2020 Team Preview – Adelaide

Written by Huttabito on February 4 2020

Defenders

Lock and Load: I think we can all agree that Rory Laird ($525,800) was a little disappointing last year and it’s probably got something to do with the Brodie Smith actually managing 22 games. That being said, there aren’t many defenders that we can pick who boast an average of 99 over the last five seasons including 100.2 in 2017 and 108.2 in 2018. Given his ability to find the ball, he is never going to leave you too disappointed given his starting price this season as he did finish with 85+ in 18 games last season. You know exactly what you will get with Laird and coming off a 96 average season, you can’t really go wrong with his starting price and expectations.

Feeling Lucky: Tom Doedee ($273,700) was voted SCT’s 2nd best rookie of the year after averaging 82.2 from 20 games in his debut year and once again finds his name popping up in SuperCoach conversation. An injury on 56 in the opening game last season saw his season over before it began. Whats impressive though, is that he scored 56 from only 27% TOG after going down early in the 2nd quarter. His ability to score is undoubted, notching up 100 on six different occasions which included 115 in his second game ever and a season high of 120 in his first senior year so if he can match his scoring from 2018, he will be worth the $274k price tag – just don’t expect another $310k profit like last time.

Midfielders

Lock and Load: There isn’t much excitement around the Adelaide midfielders but sometimes you just want some blue chips players that you can count on week in and week out (ala Matt Priddis back in the day). The Crows offer us two players of the like in Matt Crouch ($563,000) and Rory Sloane ($559,300). Sloane has averaged 107 SuperCoach points over the last 8 years hitting the heights of 114 (2014) and 110 (2017) and returned in 2019 averaging 103 after an injury and personal issues plagued 2018. Between his contested possession rate and being a tackling machine, he will most often not leave you satisfied. M.Crouch is a much younger part of the Crows engine room but has hit premium status over the past three years averaging 105 since 2017. His game style is far less contested, but through sheer weight of numbers (avg 32 disposals last season) he consistently finds himself scoring well – just don’t watch his games as you would think he probably deserves more. Both these players have a very friendly Rd14 bye and can help your team structure if you are stapped for cash coming in just over $550k. Oh, if you like PODs, they are both sitting at 1-2% ownership.

Money Maker: Adelaide haven’t been too kind with the midfield rookies over the last few years and 2020 probably won’t be to much different. That said, there is always a surprise packet given to us in the off-season. My eyes are firmly on Ned McHenry ($123,900) and Harry Schoenberg ($117,300) over the Marsh series in hope that one of these cheap rookies might find a way to our benches Rd1. Schoenberg tore up the national championships last season for SA averaging 122 SuperCoach points but being the freshest kid on the block, may have to wait like the others before him. McHenry on the other hand was drafted the year before at pick 16 and played 10 games in the SANFL as he battled through injuries. He’s a small forward turning midfielder and had some impressive appearances in the SANFL but come AFL and a 179cm frame, he may be suited more to a small pressure forward.

Rucks

Feeling Lucky: Reilly O’Brien ($517,400), the man who single handily ended Sam Jacobs career at the Crows last season and put SuperCoach teams miles ahead for those who took the early punt. The 2020 ruck line should have been as easy as Grundy and Gawn, but with Gawn going down Friday with an up to two month we may need to start thinking outside the box. ROB played 2 senior games (back in 2016) before last season where he played 18 games for a 95 average. Hitting a hot streak between Rds 12 to 19, ROB averaged 105 points including a monstrous 181 against the 2019 premiers where he was left unchecked in the ruck. Is he the answer to out potential Gawn problems? Is he just that little bit to expensive for only 20 games under his belt given we are probably still going to want Gawn by season end? Time will tell.

Forwards

Feeling Lucky: We are spoilt with value pick this year so it would take a huge pair of kahunas but if there was one Adelaide mid-pricer that is worth a punt, it would be Chayce Jones ($271,500)Jones was the Crows top pick in the 2018 draft and managed to play 8 games last season for an average of 50 but really showed what he can do in the final round. Being allowed to roam more freely previous gamed he had a season high 18 disposals to go along with 7 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals and 8 score involvements for 86 SuperCoach points. He isn’t shy of the contest and had a 50% contested possession rate in his debut season. Jones recently took out the Adelaide pre-season time trial and has bulked up in the off-season hoping he can add a bit of grunt into the midfield for 2020. This pick isn’t for the feint hearted and a most certainly a Marsh Series watch and see.

Money Maker: With the departure of Eddie Betts over the off-season, the Crows will be looking for a replacement small crafty forward and Shane McAdam ($123,900) may well be that man. Taken in the 2018 draft as a mature age recruit (now 24), he spent all of 2019 in the SANFL where he average 1.6 goals and 9.6 disposals a game. If you like players who can match Nic Nats running vertical jump record at the combine, then this is a guy for you.

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12 thoughts on “2020 Team Preview – Adelaide”

  1. As a crows fan I have to say you have pretty much nailed the review. Darcy Fogarty FWD $283,500 could be a value pick, will be keeping an eye on his Marsh Series performances

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  2. Mchenery, and McAdam firmly set in my watch list. Laird, you either start him or leave him, scoring drops after byes.

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  3. Nice one Hutta.

    Will want to see ADE’s DEF structure in the Marsh Series before any commitments back there. If Gibbs is off HB and McAsey takes Doedee’s intercept/rebound role then it’ll be rookies only for me. Chance JONES is also one to watch. But am more likely to look at the cheaper McHenry and possibly even Billy FRAMPTON. I’m presuming he was picked up from across the way to give ROB a veritable chop-out option who can fill the hole Jenkins has left. Will need to see some tap-work from him in the Marsh Series however to consider him. He ain’t a cheap rookie and will need the SC-friendly role to be a legitimate pick.

    Thanks.

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  4. Many thanks to Hutta, Chillo & AllSaints for the Team Previews!!
    Have been dragging my feet with SC this season, but you’ve made it easy to catch up in a hurry. Thanks guys!

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  5. Great writeup!! Just McHenry and Doedee for me and I’m not 100% sure on both.

    I like the idea of picking one of Roberton or Doedee, both are underpriced but come with risk….I’m hoping if I pick 1 and he goes down early I might be able to trade to the other.

    McAdam numbers in the SANFL don’t inspire enough confidence in me that he can average 60 ppg in the AFL so a pass there regardless if named Round 1.

    Laird may make my team, but I think i prefer Sicily & Williams from that bye round and don’t want all 3.

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  6. Another nice write-up Hutta. I have ROB at R2 currently.and Laird at D1. The Crows are very SC relevant for me!

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  7. I’m also interested to see if McAsey makes it, and how that might affect Doedee. Just McHenry in my team at the moment. Staying right away from Crows mids after the Crouch debacle last year!

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