Melbourne started well and led by 3 goals at quarter time but Adelaide slowly got on top to be 1 goal up at half time. The Crows got on top in the 3rd mainly from our mistakes across half forward causing turnovers, then they would stream forward in numbers putting our backline under heaps of pressure. Once on top, our young inexperienced team had no answer. Adelaide ran out winners by about ten goals.
Not all doom and gloom though. Fergy played a great game at full back after Benny Holland got a corked hip in first five minutes. Green, Bruce, McDonald, White, Whelan all played well as expected.
In the second tier players C Johnson, Bell, Jones, Jamar, Dunn, Bate, all did OK and are starting to look more comfortable at this level. Maloney & Bizzell showed promising signs returning from injury. Both spent some time on the bench.
Of the new boys Frawley played well and I think will get a game at some stage this year. Buckley did quite well and he to might earn a spot later. Hughes, Petterd & Garland need time at Sandy but showed some promising signs.
I like Paul Johnson, but not as a ruckman. For the last ten minutes of the game he played CHF. and I hope he starts there next week. Sure, not a great pack mark but every thing else is tops, even tackling. Plenty of speed and agility for a big bloke. We have nothing to lose. CHF has been a problem for some time now. Maybe we should give him more of a go there.
Now for the negatives. Yze would not be in our best 22 on Saturday's showing. Did not look interested and caused a few turnovers by trying to be too clever. Miller started OK but faded out. Davey was pretty quiet. Godders' skills let him down regularly unfortunately although he busts a gut for the team.
Next week we play Richmond and I would guess the coaches will be starting to put together the team they will use for Round 1.