football” and as a result they are very high on the list of disposals per game. It is a bit of a misleading stat in that the only reason they have high possessions is because of their style of play in that they chip the ball around all over the place, they are far from a side that is direct and long kicking. 
This is Craig’s style though, he comes across as a coach that is more interested in tactics and inventing new ways to play the game rather than the old fashioned style of coaches, although I think there has to be some of this involved in a game plan Craig seems to go a bit to far in my opinion. This maybe because they haven’t got a spearhead down in their forward line as a direct target and rely on freeing up other players as their avenue to goal.
No Goal Kicking Power
Goal scoring power is a worry, last year they were 3rd last in the competition for points scored per game and now with the loss of Scott Welsh their leading goal kicker in 2007 (49, 20 goal more than the next best), they are going to find it hard to kick enough goals I think. Although Neil Craig says that Welsh wasn’t their main focal point down forward:
“Scott wasn’t a huge focal point, we haven’t had a huge focal point … for two or three years,” Craig said.
All the indicators point to the fact that he was their main avenue to goal, I think he was just trying to fool a few people by those comments. Ricciuto gone, another goal kicker, they are going to have to rely on their midfield to combine to score a few goals. The likes of Thompson, Goodwin, Edwards and even Brent Reilly are going to have to add this to their games. Craig has eluded to the fact that Brett Burton, James Porplyzia as players that could fill the void. The return of Trent Hentschel may help as well but I don’t think you can expect to much from him in his return as it may take some time to get up to speed again.
Great Defence
Defensively they are very sound, they were the second best defensive team in the competition in 2007. The big man in Rutten is a superb full back and very rarely gets beaten , and the return of Nathan Bassett will be an important one which will only strengthen their defence even more.
The Crows may also find it difficult in the Ruck department in 2008 with their leading Ruckman Ben Hudson now finding himself at the Western Bulldogs. Hudson was cleary their best ruckman last year but Rhett Biglands is going to have to step up and do the bulk of the work this year you would think. He is set to return for the NAB Cub but it will be a tough ask for the big fella coming back from a knee reco to have that monumental task put in front of him.
I think the Crows are going to struggle in 2008 as they go through a bit of a rebuilding phase and I don’t expect them to feature in the Finals in 2008.
Ladder Position: 11
this is my favourite team, and i want to play there in the future.
without Biglands and Number 37 it’s a bigs loss for us because we need a good goal kicker and a good tall ruck like Bigland.
i wish to be see one day in this team
and do every thing……go the crows
you rock