Tim Watson says he cannot see Adelaide winning this year’s Grand Final unless they tweak their free flowing style of play.
The ladder leaders suffered their fourth loss in their past seven matches, falling to 17th place Hawthorn by 14 points at Adelaide Oval and the former Essendon legend said they lack physicality in their game, which is often seen in finals.
“Maybe the conversation should be about just holding our horses on the Adelaide Crows because of the way they’ve been picked apart on a number of occasions,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast.
“I don’t think they can (win the Grand Final). Not on playing this way they won’t win the Grand Final.
“They like to get on the fly, they like to run. I think their game is built about getting free and being able to express themselves.
“You can play like that if the game allows you to, but if you get drawn into finals football, which is more about playing that one on one, that inside type football, that more pressurised football, I don’t think they’ve got the game to do that.”
Watson said the Crows lack the toughness and hardness associated with the Premiers of recent times, and feels they lack the mentality to play in that manner.
“I don’t think they have the mindset to want to play like that,” he said.
“If you look at the last five premiers - the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn (three times) and Sydney, there’s something, a non-negotiable about the way that all of those teams have played and that’s been their hardness and inside toughness.
“I just don’t see that with Adelaide.”
With star midfielder Rory Sloane again struggling to produce his best after copping a tag, Garry Lyon said it is time coach Don Pyke looked at bringing back out-of-favour veteran Scott Thompson to provide some support.
“I think it’s time,” he said.
“If you’re going to keep him on the list and there was debate and discussion over the summer about whether he would go around again and he did, well you’ve got to give him an opportunity.
“He’s playing good footy in the SANFL and is hard on the inside.”