Preview Round 1 - Adelaide v St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval

[pjcrows]

After what has felt like the most ridiculous build up due to the combined forces of AFL House Incompetence and Mother Nature, we can finally cast our eyes to Round 1 and our first game for 2025.

The offseason recruits have brought genuine selection pressure for the first time since probably 2017, so there are no excuses.

Nicks is coaching for his career in the first month.

St Kilda are severely undermanned and we should win, but hey, who knows.

Will Draper start or sub? Or could they even make him work on his shape in the twos?

Have at it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Could not have worked out better

Home game vs a non-top 8 team from 2024.

We're fit across the board, they're decimated.

This is a gimme putt.

 

[cm_perfect]

Could not have worked out better

Home game vs a non-top 8 team from 2024.

We're fit across the board, they're decimated.

This is a gimme putt.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Draper sub I reckon

Huge roar when he comes on. His one and only ever game as sub. Starting 22 from here on all the way baby

(Except for strategic rests which we'll do now hopefully)

 

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[George CantStandYa]

Draper sub I reckon

Huge roar when he comes on. His one and only ever game as sub. Starting 22 from here on all the way baby

(Except for strategic rests which we'll do now hopefully)

Sloaney on Channel 9 says he wouldn’t and no need to rush Draper.

So he’s taken over from Bickley and Dillon sprouting the clubs message for them

 

[I Lost My Keays]

Draper should start, it’s a non negotiable.

Excited to see our new recruits Peatling, ANB and Isaac Cumming.

Crows by 40+

 

[Apsaalooke]

Sloaney on Channel 9 says he wouldn’t and no need to rush Draper.

So he’s taken over from Bickley and Dillon sprouting the clubs message for them

So pick 54 Lucas Camporeale is good enough to debut for Carlton but Sid Draper at pick 4 is not good enough to crack our stunningly successful star studded team

 

[Samcro24]

So pick 54 Lucas Camporeale is good enough to debut for Carlton but Sid Draper at pick 4 is not good enough to crack our stunningly successful star studded team

It’s tradition.

Like when we got Brouch and everyone was unwrapping their shiny new toys.

Round 1 debut, no way, he’s not ready!

Ok, when will he be ready?

Round 2.

We have no sense of occasion.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Sloaney on Channel 9 says he wouldn’t and no need to rush Draper.

So he’s taken over from Bickley and Dillon sprouting the clubs message for them

I thought they were going to develop him in the AFL?

Makes no sense to play a player at Sanfl level who will just waste his time. He is a midfielder who just blew an AFL pre season apart and is super fit. He is going to obliterate teams in the Sanfl. Whats the point of that? he is going to learn nothing and tread water.

Can you imagine a midfield of Draper, Dowling and Taylor with Lachlan Mac. These guys are just going to smash the opposition. Thats not development.

 

[adelaidecrows]

It’s tradition.

Like when we got Brouch and everyone was unwrapping their shiny new toys.

Round 1 debut, no way, he’s not ready!

Ok, when will he be ready?

Round 2.

We have no sense of occasion.

Whether to play Draper first round one to me feels like the old 'Bat or Bowl first argument for cricket after winning the coin toss'. if you have a doubt about playing batting first, have a good hard think about it but then do it anyway. Same can be said about Draper.

He is ultra fit and needs to learn to manage his fitness and in match fatigue. So get him in, take some moments throughout the year to manage him and rest him. Not sure what the problem is.

 

[spenze]

Reckon this will be a lot closer than people think

 

[Peter Doherty]

Reckon this will be a lot closer than people think

When I put together the team I think they'll pick he doesn't make it if they play Crouch. If they don't play Crouch he'll make it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Draper has already played SANFL

Next challenge please.

 

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[spenze]

When I put together the team I think they'll pick he doesn't make it if they play Crouch. If they don't play Crouch he'll make it.

 

[ams4crows]

I just want us to win, I don't care how or by how much. 4 points from winning is more important than anything else

 

[GreyCrow]

Draper has already played SANFL

Next challenge please.

This is a great point

When we recruit we usually do so from outside SA so playing some SANFL does make sense - the last top 10 pick from SA was Thilthorpe and he played his first game R6 - to be fair as a tall he would maybe need extra to get the fitness

Draper is ready to go - he doesnt need SANFL playing alongside players he will leave in his wake

 

[GreyCrow]

I have us by under 6 goals

I just think home track , selection pressure and hopefully selection integrity sees us being too strong for a Saints side who have had a few niggles this pre-season

But both teams wont take the other lightly and it will be a blistering start to the season

 

[GreyCrow]

Current forecast for Sunday is 24 and rain

 

[Adecagodelphalaide]

Could not have worked out better

Home game vs a non-top 8 team from 2024.

We're fit across the board, they're decimated.

This is a gimme putt.

Fast forward to Sunday after we inexplicably lose:

 

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[AFC979810]

Can the usual suspects just pump the brakes ln the "Nicks doesn't play new draftees early" drama.

Rd 1 2020 - Pick 6 Fisher McAsey debuts at home.
Rd 1 2021 - Pick 28 Sam Berry, Pick 38 James Rowe debut at home.
Rd 1 2022 - Pick 5 Josh Rachele, Pick 36 Jake Soligo debut at home.
Rd 1 2023 - Pick 17 Mad Max debuts away.
Rd 1 2024 - Pick 8 - 197cm Daniel Curtin doesn't debut.

6 round 1 debutants in 5 opening games is a pretty good track record.

 

[AFC979810]

This is a great point

When we recruit we usually do so from outside SA so playing some SANFL does make sense - the last top 10 pick from SA was Thilthorpe and he played his first game R6 - to be fair as a tall he would maybe need extra to get the fitness

Draper is ready to go - he doesnt need SANFL playing alongside players he will leave in his wake

Thilthorpe was the only top 10 draft pick from SA.

(Whether Phil Davis counts is another debate).

 

[AFC979810]

It’s tradition.

Like when we got Brouch and everyone was unwrapping their shiny new toys.

Round 1 debut, no way, he’s not ready!

Ok, when will he be ready?

Round 2.

We have no sense of occasion.

Such a negative Nancy.

Thought the more recent example to use would have been round 1 2022 when pick 5, Josh Rachele kicked 5 on debut.

We seem pretty scared to debut kids in round 1. In the past 6 seasons (since 2019) we have only had 7 draftees debut in round 1.

 

[Captain Furious]

I think Draper plays, have to reward from and he was outstanding in the last game, even if it was only a half. Not really about being ready for him, he's physically ready, is a known entity at senior level with his form at South last year and is an actual mid - as always played there - rather than being a good player who we shoehorned in cause we had no one else to play there.

Greatest thing about it is that means good players miss out, we haven't been in that position for a while.

 

[The Rocks]

The only concern I have is not being able to watch Oscar Piastri live.

But pre-season form has meant nothing so far. But we couldn't be in better shape!

Burgess the guru. Murray with the Brissy intel. Now the wisdom of Balmy to shake it up!

Not even Rowey could jinx this one surely!

On SM-S711B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Can the usual suspects just pump the brakes ln the "Nicks doesn't play new draftees early" drama.

Rd 1 2020 - Pick 6 Fisher McAsey debuts at home.
Rd 1 2021 - Pick 28 Sam Berry, Pick 38 James Rowe debut at home.
Rd 1 2022 - Pick 5 Josh Rachele, Pick 36 Jake Soligo debut at home.
Rd 1 2023 - Pick 17 Mad Max debuts away.
Rd 1 2024 - Pick 8 - 197cm Daniel Curtin doesn't debut.

6 round 1 debutants in 5 opening games is a pretty good track record.

We've got options now and, like last season, the expectations are finals.

It's easy to play rookies when the alternative is some dudlinger but playing Draper would mean someone decent misses out. Also easy when winning is seen as a bonus, unlike now.

Early test for Nicks.