We rate Adelaide’s topsy-turvy 2014 AFL season.
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2014 AFL Report Card: Collingwood
Port Adelaide deny making play for Adelaide Crows star Taylor Walker
ADELAIDE CROWS
(10th: 11 wins, 11 losses)
What went right:
Adelaide were expected to play finals in 2014, so this season would have to be regarded as a disappointing one for Brenton Sanderson and his players.
The Crows however did have some individual stand out performers that will give its loyal fans hope for 2015.
Key defender Daniel Talia and half-back Brodie Smith were excellent, while in attack Eddie Betts, James Podsiadly and Taylor Walker more than held their own.
What went wrong:
A 2-8 record against top eight sides shows a team who were not good enough this season to play finals football.
The Crows list is certainly good enough: Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and the aforementioned Walker, Talia, Smith, Betts and Podsiadly show a squad with enough quality to play football in September.
Adelaide lost five matches by under ten points this season, and it shows they can match it with the big boys, but don’t have the mental toughness to get over the line.
Star performer:
Daniel Talia.
The 22-year-old was a rock in defence this season and earned himself a deserved spot in the AFL’s All-Australian 40-man provisional squad.
It would be a travesty if he didn’t make the final 22, so good he has been.
The future:
As mentioned, the Crows list is good enough to play finals, but an extra midfielder or two to support Dangerfield and Sloane is what they desperately need to make the jump from also-rans to premiership contenders.
Walker, Dangerfield and Sloane all come off contract at the end of 2015, and the Crows should be looking to lock the trio in as soon as possible.
Score: 5.5/10
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