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

[baldandbroke]

Just like it was bold and daring to transition Pedlar to a defensive forward against Stewart.

That’s full Nicksy, never go full Nicksy.

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Wasn't in the Voss category.

Barely any of the current coaches were superstar players, let alone at the level of Voss.

Voss (self-explanatory), Goodwin (5* AA, 3* B&F, AFLCA MVP), maybe Longmire at a stretch.

 

[Crow till I die]

Barely any of the current coaches were superstar players, let alone at the level of Voss.

Voss (self-explanatory), Goodwin (5* AA, 3* B&F, AFLCA MVP), maybe Longmire at a stretch.

Gee, the scott brothers weren't half bad either..3 premierships each

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Gee, the scott brothers weren't half bad either..3 premierships each

*2.

Both pretty good players, but not absolute stars. Adam Simpson and Damien Hardwick would probably be around that level too.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

*2.

Both pretty good players, but not absolute stars. Adam Simpson and Damien Hardwick would probably be around that level too.

Longmire was as good as these 2.

 

[BigBoSS_Riot]

Longmire was as good as these 2.

Yeah, I might've overrated him a touch.

 

[Viva la Mattner]

Didn’t catch it all just heard a snippet as making dinner
Tom Morris reported that Nicks has performance clauses in his contract

 

[Sanders]

So when the Board extended Nicks for a further two years out to the end of 2026 this was done explicitly by them on the basis that they believed "he was our next premiership coach" (source: John Olsen interview on 5AA).

Given that Nicks is in his 5th season in charge, we've had year on year improvement in results and we finished just outside the finals last year then this test (is he 'the next premiership coach') was I think the right and ultimate question on which to base the appointment.

My question is what was the evidence to support this contention at that point in time? And more to the point why did they sacrifice their ability to get another season's worth of evidence (one way or another) before making the decision by going early with the extension?

Evidence at March 2023 that Nicks IS a premiership calibre coach

Evidence at March 2023 that Nicks IS NOT a premiership calibre coach

He has coached a team that improved its win-loss record year on year (we obviously started from a very low base) Under his leadership we had (seemingly) addressed some of our cultural issues Under his leadership we had attracted some good quality recruits (Dawson, Rankine) Under his coaching we were playing an attractive brand of football last year

He hasn't coached a team to a premiership before He hasn't coached a team to a grand final before He hasn't coached a team to a finals win before He hasn't coached a team to the finals before* (yes he was unlucky in this regard) We had an easier draw as a previously low finisher Our best performers were in our mid (Dawson) or upper (Walker, Laird) age cohort and we hadn't demonstrated that our next generation of draftees were developing such that they were driving the performance)

I don't see how any reasonable observer could say that the evidence in the left hand column outweighs that on the right to such an extent that it's worth making the decision early.

The stated reason that they went early was to allow Nicks to "avoid the pressure" but don't we want/expect our players to play under the extreme pressure of big matches, finals, etc. Why wouldn't we similarly expect that Nicks (and the club more broadly) could stand up to the pressure of coaching during a contract year without it unduly impacting our approach or our performance.

The trade-off we made to give away a year of evidence on Nicks' coaching bona fides in order to avoid pressure just seems completely spineless - let alone that the results of the last couple of weeks (whilst acknowledging the season is still young) make it appear that the decision might be just flat-out wrong.

I don’t see much here that’s all that controversial to be honest

What strikes me is the pro column seems pretty reasonable whilst at the same time being only some “nice-ish”, fairly bland and nebulous stuff. Not much actual meat on that bone

Which in year 5 isn’t a great roll call of accomplishment

 

[Sanders]

*2.

Both pretty good players, but not absolute stars. Adam Simpson and Damien Hardwick would probably be around that level too.

Adam Simpson was a star. He and Ricciuto had some epic battles head to head

 

[Interloperer]

Tom Morris reported that Nicks has performance clauses in his contract

Wouldn't he actually need to start the new contract before any hypothetical performance clauses in it become relevant

 

[Sanders]

Wasn't a great footballer but can coach.

Was pretty good. Won the first rising star of the year award if memory serves

 

[Sanders]

Barely any of the current coaches were superstar players, let alone at the level of Voss.

Voss (self-explanatory), Goodwin (5* AA, 3* B&F, AFLCA MVP), maybe Longmire at a stretch.

Yet some of the best coaches of all time were superstars: Barassi, Blight, Matthews

 

[Pugsley]

Was pretty good. Won the first rising star of the year award if memory serves

Confusing the twins.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Didn’t catch it all just heard a snippet as making dinner
Tom Morris reported that Nicks has performance clauses in his contract

Well we will be well under the soft cap if we are paying him by the win...

 

[MrBarry]

Wouldn't he actually need to start the new contract before any hypothetical performance clauses in it become relevant

Would have thought the new contract kicked in now, as it likely came with a pay bump.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

not much running with the ball

 

[George Kramer]

not much running with the ball

Hard to bounce the ball when you don’t move.

 

[FR0GGY]

not much running with the ball

Not going to be many tomorrow night by the looks.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Didn’t catch it all just heard a snippet as making dinner
Tom Morris reported that Nicks has performance clauses in his contract

He owes us money so far

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Barely any of the current coaches were superstar players, let alone at the level of Voss.

Voss (self-explanatory), Goodwin (5* AA, 3* B&F, AFLCA MVP), maybe Longmire at a stretch.

A numbers game

There are a handful of superstars
There are tons of handy, average players

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Nicks has to go. His selections don’t make sense. Why can’t we just go out and get a real coach?

 

[Crow_68]

Nicks has to go. His selections don’t make sense. Why can’t we just go out and get a real coach?

Godden, Burns, VB have to go with him. Nicks is only one of a few selectors.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Godden, Burns, VB have to go with him. Nicks is only one of a few selectors.

Nicks has the final say. Make no mistake about that. Its Nicks team and he will only walk into a room with the players he wants in the side. The other members of the selection committee are there to sound ideas, play devils advocate and discuss pro's and cons to a players inclusion or omission. They may voice an idea Nicks likes that gets a player selected and a player omitted but its really at Nicks discretion.

 

[ams4crows]

Honestly though if we do sack him halfway through the year can Blight be the interim till the end of the year because honestly Burns Gooden or Van Berlo is honest worse than Nicks

 

[Alwaysacrow]

I have always been an advocate of Nick's but not bringing Dowling in has turned me right off.