Coach Adelaide under Matthew Nicks

[Taper]

Nicks is in his 5th season as Adelaide coach, having arrived at the club when the list was a dumpster fire and in need of a full rebuild.
Similar situation to the one Adem Yze

Adem Yze

Age

47

Ht

187cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.2

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

0.6

1star

T

0.6

3star

found himself in when he arrived at Richmond.

Nicks has yet to take the Crows to finals, and going by the precedent set when Alan Richardson and Stuart Dew

Stuart Dew

Age

45

Ht

183cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.1

3star

K

9.1

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

12.2

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.8

4star

were both sacked in their 6th seasons as coach without taking their sides to finals - it's fair to say Nicks has until 2025 to take the Crows to finals.

Nicks is widely criticised as a coach but as I previously mentioned - it's easy to forget how bad things were at Adelaide when he arrived, and the Crows have shown signs that if everything clicks, they could become a dangerous side.

What's your opinion of Adelaide under Matthew Nicks

Matthew Nicks

Age

49

Ht

187cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.4

3star

?

 

[Danger in Texas]

He consistently prefers underperforming seniors and average role players over blooding younger players, both as part of the AFL best 22 and in major roles within the 22 (mainly starting midfield)

He is the architect of a very inconsistent gameplan, hallmarked by reliance on average decision making from a number of key pieces

He doesn’t seem to have instilled an above average ability for us to get over the top in close games, or away from home

Our youth development has arguably cratered under him, compared to our last finals-making era (Berry, Schoenberg, Rachele, Jones amongst those that have stagnated or gone backwards after initially promising signs)

The decision to give him a contract extension was literally insane

 

[Jeremias]

Should have played finals last season, but overachieved on the back of a career year from Tex.

Many expected them to kick on and play finals this season. I felt they were still a way off that.

Nicks is clearly an issue, the extension was bizarre - but he’s not the only issue. The list has holes everywhere.

They are miles off it.

 

[Stumpy Pete]

Hamstrung by a board and supporter base who would sack him in an instant if he had the same win/loss but with a group of younger players.

Regards

S. Pete

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Nicks is clueless
He has hamstrung development of many young players
He has his favourite senior players who’ve tried and failed numerous times
He coaches week to week and constantly contradicts himself , he’s a cancer that needs to go

We should be throwing $$$ at Dean Cox

Dean Cox

Age

43

Ht

203cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.9

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.5

3star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

5.8

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.0

1star

or Nathan Buckley

The below team is more than good enough to play finals and on its day can match it with anyone
Under the current regime it’s failing , that’s on him


FB: Michaelanny- Murray- Worrell

HB: Nankervis - Keane - Milera

C: Soligo - Crouch - Hinge

HF: Rachele - Walker - Pedlar

FF: Keays - Thilthorpe- Fogarty

R: O’Brien - Dawson - Rankine

INT: Cook - Curtin - Schoenberg- Laird



Sub: Berry

 

[Gavin Excell]

I heard some chap on talk back saying the absence of Thilthorpe has been significant and Nick's should therefore be cut slack

 

[Taper]

He consistently prefers underperforming seniors and average role players over blooding younger players, both as part of the AFL best 22 and in major roles within the 22 (mainly starting midfield)

He is the architect of a very inconsistent gameplan, hallmarked by reliance on average decision making from a number of key pieces

He doesn’t seem to have instilled an above average ability for us to get over the top in close games, or away from home

Our youth development has arguably cratered under him, compared to our last finals-making era (Berry, Schoenberg, Rachele, Jones amongst those that have stagnated or gone backwards after initially promising signs)

The decision to give him a contract extension was literally insane

Nicks hasn't been helped by poor drafting from the Crows recruiting department over recent years, he can only work with the cattle he has at his disposal.
Nicks has shown quality tactical nous by outcoaching Hinkley the last three times the Crows have played Port, despite Nicks having inferior cattle to Hinkley.

 

[Danger in Texas]

Nicks hasn't been helped by poor drafting from the Crows recruiting department over recent years, he can only work with the cattle he has at his disposal.
Nicks has shown quality tactical nous by outcoaching Hinkley the last three times the Crows have played Port, despite Nicks having inferior cattle to Hinkley.

Nicks is a significant problem, but yes he isn’t the only problem

 

[RonnieRaven]

Protected species like Ken
Jl and nicks started in 2020
Covid restrictions so a bit of grace.
Media were baying for JLs blood in the off season and praising nicks.
JL had won 15 games more and a finals win with a similar age demographic.
Not sure exact stat but pretty sure AFL era there hasn’t been a premiership coach that hasn’t made finals in first 5 years.

 

[Purple7x08_24]

He's not a premiership coach. Struggles with the media, doesn't seem like he's the guy that can inspire players to greatness. I just don't see the connection between coach and players you get with other very good coaches.

I genuinely believe he's the worst coach in the system as of now. Even if Ken left Port Adelaide, he'd take another side to finals.

Verdict obviously out on YZE

He won't make it past 2025.

 

[Gavin Excell]

He's not a premiership coach. Struggles with the media, doesn't seem like he's the guy that can inspire players to greatness. I just don't see the connection between coach and players you get with other very good coaches.

I genuinely believe he's the worst coach in the system as of now. Even if Ken left Port Adelaide, he'd take another side to finals.

Verdict obviously out on YZE

He won't make it past 2025.

Worst coach is a big call but I guess his record puts him in the equation

 

[RonnieRaven]

Nicks has won 33 of 95 games
11 of those wins have been against Roos and eagles the easy beats of the comp over his tenure.

 

[Elixuh]

Bad board

List with gaps everywhere and relying on a 50 year old forward to have career years

Nicks does not have a mind for strategy. Worst in the league.

 

[Rotayjay]

The consensus view among Crows supporters is to get rid of him. I, and some others, were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after last season showed some signs, but the team has gone so far backwards this year it's not funny.

His continual selection of low-ceiling senior players like Ned McHenry

25

Ned Mchenry

Age

24

Ht

179cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.7

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

5.7

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.3

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

9.7

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

5.7

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.3

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.0

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

6.4

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.0

1star

and Lachlan Murphy

4

Lachlan Murphy

Age

26

Ht

174cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.8

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.6

5star

G

1.0

4star

, and his terrible game plan, are holding the club back. It's time to say goodbye.

 

[Purple7x08_24]

The consensus view among Crows supporters is to get rid of him. I, and some others, were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after last season showed some signs, but the team has gone so far backwards this year it's not funny.

His continual selection of low-ceiling senior players like Ned McHenry and Lachlan Murphy, and his terrible game plan, are holding the club back. It's time to say goodbye.

Agree. His media skills are sub par. Could steal buckley before he goes to Tassie

 

[crows dude]

Nicks is in his 5th season as Adelaide coach, having arrived at the club when the list was a dumpster fire and in need of a full rebuild.
Similar situation to the one Adem Yze found himself in when he arrived at Richmond.

Nicks has yet to take the Crows to finals, and going by the precedent set when Alan Richardson and Stuart Dew were both sacked in their 6th seasons as coach without taking their sides to finals - it's fair to say Nicks has until 2025 to take the Crows to finals.

Nicks is widely criticised as a coach but as I previously mentioned - it's easy to forget how bad things were at Adelaide when he arrived, and the Crows have shown signs that if everything clicks, they could become a dangerous side.

What's your opinion of Adelaide under Matthew Nicks?

We were not that bad in 2018-19. We still won 12 games in 2018 and 10 in 2019. Everything that cam out after 2019 with the camp i think destroyed the group. We were still winning quite a few games though. Until Nicks came and we decided to the full-rebuild.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Nicks is clueless
He has hamstrung development of many young players
He has his favourite senior players who’ve tried and failed numerous times
He coaches week to week and constantly contradicts himself , he’s a cancer that needs to go

We should be throwing $$$ at Dean Cox or Nathan Buckley

The below team is more than good enough to play finals and on its day can match it with anyone
Under the current regime it’s failing , that’s on him


FB: Michaelanny- Murray- Worrell

HB: Nankervis - Keane - Milera

C: Soligo - Crouch - Hinge

HF: Rachele - Walker - Pedlar

FF: Keays - Thilthorpe- Fogarty

R: O’Brien - Dawson - Rankine

INT: Cook - Curtin - Schoenberg- Laird



Sub: Berry

That is a very average best 22 honestly. Not sure how much of it is coaching and how much is lack of quality.

 

[PCORF]

This club needs to get firm. A complete cleanout and a new start. We need to turn into a Hawthorn style club, a club with fight and determination. A club that rides the critics.

I hope Nicks gets the boot after the season. I knew even just after round 1 it was a big mistake to extend him. A loss tomorrow night and that is the beginning of the end for him. Not trusting in newcomers is another big deal. Dowling will debut and then after a couple of games he'll be forgotten. He needs to try more new players.

I did not pick us to make the 8 at the start of the season. Last year has somewhat destroyed this club, this making the finals thing in 2024 has seriously impacted the team. At their best they are pretty good and at their worst they are unmotivated to say the least. Walker has been sore but some other players have seriously underperformed like Fogarty, etc.

We're terrible starters in games. In the 7 losses and 1 draw Adelaide are 2-6 in first quarters.

 

[HTPunter]

That is a very average best 22 honestly. Not sure how much of it is coaching and how much is lack of quality.

I thought the same reading that best 22. A lot of potential, but listing guys like Rachele, Thilthorpe, Schoenberg, Pedlar, Nankervis has a lot of “what they could do” about it, plus I think guys like Milera, Fogarty, Crouch & O’Brien are overrated as it stands

 

[HTPunter]

Works both ways with contract extension. Don't want him feeling pressured and possibly putting short term partway success (playing finals) over long term build to ultimate success - I.e. if it takes some time with Nankervis then that’s fine, rather than giving Smith who can play a role better but is clearly declining more games.

But at same time he’s been there for nearly half a decade, time to put results up. I was fairly uninspired at that doco stuff, especially with him trying to talk assertively to Brad Crouch

5

Brad Crouch

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.1

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

5.5

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

2.6

5star

about defence - but you don’t see that on game day necessarily, if you talk a big game to star players back it up. Rachele & Fogarty don’t buy into defence, but are safe as houses in the side.

 

[Cyclonus]

Agree. His media skills are sub par. Could steal buckley before he goes to Tassie

I want Buckley.

 

[Anja_Nees]

It’s always amusing when coaches who have taken their clubs to flags and deep finals series year after year come under fire for a poor year but guys with a track record like Nicks get a free pass for years on end.

Can understand them going easy on him a little while but it’s year five ffs.

 

[Foucault1989]

He's the most average guy you could imagine. Not inspiring, average team, average gameplan and yet they beat Carlton.

Dammit

 

[Taper]

It’s always amusing when coaches who have taken their clubs to flags and deep finals series year after year come under fire for a poor year but guys with a track record like Nicks get a free pass for years on end.

Can understand them going easy on him a little while but it’s year five ffs.

Not only that but Sam Mitchell is another rebuild coach, yet he gets torched by the media far more than Nicks despite Mitchell being in his third year while Nicks is in his fifth year.

 

[Anja_Nees]

Not only that but Sam Mitchell is another rebuild coach, yet he gets torched by the media far more than Nicks despite Mitchell being in his third year while Nicks is in his fifth year.

It’s like a footy industry wide practical joke on the supporters.