Bigman’s Training Reports

[George CantStandYa]

You know all of the answers to these questions.

I do, reckon you do too Can understand you wanting to move on.

 

[Mostyn]

Vendetta? Or just a clueless buffoon, lurching from one ill-thought-out plan to the next?

Dropping Rachele wouldn't have been a solo Nicks decision. The coaching and leadership team would have been very much a part of it - that's exactly how these structures work.

Right or wrong, it was the club.

I didn't like it at the time, but maybe they knew what Rachele needed, as he seems to have had a very positive few months since.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Dropping Rachele wouldn't have been a solo Nicks decision. The coaching and leadership team would have been very much a part of it - that's exactly how these structures work.

Right or wrong, it was the club.

I didn't like it at the time, but maybe they knew what Rachele needed, as he seems to have had a very positive few months since.

Nicks dragged kicking and screaming into the decision you think?

And also powerless to stop the club machine?

 

[Alwaysacrow]

It was a national football story right? Do I need to bring up the national stories?

Whether it went on for a a length of times is irrelevant, it received national exposure.

How can you say clearly the player didn’t? Have you spoken to Josh?

Just staggered you can think being publicly scolded by your senior players and dropped for the last game when you’ve made the top 10 of the B&F is no big deal to the player.

It certainly wasn't a good look but the lad has put his head down and is training the house down now. I'm not saying it was a good thing to happen but it seems no permanent harm has been done so I for one wish people would stop bringing this up.

 

[George CantStandYa]

It certainly wasn't a good look but the lad has put his head down and is training the house down now. I'm not saying it was a good thing to happen but it seems no permanent harm has been done so I for one wish people would stop bringing this up.

He’s certainly responded well, credit to him.

Wish people would stop bringing this up? When’s the last time it was?

It could easily have passed away very quickly but posters chose to debate it, that’s what happens on a forum so requesting a topic isn’t going to be brought up and discussed isn’t really how this place works.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Nicks dragged kicking and screaming into the decision you think?

And also powerless to stop the club machine?

This notion that a coach with an ego like Nicks has, couldn’t control the Rachelle narrative and dropping is a bit silly.

And if he couldn’t, why is he the head coach?

 

[Cromulant]

This notion that a coach with an ego like Nicks has, couldn’t control the Rachelle narrative and dropping is a bit silly.

And if he couldn’t, why is he the head coach?

I think the big issue is that Burns and Godden also have big egos.

Doubt Hombsch and VB even got a look in

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I think it was.

What old mate is also forgetting is that its not just his axing in Rd 24 followed by Nicks publicly condemning the 21 year old kid.

It was obvious to all and sundry last season that there was a serious problem between Rachele and Nicks. Here is a timeline to remind you. Easy enough to find the threads from last year.

Preseason - Rachele trains with midfielders. Club releases puff pieces about how he is gonna play more midfield and Rachele talks 50/50 split. Happy Days. This makes sense. He had a few games in the midfield and had 75 CBA's in 2023 - where he performed well.

Rounds 1 & 2 - Rachele gets 2 centre bounces.

Between weeks 2 & 3 - Rachele publicly talks about injecting himself into the midfield to help the team.

Rounds 3 & 4 - Rachele gets 0 Centre bounces. We move to 0-4.

Rounds 5 - 11 - Rachele gets a few centre bounces, but gets some serious CBA's against North Melbourne (57 point win) and West Coast (99 point win).

Round 12 - After getting crushed in the midfield by the Hawks (18-10 centre clearances). Rachele publicly comes out and in his words says

“We didn’t get a lot of inside-50s on the weekend, and I didn’t play a lot (in the) midfield again, (instead) playing mainly up the ground,” Rachele told 9News Adelaide on Tuesday. “It’s something that I probably don’t really know what’s going on,” the young forward-midfielder continued. “I’ll sit with the coaches and ask questions today about ‘how can I inject myself in the game?’ when I’m not getting too much of the ball.”
Nicks then says they had a great chat.

Rounds 13 - 23 - Rachele gets less CBA's for the rest of the season than Defender Max, Ben Keays, Dan Curtin, Hugh Bond, Zac Taylor in addition to the obvious midfield team of Crouch, Soligo, Dawson, Rankine, Berry and Laird.

Round 23 - Rachele talks crap about Port supporters. They boo him. He kicks a goal and taunts the fans. Nicks then drops him. A senior player blasts the kid and leaves him out to dry. Nicks then publicly says "It's not isolated, it's not a moment, it has got nothing to do with this week," Nicks told reporters on Friday. Nicks then confirms he has been dropped for continually refusing to adhere to team values.

"https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id...-rachele-axed-repeated-failures-matthew-nicks

Then during the week He 'accidentally' liked a comment on instagram "Disgusting what the club is doing hanging you out to dry. Would not blame you asking for a trade mate".

Then the B&F roles round. Rachele finishes 8th and is lauded for the selfless team first role he played.

But yeah - no issues between Rachele and Nicks. Happy days.

You make valid points!

I think though that cluelessness is at the foundation of it all.

Eg the midfield talk and training in preseason.

Nicks sinply hadn't thought it through. It seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the right thing to do.

What does it mean for our structure though? Who kicks our goals? Who gets squeezed out of the midfield when Rachele goes in there? He hadn't considered those things, because he's an idiot. When push came to shove it didn't happen. No malice intended initially. Just a people-pleasing promise, like college tuition for Scott's Totts.

Then the season starts. Nicks needed Dawson in there, Crouch, Laird, Soligo. He also promised Rankine midfield time. No room for Josh and that thought would have flown out of his head.

The vendetta perhaps sneaks in at the next stage. Angry that Rachele pointed out his idiocy publicly. Caught him out peddling bullshit and reacted angrily, with his midfield-time-over-my-dead-body reaction. Angry of course because the criticism has an element of truth.

Later the child-like ebb and flow. Criticism before realising that it's a bad look to be bagging one of our best up and coming young players, who's here on a huge contract and popular with fans. So gushing, over the top praise.

 

[AFC979810]

Dropping Rachele wouldn't have been a solo Nicks decision. The coaching and leadership team would have been very much a part of it - that's exactly how these structures work.

Interesting.

So Nicks doesn't make the final decision on who plays each week?

So it must then be a committee? What percentage of influence does Nicks have? Who else is on this committee and who is the tiebreaker?

Right or wrong, it was the club.

Interesting. The whole club? Who is behind this decision if it isnt Nicks? Silvers? The board? The other coaches (who report to Nicks?). Anyone else I forgot?

 

[Cromulant]

You make valid points!

I think though that cluelessness is at the foundation of it all.

Eg the midfield talk and training in preseason.

Nicks sinply hadn't thought it through. It seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the right thing to do.

What does it mean for our structure though? Who kicks our goals? Who gets squeezed out of the midfield when Rachele goes in there? He hadn't considered those things, because he's an idiot. When push came to shove it didn't happen. No malice intended initially. Just a people-pleasing promise, like college tuition for Scott's Totts.

Then the season starts. Nicks needed Dawson in there, Crouch, Laird, Soligo. He also promised Rankine midfield time. No room for Josh and that thought would have flown out of his head.

The vendetta perhaps sneaks in at the next stage. Angry that Rachele pointed out his idiocy publicly. Caught him out peddling bullshit and reacted angrily, with his midfield-time-over-my-dead-body reaction. Angry of course because the criticism has an element of truth.

Later the child-like ebb and flow. Criticism before realising that it's a bad look to be bagging one of our best up and coming young players, who's here on a huge contract and popular with fans. So gushing, over the top praise.

Another thing to factor in with the "lack of midfield" time is we were missing Rankine more than he played during R10-24 and lacked that dynamic small forward presence, at least before Keays had the most purple of purple patches.

 

[AFC979810]

You make valid points!

I think though that cluelessness is at the foundation of it all.

It absolutely could be. After watching all of the decisions Nicks has made over the past 5 years - you are right - I can't discount that it started out of cluelessness.

Eg the midfield talk and training in preseason.

Nicks sinply hadn't thought it through. It seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the right thing to do.

I guess for me though - it was building nicely. The club recruiters declared when they recruited him they thought long term he could transition to the middle.

Year 1 - Had a taste of the midfield in 5 of the first 8 games. Started brilliantly in the first 10 games overall then fell of a cliff. Played 15 games - only 21 CBA's.

Year 2 - Came out of the blocks with significant midfield minutes in 2023. Through the first 6 rounds he had a shitload of CBA's.... then seemed to hit a wall. Once again - I dont think anyone was upset with this trajectory. They then pulled back the 2nd half of 2023 which is understandable.

He then spends the preseason training to spend time in the middle. Its happy days for everyone. It seemed everyone was on the same page.

Then boom - the real stuff happens and he gets 6 CBA's in the first 6 rounds. Something must have happened surely....

 

[AFC979810]

Another thing to factor in with the "lack of midfield" time is we were missing Rankine more than he played during R10-24 and lacked that dynamic small forward presence, at least before Keays had the most purple of purple patches.

Go go gadget arms! Someone is reeeeeaaaaccching.

 

[Cromulant]

Go go gadget arms! Someone is reeeeeaaaaccching.

Yawn.....

 

[Stephen2]

Something must have happened surely....

I'm a simple man... so my answer to this is "Nicks is an idiot who would rather Laird & Crouch in there, than Rash"

 

[baldandbroke]

Can we maybe move some of the discussion around Josh and Nicks to the right thread?

Think the discussion is good and all, but would love Bigman’s thread to be all about the pre season training sessions - and Bigman’s awesome scouting reports if possible?

 

[AFC979810]

I'm a simple man... so my answer to this is "Nicks is an idiot who would rather Laird & Crouch in there, than Rash"

And I get that.

Why then have Rachele train with the midfielders and the expectation of playing midfield and then just not do it and not communicate it to him? But I guess that is answered by the bold part.

 

[AFC979810]

Can we maybe move some of the discussion around Josh and Nicks to the right thread?

Think the discussion is good and all, but would love Bigman’s thread to be all about the pre season training sessions - and Bigman’s awesome scouting reports if possible?

Bigman - Where is Rachele training this offseason? With the forwards or the midfielders?

 

[bigman]

Richmond Oval appears empty. AAMI too.

If anyone knows where training might be, let me know. Otherwise looks like there will be no report today unfortunately.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Bigman - Where is Rachele training this offseason? With the forwards or the midfielders?

Mainly forwards, with some midfield time i believe.

 

[Jerome]

Richmond Oval appears empty. AAMI too.

If anyone knows where training might be, let me know. Otherwise looks like there will be no report today unfortunately.

With the Adelaide University sponsorship announced today, perhaps they are training at Adelaide Uni?

 

[bigman]

With the Adelaide University sponsorship announced today, perhaps they are training at Adelaide Uni?

Possibly. Heading to check out Elizabeth so won’t be able to know unfortunately. Thanks though.

Long shot but if anyone is driving near Adelaide uni, Woodville or Norwood, feel free to see if the lads are there.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Richmond Oval appears empty. AAMI too.

If anyone knows where training might be, let me know. Otherwise looks like there will be no report today unfortunately.

Back to bagging Nicks!!

 

[Mostyn]

Nicks dragged kicking and screaming into the decision you think?

And also powerless to stop the club machine?

No, I think Nicks holds team values very highly. He would have been direct with Josh, as he was with the midfield in that Amazon doco. I don't think he's as cuddly behind doors as he presents publicly.

 

[bigman]

No good at Elizabeth unfortunately.

I’ll check out Adelaide uni but beyond that not much point looking around as the session will be practically finished.

 

[Mostyn]

Interesting.

So Nicks doesn't make the final decision on who plays each week?

So it must then be a committee? What percentage of influence does Nicks have? Who else is on this committee and who is the tiebreaker?



Interesting. The whole club? Who is behind this decision if it isnt Nicks? Silvers? The board? The other coaches (who report to Nicks?). Anyone else I forgot?

Taking disciplinary action against a player is normally decided by both coaching and leadership groups. That's standard at all AFL clubs.

I'm sure Nicks agreed, but it would have been discussed and decided more widely than that, unless we think our club acts differently to other clubs.