Daniel Talia has backed Adelaide’s midfield to respond in Saturday’s crucial clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
Adelaide was outplayed across many aspects of last Friday night’s 26-point loss to Geelong, but it was the midfield duel in particular where the Crows were soundly beaten.
The home side lost out in all key indicators including clearances, contested possessions and tackles. The Crows were also well down in uncontested possessions (225-166) and inside 50ms (61-44), with Rory Sloane and Rory Atkins the only Crow midfielders to collect 22 possessions or more.
“When you don’t have weight of numbers, especially through the midfield where the ball’s won or lost, it’s hard to win games of footy,” Talia said on FIVEaa on Monday.
“It was a pretty tough review.
“I think the scoreboard flattered us in the last quarter to be so close. We were well beaten around the ball and we have been in the last couple of weeks so that’s something that we’ve really got to improve this week against Gold Coast.”
Sloane stars, better spread needed
Adelaide’s team defence also needs work after the Crows conceded 33 scoring shots for the second week in succession. The Club hasn’t won an inside 50m count since the Club’s Round Four win over Sydney.
Talia said the onus was on every player to contribute defensively.
“You need pressure around the contest and to get it in your forward half,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to do that, and then from there you’re trying to transition the ball from the backline right to full-forward – it’s really hard. Team defence starts by getting it in the forward half and locking it in there.
“The first couple of weeks, when we were playing really well, that was probably our strength.
“But we held up alright back there for the amount of ball that was coming in. It’s not all doom and gloom.”
Adelaide currently sits in eighth position on the AFL ladder and is one of four teams with a 4-4 record after the opening eight rounds. All four of the Club’s losses have come from sides currently inside the top six, with three of those defeats by less than three goals.
“I’m a glass half full man,” Talia said of Adelaide’s start to the season.
“In most of those games we’ve either been in front or had opportunities to win the game and just haven’t quite made it.
“Good sides just find that way to win, and that’s something we’ve got to keep learning how to do and try and do it against the real quality sides.”
Adelaide’s SANFL team had a bye last weekend, but Talia said the Crows had options if coach Don Pyke decided to tinker with his team ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Sunshine State.
“There’s been guys in great form,” he said.
“Jarryd Lyons, Cam Ellis-Yolmen’s been playing really well the last couple of weeks, even Harrison Wigg and guys like that through the midfield…Dean Gore as well.
“There’s certainly guys that can come in.”
Adelaide confronts Gold Coast at 2.10pm local time on Saturday afternoon at Metricon Stadium.
