Guts and gut running Walsh’s formula

Patrick Dangerfield turns on the afterburners against West Coast. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE coach Phil Walsh let himself have a chuckle at the question, which was what game trends would set the tone for next season.

"If I told you, everybody would know," he said.

But in broad terms, Walsh suggested the future was reasonably clear.

WALSH: CROWS COACH CALLS FOR INTERCHANGE CUT

The use of the interchange would still flavour how the game is played, and that means gut-running players will be kings rather than slow-burning players who can last all day.

The Crows have been the highest-rotating team, but they will have a more tempered view of the value of interchanges under Walsh.

"What happened, in my opinion, when the rotations came back to 120 was that a lot of people predicted that we'd need more aerobic-type players," Walsh said. "So a lot of the training was then centred on aerobic training.

"I'm of the belief that the game is still a repeat-speed game, and where the momentum of a game changes is through high-speed running.

"So I think a number of clubs — and we're definitely training that way at the moment — have still invested time in repeat speed and high-intensity running.

"That's where I think the game will still go."

What is also clear to Walsh after completing the first half of the pre-season is this: he has identified the areas in which the Crows must improve to become a top-shelf team again, rather than one that shows glimpses of excellence only to fade out.

The Crows hit the streets for a time-trial. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Those areas include:

PRODUCING the A-game more often, and for longer periods.

Walsh saw the Crows play some outstanding football last year while working as a senior assistant at Port Adelaide.

But he also noted how it happened sporadically rather than as a habit. It was the first thing that jumped out at Walsh.

A SHARP improvement in defence, where the Crows were ranked as a mediocre team in 2014.

BEING fiercely competitive every week, which will be a cornerstone of Walsh's coaching. He wants to see more old-fashioned grit and grunt to go with the skills and polish.

"Probably what I saw from the outside," Walsh said, "was the fact that our best footy was good enough but we couldn't do it for long enough. That's one issue.

"The fact that we ranked 11th in defence, that's another issue.

"The other bit that I want to see, that I've seen some of but I want to see more of after Christmas, is I want to see us being more competitive.''

Phil Walsh oversees Crows training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

The Crows on Friday called a close to the year and will not resume until January 5, but Walsh said he still felt fresh and rejuvenated after taking the job.

He had been seen as a reluctant coach, and spoke about not wanting the No.1 post while working as a senior assistant at Port Adelaide and West Coast.

But he has not regretted a minute since accepting the job at West Lakes and is in high spirits ahead of next year.

Much of Walsh's enthusiasm comes from being part of a fresh beginning: both he and chief executive Andrew Fagan began as former coach Brenton Sanderson parted ways with the club with a year left to run on his contract and CEO Steven Trigg accepted the job to run Carlton.

It is a new dawn for the club and the two of its most senior employees.

"Pre-season is a bit of a dream in some regards for a senior coach," Walsh said. "And particularly a new senior coach.

"I've been energised, been able to align the footy department with the coaching group and particularly with Andrew Fagan ... it's not often that a first-time senior coach comes along with a first-time CEO.

"That's been really refreshing and invigorating in a way.

"But I know the hard work is coming.

"This is a performance industry and you've got to be able to perform."

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