Opinion Matthew Nicks: Adelaide's Coach

[Mr_Moogle]

How did 48 people vote firmly Yes!

The poll has too many options. You shouldn't be able to half commit by leaning one way or another. You also shouldn't be able to change your vote. I'm not changing my vote. I'm death riding this thing. Either I'll be vindicated or it will stay up there as an example of my hubris for the rest of time.

 

[adelaidecrows]

The poll has too many options. You shouldn't be able to half commit by leaning one way or another. You also shouldn't be able to change your vote. I'm not changing my vote. I'm death riding this thing. Either I'll be vindicated or it will stay up there as an example of my hubris for the rest of time.

Im more than happy to be proved wrong on my No vote. Part of the adventure. But i'm beginning to fear something worse....i could actually for once be right.

 

[1970crow]

Fog doesn't have the dual side abilities or the ground level talent (which is massively increased because he can kick either side) that Tex has. Doesn't have a 60m bomb on him either. Catch and kick he can replace Walker, but I think the smalls will be needed even more at ground level once Tex retires. Fog should still be good for a couple goals a game and anyone kicking 40+ goals in a year is usually an instant best 22 for any side.

Thilly I think can develop a dual game, but he won't have the kicking skills Tex does (but few do).

Fog has extremely good ground talent and left leg, have seen him hit up a few targets with a precision left. He doesn't have the power for the shots at goal, especially around the corner, but his ground level work is very good. We'll find out more when he starts getting equivalent ball directed at him.

 

[Milo Cyrus]

Bad team selection again. Going small on a dry deck isn't a smart use of resource and robbed the team of needed flexibility. How many more of these 101 type mistakes do we have to bare? The brains trust isn't that bright it seems. Why didn't they throw Keays in the guts as a minder when the Bombers took control of the contest? it's not just the players that suck away from home. Seems as though the coaching staff get the yips in the box in a hostile environment. I wonder if the coaches even practice for this? Every time they panned to the box Nix looked frozen.

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Having quite the chuckle at the last 4 pages of this thread. So what were his rookie mistakes this week?

Not tagging Merrett with Keays? Not going in taller? Playing Rachelle in the middle?

The other week criticism was because we used keays in the middle and weren't using youngsters at CBAs enough. Poor selection was picking concrete hands himmelberg, this week people wanted taller but there isnt many options. People wanted Keays dropped and now they are mad he wasn't tagging.

Next week, how dare Nick's have a red power powerade instead of a blue one! Rachelle forward? What a waste.

Some of you whinge from your arm chair about 1 thing 1 week then complain the exact opposite next week.

Yeah we have lost a lot away. Better than losing at home too like last season. Blind Freddy can see how far forward the team has moved this season. 5 goals off having the best attack in the game. 6 players in the top 45 goal kickers in the comp and 5 of them are 23 or younger. Interstate identities recognising the talent and direction of the club. Young list, rising stars, how much more do people want to change in the space of 9 months since the end of last season...

Yes Sloane, mchenry and Murphy aren't up to it. But neither are the players competing for their spots.

Better sack Nick's though. He put the wrong youngster in the middle this weekend...

 

[Milo Cyrus]

Having quite the chuckle at the last 4 pages of this thread. So what were his rookie mistakes this week?

Not tagging Merrett with Keays? Not going in taller? Playing Rachelle in the middle?

The other week criticism was because we used keays in the middle and weren't using youngsters at CBAs enough. Poor selection was picking concrete hands himmelberg, this week people wanted taller but there isnt many options. People wanted Keays dropped and now they are mad he wasn't tagging.

Next week, how dare Nick's have a red power powerade instead of a blue one! Rachelle forward? What a waste.

Some of you whinge from your arm chair about 1 thing 1 week then complain the exact opposite next week.

Yeah we have lost a lot away. Better than losing at home too like last season. Blind Freddy can see how far forward the team has moved this season. 5 goals off having the best attack in the game. 6 players in the top 45 goal kickers in the comp and 5 of them are 23 or younger. Interstate identities recognising the talent and direction of the club. Young list, rising stars, how much more do people want to change in the space of 9 months since the end of last season...

Yes Sloane, mchenry and Murphy aren't up to it. But neither are the players competing for their spots.

Better sack Nick's though. He put the wrong youngster in the middle this weekend...

Sign him up for life you reckon?

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Sign him up for life you reckon?

I'd be giving him 2 more years at this stage.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Bad team selection again. Going small on a dry deck isn't a smart use of resource and robbed the team of needed flexibility. How many more of these 101 type mistakes do we have to bare? The brains trust isn't that bright it seems. Why didn't they throw Keays in the guts as a minder when the Bombers took control of the contest? it's not just the players that suck away from home. Seems as though the coaching staff get the yips in the box in a hostile environment. I wonder if the coaches even practice for this? Every time they panned to the box Nix looked frozen.

The stuff about Nicks being good at strategy was bollocks. He doesn't have a long term strategic plan and he doesn't get the tactical stuff right either.

 

[Milo Cyrus]

The stuff about Nicks being good at strategy was bollocks. He doesn't have a long term strategic plan and he doesn't get the tactical stuff right either.

It seems to me if plan A doesn't work, we lose.

 

[GROTTO]

Seems as though the coaching staff get the yips in the box in a hostile environment. I wonder if the coaches even practice for this? Every time they panned to the box

Nix looked frozen.

 

[George Kramer]

Having quite the chuckle at the last 4 pages of this thread. So what were his rookie mistakes this week?

Not tagging Merrett with Keays? Not going in taller? Playing Rachelle in the middle?

The other week criticism was because we used keays in the middle and weren't using youngsters at CBAs enough. Poor selection was picking concrete hands himmelberg, this week people wanted taller but there isnt many options. People wanted Keays dropped and now they are mad he wasn't tagging.

Next week, how dare Nick's have a red power powerade instead of a blue one! Rachelle forward? What a waste.

Some of you whinge from your arm chair about 1 thing 1 week then complain the exact opposite next week.

Yeah we have lost a lot away. Better than losing at home too like last season. Blind Freddy can see how far forward the team has moved this season. 5 goals off having the best attack in the game. 6 players in the top 45 goal kickers in the comp and 5 of them are 23 or younger. Interstate identities recognising the talent and direction of the club. Young list, rising stars, how much more do people want to change in the space of 9 months since the end of last season...

Yes Sloane, mchenry and Murphy aren't up to it. But neither are the players competing for their spots.

Better sack Nick's though. He put the wrong youngster in the middle this weekend...

Think a little harder, what changes did we make to our structure and positional changes this week? Because you wrote a lot of words and didn’t even address the most obvious one.

As for the rest of the drivel, not everyone has the same objection but you’ve lumped them in all together to try and mock the complaints and downplay the criticisms, why? Is it because your agenda is defend Nicks at all costs?

As for not being better than Sloane, Murphy, McHenry. See if you can work out who would have been the better wing option to Sloane and McHenry. Here’s a hint, refer to my opening point.

But let me guess, if you think we have no one worthy of selection in the seconds you must really be hating on Ogilvie or are you saving his defence for another thread. By the way, how much sanfl football have you watched?

 

[Milo Cyrus]

View attachment 1735318

and take Stengle with ya!

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Think a little harder, what changes did we make to our structure and positional changes this week? Because you wrote a lot of words and didn’t even address the most obvious one.

As for the rest of the drivel, not everyone has the same objection but you’ve lumped them in all together to try and mock the complaints and downplay the criticisms, why? Is it because your agenda is defend Nicks at all costs?

As for not being better than Sloane, Murphy, McHenry. See if you can work out who would have been the better wing option to Sloane and McHenry. Here’s a hint, refer to my opening point.

But let me guess, if you think we have no one worthy of selection in the seconds you must really be hating on Ogilvie or are you saving his defence for another thread. By the way, how much sanfl football have you watched?

I don't defend Nick's at all costs. I am just not one of these people that ignores the huge improvements the team has made this last 9 months and focus on one thing like playing Mchenry over a first gamer. Does that 1 selection decision outweigh the dozens of areas and aspects of the clubs team game and the players individual games that have improved out of sight this season?

On McHenry, he has been a great sub and deserved his shot at a full game. Hasn't taken his chance. I'd say soon he will be back to sub.

Sloane - the player he has been is evidence enough that while he may not impact games to previous standards, his leadership, knowledge, understanding of the game may still seem valuable. And we will never know, we are not on the field listening to the players. In this aspect Sloane would still be top 5 at the club. Something a first gamer won't provide.

Murphy, never wanted him in the side.

Certainly not hating on Ogilvie, we have loads of youth playing well - in the AFL. Not every draft Pick is a winner and we have some dead wood in the SANFL, of which I think only 4 or 5 playing players have any chance of making it at AFL. Can't rebuild the whole squad with perfect hit rate in 5 seasons.

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Average scores for and against.

2022.
78.2 for / 90.3 against.

2023.
97.1 for / 83.3

19 points per game better off for and 7 points against. 26 points is a lot in footy.

That's where the Nick's argument stops for me. While there is decent overall improvement I couldn't give a shit about a petty mistake here and there.

 

[Milo Cyrus]

Average scores for and against.

2022.
78.2 for / 90.3 against.

2023.
97.1 for / 83.3

19 points per game better off for and 7 points against. 26 points is a lot in footy.

That's where the Nick's argument stops for me. While there is decent overall improvement I couldn't give a s**t about a petty mistake here and there.

Darren Burgess effect I reckon.

 

[George Kramer]

I don't defend Nick's at all costs. I am just not one of these people that ignores the huge improvements the team has made this last 9 months and focus on one thing like playing Mchenry over a first gamer. Does that 1 selection decision outweigh the dozens of areas and aspects of the clubs team game and the players individual games that have improved out of sight this season?

On McHenry, he has been a great sub and deserved his shot at a full game. Hasn't taken his chance. I'd say soon he will be back to sub.

Sloane - the player he has been is evidence enough that while he may not impact games to previous standards, his leadership, knowledge, understanding of the game may still seem valuable. And we will never know, we are not on the field listening to the players. In this aspect Sloane would still be top 5 at the club. Something a first gamer won't provide.

Murphy, never wanted him in the side.

Certainly not hating on Ogilvie, we have loads of youth playing well - in the AFL. Not every draft Pick is a winner and we have some dead wood in the SANFL, of which I think only 4 or 5 playing players have any chance of making it at AFL. Can't rebuild the whole squad with perfect hit rate in 5 seasons.

I’m sorry but you’re argument or point is way off.

We can identify mistakes and still acknowledge that we’ve improved and Nicks’s strengths but it’s clear he makes mistakes and continues too, that’s what we highlight because he keeps on doing it. Against Essendon he moved Jones from the wing where he’s been playing great football. We could have used him in that role given we were carved in the middle and on the outside. At the same time we had 2 young defenders in Nankervis and Borlase who have been in good form and deserved a chance.

McHenry was poor the week before when he had a full game and because of moving Jones he gets another game. We are now weaker. He’s played 3 full games for 3 poor games.

As for Sloane, this whole leadership bullshit for keeping him in the team is just that, bullshit. Who gave the 50 away at a crucial time against Daicos? He panicked primarily because he couldn’t keep up. He conceded 4 goals from his turnovers and given he only had 12 touches playing wing and midfield that’s awful. He can’t keep up with the game anymore, he’s too slow.

As for Ogilvie, we’ve effectively got 3 qtrs of our sanfl as juniors, some with AFL experience plus we’ve got a weak midfield. You can’t possibly say we’ve got no one in the SANFL worthy of getting a game and then defend him. Sure we’ve got some good young talent but we’ve had a lot of high draft picks and a lot of picks overall, so of course he’s going to get some right.

 

[ABAB]

Clearly can coach but too trusting of players given the selection, however, that's might be why we've been able to retain players since he has joined us so double edge sword.......

 

[George Kramer]

Average scores for and against.

2022.
78.2 for / 90.3 against.

2023.
97.1 for / 83.3

19 points per game better off for and 7 points against. 26 points is a lot in footy.

That's where the Nick's argument stops for me. While there is decent overall improvement I couldn't give a s**t about a petty mistake here and there.

We used pick 5 on a forward didn’t we that’s kicked and contributed to a few goals.

Dawson moving himself to the middle has also helped

We’ve also played the worst team in the last 10 years that we smashed.

 

[ABAB]

We used pick 5 on a forward didn’t we that’s kicked and contributed to a few goals.

Dawson moving himself to the middle has also helped

We’ve also played the worst team in the last 10 years that we smashed.

We also beat 2 of the top 4 sides and loss to the top team by 1 and 2 points

 

[WaynesWorld19]

As for Ogilvie, we’ve effectively got 3 qtrs of our sanfl as juniors, some with AFL experience plus we’ve got a weak midfield. You can’t possibly say we’ve got no one in the SANFL worthy of getting a game and then defend him. Sure we’ve got some good young talent but we’ve had a lot of high draft picks and a lot of picks overall, so of course he’s going to get some right.

This is an easy thing to say ......but it's illogical

Midfield you say is weak, when most posters would agree that Laird & Dawson were the main offenders in the first half
So who are you going to bring from the SANFL, into that midfield, who's in-form and would have made a difference ?

Berry & Schoenberg would have made zero difference on the weekend .....bring them in, and the week after, people will be advocating for them to be dropped

The argument you're presenting is, all our youth in the SANFL are ready to play AFL and in-form .....this isn't reality.

Every AFL Club's reserves side is chock-full of high draft pick talent ......why aren't they being played ? .....because, they're developing & not ready, or not in AFL form
We're still the 2nd youngest side in the AFL ....how young do you want us to go George ?

Elijah Tsatas has been killing it in the VFL .....hasn't played an AFL game
Nic Cox likewise can't get a game
Draft Pick #5 and #8 respectively

I understand people want change this week ....understandable & warranted .....and I support good form being rewarded after a poor performance .....but they have to be better than the incumbents

So who warrants a game on form, Nankervis ....Crouch if you believe SANFL form mimics AFL form, which clearly it doesn't
And, IMO McAdam adds another fwd weapon to the side

 

[WaynesWorld19]

We also beat 2 of the top 4 sides and loss to the top team by 1 and 2 points

Weren't those wins & narrow losses to COLL just plain dumb luck ......essentially the same 22 players .....younger players finding it difficult to bring the same intensity week after week

But also we made mistakes against ESS .....were they game changing ? .....arguable

 

[BRL121]

Having quite the chuckle at the last 4 pages of this thread. So what were his rookie mistakes this week?

Not tagging Merrett with Keays? Not going in taller? Playing Rachelle in the middle?

The other week criticism was because we used keays in the middle and weren't using youngsters at CBAs enough. Poor selection was picking concrete hands himmelberg, this week people wanted taller but there isnt many options. People wanted Keays dropped and now they are mad he wasn't tagging.

Next week, how dare Nick's have a red power powerade instead of a blue one! Rachelle forward? What a waste.

Some of you whinge from your arm chair about 1 thing 1 week then complain the exact opposite next week.

Yeah we have lost a lot away. Better than losing at home too like last season. Blind Freddy can see how far forward the team has moved this season. 5 goals off having the best attack in the game. 6 players in the top 45 goal kickers in the comp and 5 of them are 23 or younger. Interstate identities recognising the talent and direction of the club. Young list, rising stars, how much more do people want to change in the space of 9 months since the end of last season...

Yes Sloane, mchenry and Murphy aren't up to it. But neither are the players competing for their spots.

Better sack Nick's though. He put the wrong youngster in the middle this weekend...

I'm very, very surprised that I haven't seen a word of criticism about taking Dawson out of the midfield during the game.

 

[Mutineer]

This is an easy thing to say ......but it's illogical

Midfield you say is weak, when most posters would agree that Laird & Dawson were the main offenders in the first half
So who are you going to bring from the SANFL, into that midfield, who's in-form and would have made a difference ?

Berry & Schoenberg would have made zero difference on the weekend .....bring them in, and the week after, people will be advocating for them to be dropped

The argument you're presenting is, all our youth in the SANFL are ready to play AFL and in-form .....this isn't reality.

Every AFL Club's reserves side is chock-full of high draft pick talent ......why aren't they being played ? .....because, they're developing & not ready, or not in AFL form
We're still the 2nd youngest side in the AFL ....how young do you want us to go George ?

Elijah Tsatas has been killing it in the VFL .....hasn't played an AFL game
Nic Cox likewise can't get a game
Draft Pick #5 and #8 respectively

I understand people want change this week ....understandable & warranted .....and I support good form being rewarded after a poor performance .....but they have to be better than the incumbents

So who warrants a game on form, Nankervis ....Crouch if you believe SANFL form mimics AFL form, which clearly it doesn't
And, IMO McAdam adds another fwd weapon to the side

Could have chosen two better examples than Nick Cox and Elijah Tsatas to make a point...both had very limited preseasons with injuries and both have only returned to VFL footy inside the last month. I'm sure both will be playing AFL when they get the required miles in their legs.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Could have chosen two better examples than Nick Cox and Elijah Tsatas to make a point...both had very limited preseasons with injuries and both have only returned to VFL footy inside the last month. I'm sure both will be playing AFL when they get the required miles in their legs.

Tsatas returned in Rnd 11 .....Cox IIRC has played 7 x VFL games

I could have gone thru every Club list, and I would have found high draft picks playing in the VFL ......how about Powell, in & out of bottom team NORTH like a jack-in-a-box

 

[Mutineer]

Tsatas returned in Rnd 11 .....Cox IIRC has played 7 x VFL games

I could have gone thru every Club list, and I would have found high draft picks playing in the VFL ......how about Powell, in & out of bottom team NORTH like a jack-in-a-box

Cox was a 200cm beanpole when he was drafted...