Kind of baffled by the media beat up on this one.
Also seems some have short memories...

We were literally in this situation in 2023/2024.

In 2023 we basically missed finals because of 3 major injuries in an 8 round patch - Doedee (ACL), Murray (ACL) and Butts (ankle) + our pick 6 McAsey had quit the club and Billy Frampton was traded to Collingwood.

This completely fkd our 2024 season as well, with Doedee gone, Murray still out with an ACL, and Butts doing a hammy in pre-season (+ injuries throughout the year) we were on thin ice.
***Not to mention Milera was also injured.

It forced Borlase to play before he was ready and a 190cm teenage Michalanney to play as a 3rd tall.

Then Worrel broke his arm and our season collapsed (if it hadn't already).

If we didn't get VERY lucky with Keane it could have affected our 2025 season as well.
We saw what happened when he broke his leg in 2026.

With no Keane, there's a world where we'd have to keep persisting with Curtin in defence.

I’m sorry but why do the wider footy media landscape feel like we were obliged to take what was in front of us because Murray requested a trade. He is a contracted player and north had no leg to stand on.

Port Adelaide may have made some good moves yes, but their whole decade depends on the development of 3/4 players who haven’t played afl. Dominated is a strong word considering they lost their best player from the last half decade.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on the trade period and what do we hope happens in the draft?

Glad we held onto Murray, north fans are losing their minds.

Thank you to everyone who voted on the MVP, TEQA and Rising Star awards throughout the season, I promise Milera gets votes in this one.

Here is the match by match voting summary for the season

And the MVP is... for the 4th year running - Jordan Dawson!

Here is how the leaderboard shaped up

A look at the trend of the top 3 tells the story of 3 different seasons - with Dawson starting slow but going god mode in the middle of the year, Rankine being arguably the best player in the comp for the last 4 weeks, and Milera consistently picking up votes all the way through. Will be interesting to see if either one can dethrone Dawson next year.

And the TEQA Winner is... Lachlan McAndrew!

Here is the TEQA leaderboard

McAndrew was huge (literally) for us in the middle this year. He was rarely beaten in the ruck and did lots of great contested work around the ground, even popping up with the occasional goal. For what it's worth, Milera won this award last year and then took a big leap forward this year. Hopefully McAndrew can do the same.

And the Rising Star Winner is... Brayden Cook!

Here is the Rising Star leaderboard

Brayden Cook was a revelation on the wing this year, particularly early in the year when he was #1 in the competition for Forward 50 entries being converted to scores. He played a big role in rebounding out of d50, as well as contributing to our lethal efficiency inside 50 - but his most memorable moment from the year was of course kicking the winner in the Showdown 59.

Now for some charts and analysis for those who may be interested.......

Here is the leaderboard for the total number of individual votes recieved - I wouldn't read too much into these, as Milera had a standout game in Round 1 when we also had our highest voter turnout and picked up 1/3rd of his seasons total votes in this game alone.

Most votes in wins

Most votes in losses

Win/Loss Vote Differential - The sample size os probably too small to draw any real meaning from there, and it's impossible to separate correlation from causation - but the takeaway that Rankine is a standout performer in our wins is undeniable.

Vote count by round - There are a few external factors in play here: what time the game is, how late I am to post the thread, what other posts are in the sub at the time, if/when it gets stickied. But overall you see the usual enthusiasm for people to vote early in the season, then settling in to a consistent group of voters for the rest of the year - or least I assume as the voting is all anonymous. It did surprise me that people didn't vote for the Elimination Final win much more than a home and away win.

Average vote count by result

This year once again follows the trend that votes in wins are double the votes in losses. Overall the voting numbers are slightly down - I put that down to me posting the thread a day or two after the game, an overall increase in number of posts in the subreddit post game, and the user who posts their tier list rankings after each game satisfying many people needs for player ranking content already.

If you have any ideas for how this could be improved or how we can keep people engaged please let me know! And if there are any specific stats on the voting you would like to see then let me know - if I have the data I will do it for you!

It’s something!

2 year deal with a potential coaching opportunity down the track

first rounder this year, take it or leave it

Rightio my intention here is not to degrade Tex, he was a great player and we prob would have been in the wilderness without his presence.

There has been enough time now for me to raise this hopefully without raising emotions, so bare with me here.

I cant help but think the way Tex retired harmed our season.

If you watched the Richmond game a few days prior to his retirement (the one where we unconvincingly held off the bottom side) you may recall very late, tex running to compete for a ball in space near the boundary. He appeared lame and was barely able to move, and to me it appeared his body was very clearly done.

He retired the following Tuesday.

The club held a press conference to market his retirement, twas awkward watching him and Nicks very politely and also unconvincingly sing eachothers praises.

So cue several weeks of its all about Tex, leading in to the finals whereby again they were poor and went out without a whimper.

Why would Tex agree to this? Why would he want the last few weeks of the season to be all about his retirement?

Fan service, loyal servant and all that, but my question is simple - did it affect the mindset of the players (and the club) and did it detract from their focus on winning?

I feel it was a very selfish way for such a selfless player to bow out. On the eve of the finals, I dont want to be hearing Tex publicly talk about a lack of flags being unimportant to his legacy.

Contrast with dangerfield leaving in 2015, or more currently Fagan leaving the bears, he had decided a month before, yet there was nothing until after their third flag. Selfless leadership personified.

I just cant help but think the whole way Tex leaving was handled is emblematic of the culture of the club. Its not about winning or about whats best for the team. its about selling merch, trying to appease the masses even, and performing just well enough to keep the diehards happy.

Ok folks, let me have it.

I do not see any muzz trade happening if this is the offer lol.

Bit low I’d imagine..

https://www.afc.com.au/news/2145224

Adelaide Captain Jordan Dawson has etched himself further into Crows history, becoming the first Crow to claim the Malcolm Blight Medal four times.

2026 Adelaide Malcolm Blight Medal top 10:

Jordan Dawson - 158 votes
Lachlan McAndrew - 135
Alex Neal-Bullen - 132
Wayne Milera - 128
Izak Rankine - 124
Sam Berry - 113
Josh Worrell - 105
Ben Keays - 99
Josh Rachele - 97
Brayden Cook - 96

Need more speed off half back. Maybe with both him and Milera, there could be some opportunities to go on ball.

Someone tell Murray and Cal to make some calls