38 minutes ago, Macca said:

It's a small sample size but nonetheless, a good example of a freed up mind

So those who pointed the finger at Goodwin are only partly right. The players are also accountable and are free to think for themselves out on the field

As for the FD, we needed to make a number of changes but it looks like only Williams & Goodwin have borne the brunt

I don't know about a freed up mind, I don't think I have the level of insight you might have there.

But what I will say is ANB has gone back to the role he played for us from his best years 2021-2023 as a high half forward. People may have forgotten that last year Goodwin moved Nibbler around and played him through the midfield a lot more as evident in his stats (5 CBA per game, highest disposals/contested in his career). I think he may have even spent time across half back at times. Now some of this was due to injuries but I remember early on in the season Goody playing him in the middle more and feeling a bit uneasy about it.

So I think going back to his preferred clearer/defined role which he has carved out and excelled in could have a lot to do with the perception of him looking more free playing for the Crom.

48 minutes ago, Macca said:

Nonsense

Statistically, Neale-Bullen's best year was 2018, where he averaged more disposals and kicked more goals.

He's had a good year, but nothing to carry on about.

21 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

I don't know about a freed up mind, I don't think I have the level of insight you might have there.

But what I will say is ANB has gone back to the role he played for us from his best years 2021-2023 as a high half forward. People may have forgotten that last year Goodwin moved Nibbler around and played him through the midfield a lot more as evident in his stats (5 CBA per game, highest disposals/contested in his career). I think he may have even spent time across half back at times. Now some of this was due to injuries but I remember early on in the season Goody playing him in the middle more and feeling a bit uneasy about it.

So I think going back to his preferred clearer/defined role which he has carved out and excelled in could have a lot to do with the perception of him looking more free playing for the Crom.

I wasn't referencing his role, I fully understand that he is playing the same role (or very similar)

I have referenced his confidence, poise and disposal skills (twice now)

So he's improved from being a very good player for us to an even better player for the Crows (in my view)

My point is that our current players also need to improve in those areas, instead of just blazing away when they have possession

Going from Goodwin to the new coach isn't going to make us a contender again

I recognise that's it's the off-season and many will be full of hope, but we've got issues that need to be fixed

3 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Um, Norm Smith was doing this in the 50's and he said he got the idea from his brother Len Smith. Any other "innovations"?

Once again, we’re told, with great excitement, that “pushing up from half-back” is some revolutionary tactical leap. In reality, it’s been part of footy since at least the early 1950s. It's generally accepted that Len Smith introduced this mode of play as a consistent game style, which was further refined by his younger brother, Norm, throughout the late ’50s and ’60s.

Ron Barassi himself acknowledged that Len Smith was the forerunner of the modern running game. Norm famously ran Brian Dixon off half-back, while Barassi took the same principle to great effect at both Carlton and North. Malcolm Blight then pushed it even further at Geelong, playing Gary Ablett Sr. off half-back — partly to freak out the opposition and partly to free up the great man to create options further afield.

Listening to some modern commentators, though, you’d be forgiven for thinking these ideas were invented in the last five minutes — probably between ad breaks.

You have impressive football history knowledge, but I'm not sure you're being fair here. I don't believe there was even a centre square in the 50s.

Perhaps Goodwin (Goodwin's coaching team) had some inspiration, everything usually does, but saying that wasn't a unique design seems a bit disingenuous.

Probably wasn't his most significant influence on the game, but it was nice to watch.

Neal-Bullens disposals have been more dynamic at the Crows

And he hits more targets in positions on the field (often the corridor) where his team looks more dangerous

At the Demons, whilst still very good, he played a similar role but our style of play was (and is) stodgy and stop/start

Buckley said the game plan isn't important. He's right. Our game plan had us in nearly every game this year. As Max said, we lost x amount of winnable games.

What's needed is a mindset shift. That's tied to culture. Culture is set by the leaders. When on field leaders like Viney day in interviews we've got comfortable, then the environment needs to change. There's only so many styles or game plans a football team can try. Mental strength and culture are what sets the winners apart, and that's where we've fallen down since 2021. If Buckley gets the job, I'm confident he understands that and will have success with our club.

I'd argue it's personel too. Nothing drastic, but a few core players need to change.

17 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Buckley said the game plan isn't important

There's only so many styles or game plans a football team can try

Leigh Matthews says he's a game plan sceptic because there's very little difference between all the coaches' game plans

20 minutes ago, Macca said:

Neal-Bullens disposals have been more dynamic at the Crows

And he hits more targets in positions on the field (often the corridor) where his team looks more dangerous

At the Demons, whilst still very good, he played a similar role but our style of play was (and is) stodgy and stop/start

I'm going to rattle off some stats that I'm not mad on, but I'm not sure how to better differentiate Neale-Bullen's 2025 to previous years.

His kicking efficiency percentage is at about career average, his disposal efficiency is within a point or so of his career average and was better last year, his clanger rate is the same.

I accept you've noticed a few more dynamic plays, but, in reality, he's the same footballer he's always been.

20 minutes ago, Gator said:

I'm going to rattle off some stats that I'm not mad on, but I'm not sure how to better differentiate Neale-Bullen's 2025 to previous years.

His kicking efficiency percentage is at about career average, his disposal efficiency is within a point or so of his career average and was better last year, his clanger rate is the same.

I accept you've noticed a few more dynamic plays, but, in reality, he's the same footballer he's always been.

My eyes tell me otherwise

Meanwhile, our sorry lot can't hit the side of a barn. Unless they are kicking it sideways or backwards to retain possession

And that's the point of my argument

The better teams take chances, have better disposal skills and use the corridor

Our better players waste the ball

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Macca

22 minutes ago, Gator said:

I'm going to rattle off some stats that I'm not mad on, but I'm not sure how to better differentiate Neale-Bullen's 2025 to previous years.

His kicking efficiency percentage is at about career average, his disposal efficiency is within a point or so of his career average and was better last year, his clanger rate is the same.

I accept you've noticed a few more dynamic plays, but, in reality, he's the same footballer he's always been.

i've watched him a fair amount this year, and he's been as good as he's ever been

plays such a key role - just as he did for us

32 minutes ago, Gator said:

I'm going to rattle off some stats that I'm not mad on, but I'm not sure how to better differentiate Neale-Bullen's 2025 to previous years.

His kicking efficiency percentage is at about career average, his disposal efficiency is within a point or so of his career average and was better last year, his clanger rate is the same.

I accept you've noticed a few more dynamic plays, but, in reality, he's the same footballer he's always been.

A good stat to use to compare a player's performance level year to year is Champion Data's player rating.

Nibbla's career average is 9.53 rating points (for context 20 points is considered to be an elite AA level rating)

Nibblas best rated season was his last with us - 2024 - with 11.38 points (and from memory third in the bluey).

Next best was 2018 with 10.65, just ahead of this season's average of 10.20 and our premiership year (10.16).

Coaches' votes are also an interesting measure to use i think as they give some sense of how influential the two coaches think a player has been in terms of influencing the outcome of games (generally the winning team has more players getting votes).

The Coaches votes tell an interesting tale.

In 2018, Nibbla's second highest rated season, he only got two coaches votes (3 in 2023 and 1 in 2021).

Last season Nibbla got 15 coaches' votes.

This season Nibbla got an impressive 26 coaches' votes.

AFL Player Profile - Alex Neal-Bullen

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Neal-Bullens disposals have been more dynamic at the Crows

And he hits more targets in positions on the field (often the corridor) where his team looks more dangerous

At the Demons, whilst still very good, he played a similar role but our style of play was (and is) stodgy and stop/start

I don’t think that’s true of 2025 vs 2021 ANB, and it wasn’t true early in the game against Coll when he turned it over 3 times in a row.

But largely it’s undoubtedly true of ANB this year compared with 22-24 and it’s clear to me that Adelaide’s confidence in their forwards and also quality spacing of hard running mids and flankers makes decision making easier. And that’s 2 things we’ve missed since 2021.

Decision making and disposal get seen as individual attributes but we need a coach who (without sacrificing flair) can drill a team so they become a team responsibility.

They don’t have many poor kicks but Miers might be the only special kick at the Cats, they excel at moving the ball because they get in great spots to receive it.

I've probably seen about 16-17 Adelaide games in full this year (on tv) and the eyes tell me ANB is having his best season, but his disposal is still a little iffy.

2 minutes ago, Gator said:

Statistically, Neale-Bullen's best year was 2018, where he averaged more disposals and kicked more goals.

He's had a good year, but nothing to carry on about.

Yeah he really benefited from our 2018 all out attacking style where he got to cheat forward a tonne. Not surprising he looks good at a strong attacking side like the Crows. Still the same player though.

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don’t think that’s true of 2025 vs 2021 ANB, and it wasn’t true early in the game against Coll when he turned it over 3 times in a row.

But largely it’s undoubtedly true of ANB this year compared with 22-24 and it’s clear to me that Adelaide’s confidence in their forwards and also quality spacing of hard running mids and flankers makes decision making easier. And that’s 2 things we’ve missed since 2021.

Decision making and disposal get seen as individual attributes but we need a coach who (without sacrificing flair) can drill a team so they become a team responsibility.

They don’t have many poor kicks but Miers might be the only special kick at the Cats, they excel at moving the ball because they get in great spots to receive it.

As I stated here yesterday, 2021, 2022 & 2023 have to be moved on from

Although, we did start the 2024 season with a 6 & 2 record. Goodwin tried to transition the team from early 2024 with a more modern style

As we now know, we abandoned that transition sometime in 2024 and then tried again in 2025

Still didn't work

If we go with the same type of list, the new coach (whoever that might be) has an enormous task ahead trying to change the bad habits of many of our players

Whoever the new coach might be, I wish them well

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Macca

2 hours ago, Gator said:

Statistically, Neale-Bullen's best year was 2018, where he averaged more disposals and kicked more goals.

He's had a good year, but nothing to carry on about.

There’s more to ANBs value than just statistics, professionalism, training standards, leadership & defensive running to name a few

He’s been a huge loss to us

Bloody hell I come on this thread to read about our next coach and I’m getting schooled on how ANB is playing and other non related coaching stuff.

CAN WE PLS STICK TO THE TOPIC!!

Can we please keep the conversation about the new coach?

Who cares. He doesn’t play for us.

Let’s make ANB coach.

42 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Bloody hell I come on this thread to read about our next coach and I’m getting schooled on how ANB is playing and other non related coaching stuff.

CAN WE PLS STICK TO THE TOPIC!!

3 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

Can we please keep the conversation about the new coach?

I think ANB should be our next coach.

46 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Bloody hell I come on this thread to read about our next coach and I’m getting schooled on how ANB is playing and other non related coaching stuff.

CAN WE PLS STICK TO THE TOPIC!!

reckon he could be a coach in years to come...

Did we get a new coach yet?

37 minutes ago, DutchDemons said:

Did we get a new coach yet?

No but we have identified a potential recruit from Adelaide. Assuming he doesn’t agree terms with St Kilda first…