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

[Crows I Am]

Yep, last 2 preseasons we’ve talked it up, trained for it only to back out when the seasons on.

Another example of coaching genius

Nicks still hasn't realised that Dawson, Crouch, Laird midfield doesn't work. He doesn't want to remove any of them from the main midfield rotation.

He can't move Crouch anywhere other than back to the SANFL, he doesn't want to move Dawson (and rightly so) and hasn't come to the conclusion yet that Laird is the one that needs to make way. This is holding back putting Rankine (and anyone else) into the midfield man rotation. All they can expect is small cameos when the main 3 need a rest.

 

[MsTopG]

Nicks still hasn't realised that Dawson, Crouch, Laird midfield doesn't work. He doesn't want to remove any of them from the main midfield rotation.

He can't move Crouch anywhere other than back to the SANFL, he doesn't want to move Dawson (and rightly so) and hasn't come to the conclusion yet that Laird is the one that needs to make way. This is holding back putting Rankine (and anyone else) into the midfield man rotation. All they can expect is small cameos when the main 3 need a rest.

Nicks will probably think that Dawson is the issue and move him back. Thats Nicks thinking in a nutshell. Go with the least obvious choice.

 

[MRB37]

Nicks still hasn't realised that Dawson, Crouch, Laird midfield doesn't work. He doesn't want to remove any of them from the main midfield rotation.

He can't move Crouch anywhere other than back to the SANFL, he doesn't want to move Dawson (and rightly so) and hasn't come to the conclusion yet that Laird is the one that needs to make way. This is holding back putting Rankine (and anyone else) into the midfield man rotation. All they can expect is small cameos when the main 3 need a rest.

I think Nicks looks at those contested/clearance numbers and thinks the midfield is working fantastically. I don't think ball movement after the contest is big on his priority list.

 

[n4sir]

I come in peace etc etc. Have you guys seen this? Reckon it’s a pretty good analysis of what’s going wrong:

Returning to old habits: Adelaide’s midfield | FTN, R2 2024

This week’s Notebook is a one-topic affair, focusing on how Adelaide are setting up their midfield.

theshinboner.com

Thank you for sharing this analysis of our midfield woes - it maybe based from the round 2 Geelong game, but really does highlight our shortcomings throughout the year.

I suspected during the game there may have been some kind of soft tag on Dawson to partly explain his woeful start to the year, and this backs it up. He can't get space for the majority of the time, and when he eventually does he's completely knackered.

 

[feenix67]

Late to the party, but what shat me with Nicks on 360 was when Robbo said "when are the next wave of players going to stand up". I reckon every crows supporter watching, including me, yelled at the TV "when they're given a bloody chance".

 

[AFC979810]

This is the AFC right here ladies and gentlemen

Every game is a must win game - from round 1 to round 23

Well considering only 1 team in AFL history has made the finals from 0-4 start I don't think its panic thinking to say its a must win game. All offseason our club has said finals are on the agenda. Facing 0-4 this is pretty much a must win.

This is panic thinking. Short term thinking - our season is dead in the water and you are concerned about trying something different?

Well which is it? Am I panic thinking because its a must win or am I concerned about trying something different even though our season is dead in the water.

And for the record - I think we should try something different. I mentioned previously we should put Rachele / Rankine / Soligo / Hinge / Sholl - anyone but Laird in there with Crouch / Dawson.

I just don't think its a good idea to throw Pedlar in there. This is a guy who was out of form in the preseason, who has probably had the worst 3 game stretch of any player I have ever seen at AFL level, into a midfield battle with Petracca, Viney and Oliver.

We will never be successful with this type of thinking

Dramatic much?

With what type of thinking? That we shouldn't throw pretty much the least out of form player in the AFL to the wolves against Petracca, Oliver and Viney?

Be brave be daring be bold

All of those things are great. Just like it was bold and daring to transition Pedlar to a defensive forward against Stewart.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Late to the party, but what shat me with Nicks on 360 was when Robbo said "when are the next wave of players going to stand up". I reckon every crows supporter watching, including me, yelled at the TV "when they're given a bloody chance".

They'll get games when they're ready





And on the half forward flank only

 

[1970crow]

I think Nicks looks at those contested/clearance numbers and thinks the midfield is working fantastically. I don't think ball movement after the contest is big on his priority list.

It’s not just him though, it’s been at the club for over a decade. We don’t understand the difference between a hack kick from inside a stoppage and one where a player gets ahead of the contest area and delivers at a target. They’re just stoppage wins and losses, there’s no consideration for damage caused.

 

[1990crow]

They'll get games when they're ready





And on the half forward flank only

And when they fail they aren't ready. And get black marks.

Then Crouch, Laird, Smith, Murphy etc get to stay where they are.

 

[Pugsley]

Chris Scott was just on SEN and he stated he views the team as a squad and manages them through the year, not as a best 25/26 team.
Probably why their results are far better than ours.

Wasn't a great footballer but can coach.

 

[Brett Cummings]

Nicks: unfortunately murphy will be out for 3-5 weeks.

Every suppoorter:: yes....... how unfortunate.

 

[Pugsley]

Nicks: unfortunately murphy will be out for 3-5 weeks.

Every suppoorter:: yes....... how unfortunate.

You don't wish injury on a player but you would think he would reward form.

 

[Brett Cummings]

You don't wish injury on a player but you would think he would reward form.

I don't wish for him to get injured. I also dont care he's not playing.

 

[1990crow]

Wasn't a great footballer but can coach.

He was pretty good.

 

[Pugsley]

He was pretty good.

Wasn't in the Voss category.

 

[1990crow]

Wasn't in the Voss category.

Sure, but who is.

 

[Pugsley]

I don't wish for him to get injured. I also dont care he's not playing.

I'd rather he be out of the side but through form not injury.

 

[Pugsley]

Sure, but who is.

McLeod was.

 

[Twist_of_Lemon]

He was pretty good.

Looking back at the Lions midfield of their 3x premiership years; is that the most stacked, deep-batting midfield in football history? I only know the AFL, so no idea if state leagues have had anything assembled quite like they did. Obviously other teams have had A+ mids of their own, but the consistent quality of the Lions midfield was insane.

 

[AFC979810]

Looking back at the Lions midfield of their 3x premiership years; is that the most stacked, deep-batting midfield in football history? I only know the AFL, so no idea if state leagues have had anything assembled quite like they did. Obviously other teams have had A+ mids of their own, but the consistent quality of the Lions midfield was insane.

They were A+ all over the field. Their KPP stocks were nothing to sneeze at either - Brown, Lynch and Bradshaw up forward and Leppitsch, Micheal and Pike down back.

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Looking back at the Lions midfield of their 3x premiership years; is that the most stacked, deep-batting midfield in football history? I only know the AFL, so no idea if state leagues have had anything assembled quite like they did. Obviously other teams have had A+ mids of their own, but the consistent quality of the Lions midfield was insane.

Only West Coast in the mid 00's came close i'd say.... Judd, Kerr, Cousins, Cox, Embley all in their prime.... one or two others....

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Looking back at the Lions midfield of their 3x premiership years; is that the most stacked, deep-batting midfield in football history? I only know the AFL, so no idea if state leagues have had anything assembled quite like they did. Obviously other teams have had A+ mids of their own, but the consistent quality of the Lions midfield was insane.

Even their nobodies who were relegated to peripheral roles eg Tim Notting were quality

 

[George Kramer]

This is bagging Nicks thread, back on topic

 

[Twist_of_Lemon]

Even their nobodies who were relegated to peripheral roles eg Tim Notting were quality

Thats what I was thinking. When they had a full, healthy squad they had players who would be walk-in starters for any other club running around in the 2nds.

 

[Twist_of_Lemon]

This is bagging Nicks thread, back on topic

Sorry, mate.

Nicks looks like a thumb.