WHAT THE CROWS ARE DOING TO FIX THEIR “GLARING ISSUE”
With their developing group, Adelaide was predicted to get to the finals this year after finishing in tenth place in 2023.
But after three games in 2024, their season could not have begun more poorly.
After losing to Fremantle, Geelong, and Gold Coast—three teams they will face in the round of eight—the Crows currently have a 0–3 record.
Prior to the crucial match against Melbourne on Thursday night, star midfielder Rory Laird has made an effort to identify the team’s weaknesses and the strategies the Crows will employ to turn around their struggling campaign.
He stated on SEN SA’s The Run Home, “I understand the supporters’ frustrations, we obviously have frustrations internally as well.”
“This year, we made a few adjustments. We didn’t receive the ball in the front 50 often enough, and we occasionally misused it.
The obvious problem that you observe is that basic skill faults are not being executed correctly. We made more wise judgments last year than bad ones, in my opinion, and that helped teams work together better.
The Crows are averaging just six marks inside 50 this season, three fewer than even West Coast, which makes their skill deficiencies evident when watching their incursions into the forward 50.
The goal for the Crows is to improve this number as soon as possible, but they will have a tough task in hand against a formidable Melbourne defense that has helped the team win three straight games.
“Other teams are playing it quite smart, putting numbers behind the ball and playing the numbers; Tom Stewart, a Geelong defender, was a prime example last week,” Laird continued.
“We’ve tried it before; we did it for the entire year last year. There are a few things we can do to turn it around.
“Although it’s early, we need to solve this issue right away.”
Gather Round kicks begin on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval, where Adelaide will be trying to turn around their season.
The Crows have a great chance to upset one of the best teams in the league when they play at home under the prime time limelight.
It’s a fantastic test against a set defence in Melbourne this week, Laird emphasizes.
The Demons have defeated the Crows in their last three games.
