Opinion Matthew Nicks: Adelaide's Coach

[Gtowncrow]

Disagree with that this year. I think our “worst” as a midfield was what stood out. Playing well and then giving up 5,7,9 straight goals and not able to stop it

With Dawson, Soligo, Schoenberg, Rachele and Pedlar through there at times with Milera, Hinge and Smith running through from the back half our midfield was pretty good. It was the goal runs (and our goalkicking) that killed us


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I feel that an in form Crouch improves our resilience against the goal runs against. Even Sloane has a role in this.

However, Nicks needs to identify the problem early to switch from offensive play to defensive plans until the oppo lose their momentum. We can then go back to our "plan A".

I'd also like to see ROB have a method where a defensive mind set allows us to neutralise stoppages, once again, until the oppo momentum has been nullified.

Probably easier said than done but I feel we have the cattle for this if coached and utilised.

 

[1970crow]

2020 Spoon 3W 14L
2021 15th 7W 15L
2022 14th 8W 14L
2023 10th 11W 12L

2024... Minimum top 6 H&A finish and Win a final.
I hope we go undefeated for the whole season.

Imagine missing out on finals again?

it's important to remember he took over a team that had just finished 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses and run by a toxic coaching/management group. It's taken him 4 years to get back to that point. Less the toxicity.

 

[rabidcrow]

it's important to remember he took over a team that had just finished 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses and run by a toxic coaching/management group. It's taken him 4 years to get back to that point. Less the toxicity.

With a much younger squad. So better positioned for further growth


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[Milo Cyrus]

it's important to remember he took over a team that had just finished 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses and run by a toxic coaching/management group. It's taken him 4 years to get back to that point. Less the toxicity.

He can't keep hiding behind excuses forever. Needs to find a way next season and get it done or he should be moved on at the end of next season.

 

[kirky]

it's important to remember he took over a team that had just finished 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses and run by a toxic coaching/management group. It's taken him 4 years to get back to that point. Less the toxicity.

Yes, from Round 24 2019 we have only 8 players in the side that played in Round 24 2023 - Walker, Crouch, Laird, Sloane, Smith, Milera and Fogarty. It actually is 7 but the 8th player is Jones (who didn’t play in the last few rounds due to injury).

We have undergone a rebuild and to imply we have gone nowhere over the past 4 years is disingenuous. Our average age rank was 2nd oldest in 2019 whereas now it is equal second youngest in 2023.

 

[CrowMike]

Wonder if Nicks was at the G yesterday?

 

[jackster83]

With a much younger squad. So better positioned for further growth


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Being young is no guarantee of future performance though.

 

[rabidcrow]

Being young is no guarantee of future performance though.

No it’s not. But we would be very unfortunate if all of Pedlar Rachele Rankine Max Thilthorpe Jones go backwards next year. There should be some growth there


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[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

How are we going to balance our list?

McAdam and possibly Doedee going out this year. Perhaps we get players in for them rather than picks?

Possibly all of Sloane, Smith and maybe Walker go at the end of next season. Replaced by draftees?

Would we target some mature-agers? Even some in their twilight years

 

[1970crow]

No it’s not. But we would be very unfortunate if all of Pedlar Rachele Rankine Max Thilthorpe Jones go backwards next year. There should be some growth there


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Pedlar could become a genuine a-grader. Rachele I worry re his tank. Rankine I worry has plateaued because we’ve locked him into a small forward role. Max I have extremely high hopes for. TT worries me with hunger for the contest, but it does take a bit of time to build the anaerobic strength for key forward/back up Rick roles. Jones will absolutely go backwards, will miss a heap of the season but hopefully he’s back to where he left off at the beginning of 2025.

 

[1970crow]

How are we going to balance our list?

McAdam and possibly Doedee going out this year. Perhaps we get players in for them rather than picks?

Possibly all of Sloane, Smith and maybe Walker go at the end of next season. Replaced by draftees?

Would we target some mature-agers? Even some in their twilight years

I think we’re ok, I wouldn’t trade anyone in unless they’re high end or at least in the first dozen picked.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I think we’re ok, I wouldn’t trade anyone in unless they’re high end or at least in the first dozen picked.

We'll just stay very young which will excuse not making finals indefinitely

 

[Milo Cyrus]

We'll just stay very young which will excuse not making finals indefinitely

The time for excuses has passed, if anyone offers excuses from here then they should be shot out of the cannon too!

 

[Gtowncrow]

No it’s not. But we would be very unfortunate if all of Pedlar Rachele Rankine Max Thilthorpe Jones go backwards next year. There should be some growth there


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And and and don't forget that Rory said the second year after an ACL is where things really improve.

 

[Soggy2112]

it's important to remember he took over a team that had just finished 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses and run by a toxic coaching/management group. It's taken him 4 years to get back to that point. Less the toxicity.

You’re comparing apples and oranges though.

Our 2019 list was the third most experienced, and second oldest.

Now it’s the 17th most experienced and 16th oldest.

 

[rabidcrow]

https://fb.watch/nrvrGDW-0U/?mibextid=UVffzb

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[Interloperer]

Less the toxicity.

That's probably true. But only on statistical probability, because it was so terrible at the end of 2019 it would be hard to be worse.

There's little actual evidence either way for the current 'toxicity' state of the club.

 

[Soggy2112]

That's probably true. But only on statistical probability, because it was so terrible at the end of 2019 it would be hard to be worse.

There's little actual evidence either way for the current 'toxicity' state of the club.

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Player retention is significantly better. That’s evidence of improved culture IMO.

 

[Golumless]

Player retention is significantly better. That’s evidence of improved culture IMO.

More important - we've started attracting top tier players.

 

[Soggy2112]

More important - we've started attracting top tier players.

Absolutely, although IMO retaining the high-end talent you draft is more important than poaching top tier players.

Getting both simultaneously is nice though.

 

[Scorpus]

B&F votes this year are very concerning for the coaching group's judgement

 

[adelaidecrows]

B&F votes this year are very concerning for the coaching group's judgement

Just another thing to add to the list that is becoming very long.

 

[cleanhands]

B&F votes this year are very concerning for the coaching group's judgement

makes it clearer to me in regards to some of our selections

 

[jenny61_99]

B&F votes this year are very concerning for the coaching group's judgement

Why, because they don’t agree with you?

 

[George CantStandYa]

Why, because they don’t agree with you?

Because they are silly.

Do you think Murphy should have finished so high and only 7 behind Tex? What about Murray voting so poorly?

Sloanes form declined as represented in the voting, we don’t drop him but give him key midfield minutes. Then they support re-signing him.

Put the pom poms down Jenny and think.