Are the Adelaide Crows in trouble?
That's the question AFL Hall of Fame member and 1987 Brownlow Medallist Robert Dipierdomenico was asked on The Marngrook Footy Show live on NITV on Thursday night.
"Well I think last week, what an amazing season we’re having," he responded.
"We see in the whole weekend of football, one point, two points, three points or so. To win over there for the Hawks was massive. It’s the third time they’ve beaten them over there. I still think Adelaide are very, very prominent in the comp and I do believe they should make the grand final but it is a shake up there, for sure."
The Marngrook Footy Show again boasted an all-star guest list on Thursday night, including 2016 Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen, Carlton star Patrick Cripps, former Richmond hardman Jake King, Hall of Fame Legend Kevin Bartlett and Dipierdomenico.
After a robust discussion, led by hosts Gilbert McAdam and Grant Hansen, on the tribunal process and punishment handed to Richmond's Bachar Houli, talk turned to the evenness of the competition in 2017 and the Crows' recent wobbles.
The panelists talk about the trouble the Adelaide Crows might be in. Source: The Marngrook Footy Show
"Remember early in the year they were playing that flashy sort of football?," McAdam asked of Adelaide.
They’ve got some good players but I’m just not quite certain they’re playing football at a top level that’s going to challenge the top sides.
"They understand that that’s not going to win finals - they need to toughen up don’t they?" he said.
On cue, McAdam then went on to pump up the chances of St Kilda, with the former Saint and passionate supporter saying he likes what he's seen from them of late.
Five-time premiership player Bartlett had a slightly different take.
"Yeah I’m still not convinced about St Kilda at the moment, whether or not they’re going to be good enough to really challenge," Bartlett said.
"I thought at the start of the year that they would be, I thought they’d be certain finalists because I love the way they play their rebound football and the strong forward line they had last year.
"They’ve got some good players but I’m just not quite certain they’re playing football at a top level that’s going to challenge the top sides."
Fan favourite Johannisen then joined the panel and after brushing off Hansen's playful request for him to sign a contract extension with Western Bulldogs live on air, the West Australian spoke of the season the 2016 premiers are having.
"I think we’ve only seemed to play our best footy in patches this year and a lot of it, we haven’t been as brave as we were last year, taking the game on, free-flowing," he said.
Jason Johannisen and Jake Stringer played important roles in the Bulldogs' win over North Melbourne. (AAP) Source: AAP
"So we're trying to get back to that sort of ball movement that’s sort of a bit dangerous. And also, our manic pressure last year was pretty elite so hopefully we can get back to that and get some momentum in the back half of the year."
As well as his insights into the way the Bulldogs are tracking, the panel was also interested in Johannisen's hairstyle, which is inspired by New York Giants NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
I think I’m just gonna keep this for a while and maybe come up with something next year.
"Jason you’ve been sporting a new hairstyle this year and over the years you’ve had a few different styles," Hansen noted.
"Are you thinking of changing for the second half of the year? Because last time I had a crack at ya, I had a crack at ya last time you came on the show and then that’s what you did, you had a hair cut for me. Any chance of that happening this week? Maybe that’s why you’re not getting 38 possessions every week, maybe too much hair?," Hansen asked.
"Yeah I definitely regret getting the number zero, that’s for sure," Johannisen said of the shaved head he once had.
"I think I’m just gonna keep this for a while and maybe come up with something next year."
Another young West Australian star then joined the panel and the Gilbert McAdam welcome mat was rolled out for Carlton's Cripps.
“I just love the way you play,” McAdam gushed, with the studio audience enjoying the praise.
Fellow panel member Shelley Ware asked Cripps about how he has stayed humble and grounded, given the 22-year-old's meteoric rise to be a star of the competition.
"I still think I’m the same person I was before I got drafted," Cripps said.
"I think I’ve got a good family network, and friends sort of outside of footy and in footy that keep me grounded and I know if I get too far ahead of myself my old man will give me a clip around the ears."
The 2013 first-round draft pick said growing up in rural Western Australia and doing a bit of University study and some labouring work in the year between school finishing and being drafted helped shape his football experience.
“You sort of realise what the real world’s like and sort of makes you appreciate the position you’re in.”
To see more from Thursday night's episode of The Marngrook Footy Show, including Daniel Wells' 2004 goal of the year and umpire Peter Carey's chest mark in 1999 as part of Rohan Connolly's Round of our Lives, head to the on-demand catch-up service .
