Hi all,

No surprises when looking at the leading team in Overall Supercoach, and seeing it full of Crows.  It was likely to be a Crow/Swan party given the teams they were up against.

Still, do we have anything to learn from choosing Crows?  They do look like they are in stellar form in the off-season, they have a good coach with a grip on the modern game, trained in the Geelong school, not the possibly inferior Westpac Centre hothouse.   The Adelaide team of 2011 certainly underachieved, and with Neil Craig given the shift, they even showed some fight under Bickley, who many were surprised didnt get an ongoing job.  Must have been something about giving Gunston the best young player...

So, by going Adelaide midpricers early, can you get a legitimate jump on the field?   Possibly.  The Crows do have a delicious early run.  Thing is, it could get a little more tricky later in the year,  and the players relied upon by this team might then be found wanting.

Anyway, heres the overall leader, "CarntheCrows", scoring 2452 in Round 1:

D: Goddard, Yarran, Bugg, R Murphy, Mohr, Guthrie, Hunt (Ellis, Tomlinson)

M: Pendlebury, Ablett, JP Kennedy, M Murphy, Sloane, Dangerfield (A Kennedy, Hoskin-Elliott)

R: Leuenberger, Giles (Redden, Stephenson)

F: Tippett, Franklin, J Riewoldt, Walker, Cloke, Porplyzia, Hall (Smith, Dickson)

A quick analysis of the team over the break

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This teams structure is interesting.  Only one legitimately good defender, with Yarran/Murphy seen as the boys needed to step up.  Its risky, and when Scotland, Birchall, Broughton and Shaw hit their straps, that could prove fatal.

The midfield is strong.  Full of the three great options (Pendles, GAJ, Murphy), but comprising two very good up and comers in JPK and Sloane.   One could even think its Hornsys team going by the midfield alone.

Leuenberger is a risk, but showed that hes not just a one-trick pony.  Its a shame he didnt show this the last few years and let Mitch Clark do what he does best (#1 ruck).   A 1-0-3 team winning overall this week is no surprise at all.

The forward division relies on three Crows.  This is likely to be an issue later in the season.  Still, they could smash the Dogs and eat up a few more points.   The issue I see is that the forwards really only has Franklin and a collection of midpricers (Cloke being borderline premium).  Considering there is no Goodes, Fyfe, Chapman in this combination suggests that short term success is the aim.  Long term they will get hammered.

But heck, $1000 isnt to be sneezed at, and nor is the fact that they did it surprisingly without either Stanton or Ryder, who were two guys who smashed it this week.  And to be honest, the team hasnt got the worst structure Ive seen.

Feel free to provide your thoughts on this team, and whether theres any chance of it going the distance!   Is their squad stronger than yours?  How do you propose to play catchup on this team?