Kane Cornes believes Adelaide needs to change up their forward mix and go smaller inside 50.
The winless Crows kept pace with Collingwood for three quarters in Tuesday night’s eventual 24-point loss, with Elliott Himmelberg one of the few highlights.
The young key forward kicked two goals and took three contested marks, while Adelaide’s other key forwards, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty, had no impact.
Cornes feels they’re too tall inside 50 and believes one of Walker or Fogarty needs to come out of the team.
“The forward line is not functioning. We questioned pre-game how you can go in with Elliott Himmelberg, Darcy Fogarty, Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch in pretty slippery and windy conditions,” he told SEN SA Breakfast.
“That eventuated and Fogarty looks like a really frustrated footballer and Tex, we know where he’s at. They’re going to have to make a call on one of those two.”
Lynch suffered a hamstring injury in the game and will likely miss a few matches, but Cornes still feels one of the other key forwards has to come out.
“Lynch warmed up with the on-ballers and he’s been playing a lot of time up the ground for that reason to get some pressure in the forward line with Shane McAdam and Tyson Stengle which worked early,” he said.
“You can only go Himmelberg and/or Walker or Fogarty. You can’t have all three because the ball just comes out far too easily.
“It’s fine if they’re having an impact and getting their hands on the footy, but they’re not. So they’re not touching it and they’re not providing any pressure so you’re going to have to make a call.
“Tex had nine disposals, Fogarty nine, no goals from either of them.”
Adelaide’s next opportunity to break their duck comes against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at Metricon Stadium.