This game reminded me of our QF against Sydney in 2022. Granted our bombing was mostly by design that night but the result was largely the same: In the game up until half time and then woosh.

The Crows looked spooked, no-one apart from Neal-Bullen wanted to hang on to the ball for longer than a second and they resorted to the hack kicking nearly every time they got it. The game was tailor made for someone like Darcy Moore to clean up down back. They just couldn't deal with the ongoing defensive pressure from the Pies and Nicks really didn't have answers for it. Most of Adelaide's goals in the second half came from the odd bomb that worked out or a fortuitous bounce etc.

Adelaide got a football lesson. Outplayed, outcoached, outrisked, outcomposed. For a team that lost 4 of their last 6 the Pies sure turned it on when it counted across the board.

On 05/09/2025 at 11:48, layzie said:

This game reminded me of our QF against Sydney in 2022. Granted our bombing was mostly by design that night but the result was largely the same: In the game up until half time and then woosh.

The Crows looked spooked, no-one apart from Neal-Bullen wanted to hang on to the ball for longer than a second and they resorted to the hack kicking nearly every time they got it. The game was tailor made for someone like Darcy Moore to clean up down back. They just couldn't deal with the ongoing defensive pressure from the Pies and Nicks really didn't have answers for it. Most of Adelaide's goals in the second half came from the odd bomb that worked out or a fortuitous bounce etc.

Adelaide got a football lesson. Outplayed, outcoached, outrisked, outcomposed. For a team that lost 4 of their last 6 the Pies sure turned it on when it counted across the board.

Funny I was thinking the first half of the game last night reminded me of that QF. We largely dominated the first half, then a couple of very soft ones against May on Franklin in the second quarter kept them in it. Second half clearly different last night though with Geelong able to maintain the pressure for 4 quarters.

For me, I am looking forward to the changes made in the team during the draft/trade period- as I am sure short term it may feel like we are stepping backwards, AND we've got a new coach with a new philosophy and game plan and we need players that align with that.

As bullish or at least optimistic as SK was/is about contending in finals shortly, what I am hoping to see is a change in game plan and that being on display more frequently throughout the year.

I don't think 26' should be thought of as a year where we seriously challenge, it's an embedding year, and a year of transition on many levels - as is 27, but looking beyond that is where we want to see performance consistency with the right athletes that fit the game style.

I also don't necessarily King will pull pages from the GFC playbook - different athletes means different strengths, and whilst there is an overall view that the game is quicker and more outside - as many have noted, the engine room/extractors are still king in big moments (or at least, give you the best opportunity).

However... this will no doubt get counteracted. I loved Guerra's comment around King being contemporary, and whilst that may be seen as a slight on SG, I'd hope we see some innovations at least for the MFC.

Not sure if anyone wants to add anything to what it is that we might see...

@Engorged Onion , I think SK has already signalled some Geelong pages. He wants to play a back half transition game, which is decidedly Geelong. I guess it remains to be seen what other Geelong IP he brings, but no doubt he'll have his own philosophy as well.