Adelaide Crows Season Preview, Preseason, Analysis, Predicted Round 1 Team, Ranking Position, Strength, Weakness, Breaking News

After three consecutive finishes in the bottom five, can Adelaide climb the ladder in 2023?

Matthew Nicks’ side undoubtedly showed promise over the past year. The Crows prevailed 3-3 after six rounds and finished the season with eight wins — an improvement from their seven wins and three wins respectively in the previous two seasons.

Crucially, the Crows played were more competitive, highlighted by their 86.7 percentage and the fact that they never lost a game by more than 10 goals.

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Indeed, Nicks has brought a real toughness to Adelaide. as said Herald Sun Chief Football Reporter Mark Robinson on Fox Footy, the crows have a “hawthorn animal (feel)” and “toughness” about them.

For four-time Prime Minister Hawk Jordan Lewis, it’s now about the Crows adding more layers to their game.

“I think this is one of those years where the basics are in place, now they can go and explore and reach their other tools in their gear bag,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s Season Preview Show.

That tougher mark, combined with the rise of the likes of Riley Thilthorpe, Sam Berry, Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo, Darcy Fogarty and Nick Murray, as well as key recruits Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine, means there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic at West Lakes to be .

And there are few rising stars they’d be more excited to see – and accordingly the AFL world is looking forward to this year – than Fogarty.

After a scintillating second half of last season – he scored 31 goals in his last 12 games – a trimmed Fogarty shone in the team’s pre-season game against West Coast, scoring four goals in an ominous performance.

“Doesn’t he look dangerous?” Prime Minister Eagle Will Schofield said in an op-ed for Fox Footy.

“This is the kind of age where key strikers come of age. People get impatient with key forwards, but it just takes time. We saw what he can do in the backend last year and now we’re looking at what he’s doing.”

Lewis said Fogarty could become “one of the best key strikers in the competition” this year.

“He looks strong,” said Lewis.

“They haven’t agreed on a second key striker, it probably boils down to (Elliott) Himmelberg and Thilthorpe. I think (Taylor) Walker will probably get the #1 defender early in the season, then Fogarty will get the #2 defender and I think he’ll dominate.

It all adds up to make the Rising Crows something of a dark horse this year, with some predicting they could go straight to the finals.

So what kind of expectations do they have internally?

Asked by foxfooty.com.au As for how far the Crows can go in 2023, new skipper Dawson said at Captain’s Day: “I think there’s no limit.

“We’ve seen last year play some really good footy in patches and during games – plus a few games where we played a full four quarters.

“For us, it’s about being consistent in this area. In preseason we saw a lot of guys grow and build confidence. You just need to build games into some of these guys.

“As a group, we’re really supportive of the game plan and each other. We’re just looking forward to starting the season.”

STRENGTH

weapons in attack

It used to be a fair question as to where the Crows’ goals would come from. And in a couple of games over the past year, they’ve over-relied on 32-year-old Taylor Walker.

Walker (47 goals) was the club’s top scorer last season, but second-highest after Darcy Fogarty (who scored 31 of his 33 goals in the second half of the season) was Shane McAdam (23) and then rookie Josh Rachele (17).

But you sense the Crows will receive much stronger contributions from Fogarty, Rachele, Riley Thilthorpe (8) and Elliot Himmelberg (22) this season with another year under their belt.

Plus, the addition of Izak Rankine will provide another huge boost, while Luke Pedlar will also appear more productive as a plucky little forward in the top six.

As Lewis pointed out, the opponent now needs to focus more on other Crows forwards, not just Walker.

WEAKNESS

Still very young

While this is positive overall, we should still temper expectations specifically for 2023, especially towards the most experienced teams.

According to Draft Guru, the Crows have the second youngest and second least experienced list in the competition.

While they have invaluable experience down every line like Walker, Reilly O’Brien, Rory Laird, Rory Sloane, Tom Doedee, Brodie Smith and Jordan Dawson, the Crows are in a developing phase — with just six players who have played over 100 games .

WHERE ARE YOU ON THE PREMIERSHIP CLOCK?

3 pm. The Crows have made good progress over the past year and are on the right track, but still need to bring more games to their squad of youngsters – both from an individual and team perspective.

Rest assured the hands of your Premiership watch are pointing in the right direction.

PREDICTED LEADER AREA

12-15