Opinion Matthew Nicks: Adelaide's Coach (Part 2) - Full Support of the Board

[cleanhands]

Like they did when they paid out Pyke’s contract…

Wait…

It’s a slow train

 

[cleanhands]

he’s definitely no Hardwick or Scott or Longmire. He hasn’t built a dynasty and I think we’d be more foolish than usual to have him in any future plans

While Roo is there he’d be in our thinking

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I don’t know if Olsen’s ultimately the problem but a constitution that makes him and his board completely unmovable is not only a problem, it’s a terminal disease.

There is also the worry that his political nous could work against us. Chapman's background was in banking right? Wouldn't a background in politics make a banker look like boy scout in comparison?

 

[MrBarry]

**** me some people in here need a bit of perspective.... Yes this decision has probably been rushed but all the "the club is rotten to the core" stuff being floated again sounds as if we are in 2018/2019 again.

Pre season everyone is up and about, yes last week was shit but jesus just relax. Do I think Nick's is an elite coach, no I don't yet. But it's also likely we have resigned him with very specific caveats that protect us against any massive issues down the line.

 

[MrBarry]

Olsen or no Olsen, why do people keep expecting good to come out of a club that has a thoroughly rotten system of governance?

Nothing edible comes out of a filthy kitchen no matter how good the menu looks.

You are being hysterical.

 

[Slippery Pete]

You are being hysterical.

Yes, it’s hysterical to expect a football club board to be member-elected.

 

[CrowBloke]

What’s will it be like IF we are 30 points down at half time Friday night he he

They'd probably fight back for an honorable loss on the back of 15-or-so minutes of decent footy.
That'd give Nicks more positives to look at ... (see last week's presser) ...
...
... to not change a thing.

 

[ams4crows]

I don't really have an issue with Nicks but I do think our coaching group as a collective has become stale and losing Rahlliy as our forwards coach is going to hurt.

I don't like when you move assistant coaches into different departments.

Burns was ok in defence not sure why he's now forwards and Van Belo as midfield is bottom of the barrel.

It's more the assistant they need refreshing for me.


Also still training in a construction site while the new home hasn't even got an all clear to Start building yet is disastrous for attracting big name talent

 

[WaynesWorld19]

They'd probably fight back for an honorable loss on the back of 15-or-so minutes of decent footy.
That'd give Nicks more positives to look at ... (see last week's presser) ...
...
... to not change a thing.

There are zero excuses for last weeks effort .....completely unacceptable

That's a negative marker against Nicks IMO

 

[Bovo]

While Roo is there he’d be in our thinking

Yeah but even Roo doesn’t want egg on his face.

 

[Sanders]

On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Erm… interesting?

 

[Bovo]

There are zero excuses for last weeks effort .....completely unacceptable

That's a negative marker against Nicks IMO

You are right. The coach’s job is to ensure the boys are switched on at the very first bounce, not near the end! When was the last time we stayed competitive for a full four quarters?

 

[relapse]

Disagree.
As someone who is involved in engineering projects regularly, what is happening at Thebarton is pretty standard in terms of consultation, delays etc. Note that the number of consultations etc has nothing to do with us, they are regulatory requirements through the Development Act, council and state government requirements.
We'll be starting construction at some stage in 2024 I would think so it looks like timeframes aren't too far off those set in 2022. Again delays like this are fairly typical. I don't think they expected the amount of resistance they got, which is fair given the age and size of the trees that are being affected and the support given to AFC by Council, and the likely significant improvement of the area, however as usual the vocal minority always wins regardless of the merits of their case. There are far larger or more significant projects that have been impacted more significantly than ours.
I don't really care about Olsen enough either way tbh, but as far as I can see the HQ has been managed reasonably well.
Nicks extension, yes I wouldn't have done it until at least mid season, and even then only if we were entrenched in the 8. From what I saw last week, it's more likely we'll be bottom 4. Will be interesting.
Laying mistakes from previous administrations at Olsen's feet is a bit disingenuous. Since he's taken over, I can't really say there has been much done wrong. HQ I've covered above, coaching panel whilst unproven to get results is still significantly better than it was, club culture seems great and is possibly the main thing Nicks has done, off field administration also significantly improved (I would get rid of some/all of the board but the AFL control that for now), membership is lifting, financials are improving, recruiting/drafting has improved (couldn't have gotten worse), results are trending up.
I guess it's a wait & see on whether Nicks' extension is the right thing to do, personally hope it works out, it's a tough draw at the start of the year so this could bite them though.

Just to be clear

I wasn't laying past mistakes at Olsen's feet, I was saying that the club has been subpar pre Olsen and will more than likely still be post Olsen. That's not a John Olsen issue, it's an AFC issue.

I'm not saying that the delays are the club's fault per se, but more that I suspect the Crows jumped into and committed to Thebarton Oval seemingly without doing their due diligence in regards to Kings Reserve. This has now created a huge delay and also had an significant impact in terms of the size of the second oval and potentially there's other negative flow on effects as well.

Also let's not forget that the costing has blown out from $75 million to over $100 million before construction has even been started.

Each to their own, but I don't think it's been that well handled in my opinion.

 

[Sanders]

The 6 month clause is for all senior coaches for all clubs.

Re-signing after a Round One loss where we checks notes kick one goal in the first half and only played about 17mins of actual football?

Sold!

That’s incorrect. It is only for those who took AFL bail out funds

Correctly the AFL didn’t want to pay for clubs bad decisions when they were owed money

It does not apply to us

 

[GreyCrow]

I'm not saying that the delays are the club's fault per se, but more that I suspect the Crows jumped into and committed to Thebarton Oval seemingly without doing their due diligence in regards to Kings Reserve.

The club either expected to be rolled into the Torrens-Darlington Project funds or miscalculated the end date for the roadworks. IMO the roadworks would drive the completion date because it means double work if they get a greenspace then have to re-adjust sizings

( this should be AFC thread)

 

[George Kramer]

Just to be clear

I wasn't laying past mistakes at Olsen's feet, I was saying that the club has been subpar pre Olsen and will more than likely still be post Olsen. That's not a John Olsen issue, it's an AFC issue.

I'm not saying that the delays are the club's fault per se, but more that I suspect the Crows jumped into and committed to Thebarton Oval seemingly without doing their due diligence in regards to Kings Reserve. This has now created a huge delay and also had an significant impact in terms of the size of the second oval and potentially there's other negative flow on effects as well.

Also let's not forget that the costing has blown out from $75 million to over $100 million before construction has even been started.

Each to their own, but I don't think it's been that well handled in my opinion.

Where else were we getting 2 ovals? Even Brompton was only one.

 

[Sanders]

I have a slightly different take.
If Nicks spent this year coaching for his survival, he would be more inclined to stick to conservative selections and no variation in game style.
He now has some certainty to allow for more flexible thinking - it is just a matter of seeing if he has the capacity to do that.

That’s certainly the theory

 

[Sanders]

Sanders You still think Olsen is the man?

Don’t love this, not gonna lie

All depends on what triggers and exit clauses are in the contract, which we don’t get to see

It feels like they released this info now because of the non-zero chance that we actually could start 0-5; and that would look ridiculous if we announced an already signed contract then

* I don’t believe this has just been done

 

[Sanders]

I'm actually surprised a bit the admin did it too because they've primed themselves to look absolutely foolish in the next month if we're 0-5 or 1-4.

I think you’ve got it the wrong way round

 

[Rotayjay]

You are right. The coach’s job is to ensure the boys are switched on at the very first bounce, not near the end! When was the last time we stayed competitive for a full four quarters?

I said this during the Pyke days - motivation is on the senior coach. He's the leader of leaders.

Even the most motivational coach in the AFL can't make every player 100% motivated 100% of the time, granted. However, to only start being competitive three quarters of the way through the fourth quarter is not AFL standard motivation.

 

[Jars458]

I just feel it is more likely to encourage the business as usual approach, which will mean mediocrity and let down. Time will tell.

 

[CrowBloke]

Laying mistakes from previous administrations at Olsen's feet is a bit disingenuous. Since he's taken over, I can't really say there has been much done wrong.

Yes, very good point.

HQ I've covered above, coaching panel whilst unproven to get results is still significantly better than it was, club culture seems great and is possibly the main thing Nicks has done,

Team spirit and unity seem high, for sure BUT
there's a lot of kumbaya-happiness surrounding mediocre games, 'honorable' losses, backing the (senior) boys in etc.
We can all forgive Nicks for 2020 because he inherited a mess/ wreck/ shitshow and was saddled with Assistants not of his own choosing.
After that, it's on HIM.
Funny thing: both Blight and Hardwick took their sides from 13th to TOP in one year, even if the foundations had been laid. Nicks has laid 3 years of foundations, but does anyone think he will take this team from 10th to a Flag in 2024?
Not me.

off field administration also significantly improved (I would get rid of some/all of the board but the AFL control that for now), membership is lifting, financials are improving, recruiting/drafting has improved (couldn't have gotten worse), results are trending up.

All very well. Membership/ financials etc.
Personally, I want (and MY focus is on) wins. I want them to play FINALS. I wannanother Flag!

 

[Sanders]

You are right. The coach’s job is to ensure the boys are switched on at the very first bounce, not near the end! When was the last time we stayed competitive for a full four quarters?

According the oracle that is John Who it’s not the coaches job to prepare the team and it’s not his fault if they’re not switched on

 

[relapse]

Where else were we getting 2 ovals? Even Brompton was only one.

We're not even getting 2 actual ovals now at Thebarton, so trying to justify Thebarton on the basis of it providing two ovals no longer has any validity.

 

[Sanders]

I'm not saying that the delays are the club's fault per se, but more that I suspect the Crows jumped into and committed to Thebarton Oval seemingly without doing their due diligence in regards to Kings Reserve.

They didn’t want Kings Reserve, there were, and are, no viable remaining options

If not there, the alternative was nothing