Bickley rates Adelaide players based on their performances so far in 2024

Adelaide Hall Of Famer and two-time premiership captain Mark Bickley has rated most of the Crows on their performance so far in a disappointing 2024 season.

After narrowly missing out on the finals in 2023, the Crows now sit 14th on the AFL ladder with just five wins.

Based on their performance in 2023 compared to 2024, Bickley has divided Adelaide’s playing list into four categories - The improvers, The ones that have marked time, The ones that have dropped away and The new and emerging.

The Improvers

Izak Rankine
Jake Soligo
Max Michalanney
Darcy Fogarty
Mark Keane
Lachlan Sholl
Sam Berry
Mitchell Hinge
Josh Worrell
Luke Nankervis
Brayden Cook

Notes: “Fogarty has gone from one and a half goals a game to two goals a game average this year so, a bit more consistency.

“Berry is starting to find his feet. He didn’t play at all last year and he is in the team now.”

The Ones That Have Marked Time

Jordan Dawson
Ben Keays
Rory Laird
Reilly O’Brien
Elliott Himmelberg
Will Hamill
Jordon Butts
James Borlase

Notes: “Dawson was All-Australian last year and was outstanding, after a little bit of a quiet start he has been very good again this year.

“Laird hasn’t got the numbers because he hasn’t played as much in the middle so he is about the same as where he was last year.

“Last year O’Brien didn’t finish top 10 in the best and fairest so he’s about the same this year.”

The Ones That Have Dropped Away

Taylor Walker
Lachlan Murphy
Josh Rachele
Chayce Jones
Ned McHenry
Harry Schoenberg
Luke Pedlar
Brodie Smith
Rory Sloane (retired)

Notes: “75 goals last year for Walker. He won't get that this year, not to say he has had a disastrous year but not as good as last year.

“Murphy finished in the top 8 of the best and fairest last year, wouldn’t be at that level this year.

“McHenry has been out of the side more this year than last.

“I’ve put an asterisk next to Pedlar and Schoenberg. I think Pedlar has been injured with a shoulder, Schoenberg’s returning from an achilles injury.

“Brodie Smith is out of the side.”

New & Emerging (or injured)

Billy Dowling
Daniel Curtin
Zac Taylor
Riley Thilthorpe
Nick Murray
Wayne Milera
Matt Crouch

Notes: “Thilthorpe, Murray, Milera and Crouch have all been injured.”

Bickley did not categorise every single player on the list.

On the back of those players who are ‘New and Emerging’, Bickley is confident that the Crows can improve next year.

However, they will need to acquire established players from other clubs this trade period to really go to the next level.

Adelaide faces the in-form Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.