Opinion Matthew Nicks: Adelaide's Coach (Part 3) - Re-Signed to 2027...

[Cromulant]

I’d almost blanked this out of my memory. Another stunning example of nicks poor decision making on selection. How can anyone be confident that we don’t have another worrell or two languishing in the 2s ?

I dont think weve got anyone quite that good in the 2s, but weve absolutely got players deserving of a game.

 

[Soggy2112]

Where has he admitted that ? Never heard him ever say he got something wrong. Would love a link if he did genuinely say that

I’ll try and find it, but he made a comment at the start of either last year or 2023 when asked about Rankine’s impact. Paraphrasing but he said something along the lines of “I’ve always thought if you give me 22 players who provide effort we’d win a flag, but I’m realising you need that class as well”.

 

[FR0GGY]

Where has he admitted that ? Never heard him ever say he got something wrong. Would love a link if he did genuinely say that

He did once and it was after he subbed soligo vs Collingwood in 23

 

[Greenfinger]

I dont think weve got anyone quite that good in the 2s, but weve absolutely got players deserving of a game.

The point is we don’t know and we have a senior coach with a track record of poor judgement ( Murphy is the standout example). That is the heart of the issue with nicks

 

[NSolis]

Lol, you go on about what am I on about talking about Curtin as a defender and then go on talking about him being a defender.

We spent the beginning of his SANFL development in defence, playing on guys like McBean. If you reckon that’s good development and can refer to him now playing well on the wing in the AFL as proof we managed his development well, well I can’t help your lack of football logic.

What I'm saying is that Curtin playing a few games as a KPD in his first season doesn't mean he is going to be a KPD forever. It doesn't even mean the club thinks that's his best role at the time, or potentially his best role. But he was obviously drafted initially as a defender - just not necessarily a KPD, and also one who was a versatile player who could end up in just about any position.

The game where Curtin played on McBean was his 3rd SANFL game. In his 4th SANFL game he played all over the ground including stints in the midfield and had 31 disposals and a goal and was immediately called up to the AFL team, where he was initially played as a rebounding defender. But yeah, the plan was totally to 'waste a top 10 pick on a KPD' and never to play him in other roles.

 

[Geoffa32]

I think out coaching group is improving, but still concerned about going for the win in the last 10 minutes against good opposition.


Not ruthless enough.


I think in game tactics is improving. Murray probably influencing there. Maybe Nicks, who knows.

I have no faith in Burns and Kelly though.

 

[Cromulant]

I think out coaching group is improving, but still concerned about going for the win in the last 10 minutes against good opposition.


Not ruthless enough.


I think in game tactics is improving. Murray probably influencing there. Maybe Nicks, who knows.

I have no faith in Burns and Kelly though.

Luckily Kelly has nothing to do with anything on gameday.

It was interesting to hear Leigh Matthews comments last night when asked about what role the coaches play in the last 10 minutes of a close game... "Almost nothing except rotations, you have to hope the players are able to execute"

 

[maxlilly]

I think out coaching group is improving, but still concerned about going for the win in the last 10 minutes against good opposition.


Not ruthless enough.


I think in game tactics is improving. Murray probably influencing there. Maybe Nicks, who knows.

I have no faith in Burns and Kelly though.

I wish we did play for the win in the last ten minutes.
But it looks more like we aren't trying to lose instead, with the change of game plan in the last quarter

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I wish we did play for the win in the last ten minutes.
But it looks more like we aren't trying to lose instead, with the change of game plan in the last quarter

Prefer to put the game out of reach as we usually lose if close against the better teams.

We got lucky against the Lions.

 

[Geoffa32]

I wish we did play for the win in the last ten minutes.
But it looks more like we aren't trying to lose instead, with the change of game plan in the last quarter

Agree.

I have a genuine concern about this.

And if we win a Final Nicks reward is an extension and he does not change that mindset.

 

[Geoffa32]

Luckily Kelly has nothing to do with anything on gameday.

It was interesting to hear Leigh Matthews comments last night when asked about what role the coaches play in the last 10 minutes of a close game... "Almost nothing except rotations, you have to hope the players are able to execute"

He does. He is in the coaches box and goes down at the breaks.

We stand in Western Stand, coaching group goes past us to get to the ground.
Matthews is correct
The last 10 minutes is on the players, but they only implement what they are taught.

 

[Slime Roy]

For those playing "Nix Boof-Head Bingo" today,
Tick "Brody Smith is going to be really important for us long term" off your card.
He was interviewed for roughly 30 seconds before dropping in that classic

 

[spenze]

Say the wheels truly fell off in the next few weeks and we finish 7th or 8th and don't win a final, or finish 9th+...

Would Rahilly come back?

I think whenever you are offered 700k for a job, it would be very, very tempting. When you look at our current list, it isn't a shambles where you need to start a rebuild, there is a strong group of players and then Murphy. If he was offered the head coaching role and I assume that is what you mean, it would be a dream job basically.

I honestly doubt they get rid of Nicks and I base that on the fact that they kept backing him in when the results were shithouse, they'll hardly kick him now...though falling to 9th (which would be a fair effort from where they are, would need Carlton like efforts to get there) would possibly have him in the crosshairs but our board is not a brave one.

 

[Velvet George]

What I'm saying is that Curtin playing a few games as a KPD in his first season doesn't mean he is going to be a KPD forever. It doesn't even mean the club thinks that's his best role at the time, or potentially his best role. But he was obviously drafted initially as a defender - just not necessarily a KPD, and also one who was a versatile player who could end up in just about any position.

The game where Curtin played on McBean was his 3rd SANFL game. In his 4th SANFL game he played all over the ground including stints in the midfield and had 31 disposals and a goal and was immediately called up to the AFL team, where he was initially played as a rebounding defender. But yeah, the plan was totally to 'waste a top 10 pick on a KPD' and never to play him in other roles.

Why play him as a KPD at all when you don’t plan on playing him as a KPD? Why expose to him a man mountain in McBean when he’s not going to play on KPF in the AFL?

Maybe the fact McBean flogged him is why we tried him elsewhere

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Why play him as a KPD at all when you don’t plan on playing him as a KPD? Why expose to him a man mountain in McBean when he’s not going to play on KPF in the AFL?

Maybe the fact McBean flogged him is why we tried him elsewhere

This has been covered previously

The Nicks apologists explained at the time that playing Curtin as a key defender was part of his development and it was a plan by the club, with long term focus on the betterment of the player.

In actual fact, we just didn't have any talls available in the SANFL that week. Curtin was tallest, so he played full back.

The very next week Butts returned from injury and Curtin moved up the field. He never revised the key defender "learning" role.

 

[NSolis]

Why play him as a KPD at all when you don’t plan on playing him as a KPD? Why expose to him a man mountain in McBean when he’s not going to play on KPF in the AFL?

Maybe the fact McBean flogged him is why we tried him elsewhere

Not sure if you're asking this as a serious question but the obvious answer is that if someone is going to be a tall defender they need to be able to defend, so it's a learning experience. As I mentioned earlier Jack Riewoldt played a bit in defence early in his career to develop his forward game, this is way less of a stretch than that.

The role I think they felt was most likely for Curtin initially was a third tall defender, similar to the role Worrell is playing for us now, maybe with more of a running/ball use element as well. There's plenty of quotes from club people saying this sort of thing, comparing him to Birchall and so on. So working on his defensive game made sense. Again, he hadn't even played a single AFL game at this point.

 

[NSolis]

This has been covered previously

The Nicks apologists explained at the time that playing Curtin as a key defender was part of his development and it was a plan by the club, with long term focus on the betterment of the player.

In actual fact, we just didn't have any talls available in the SANFL that week. Curtin was tallest, so he played full back.

The very next week Butts returned from injury and Curtin moved up the field. He never revised the key defender "learning" role.

It being a role they needed in the SANFL team is not inconsistent with it being a learning opportunity.

 

[rabidcrow]

Why play him as a KPD at all when you don’t plan on playing him as a KPD? Why expose to him a man mountain in McBean when he’s not going to play on KPF in the AFL?

Maybe the fact McBean flogged him is why we tried him elsewhere

Maybe when you have a player that versatile you try him in multiple roles?
Can anyone doubt Curtins development outcome over the past 18 months?
Or Rachele
Or Thilthorpe
Or Worrell

Despite all the handwringing on here

 

[GreyCrow]

A good day for Nicks today

Some good match ups which worked a treat

 

[Cromulant]

He does. He is in the coaches box and goes down at the breaks.

We stand in Western Stand, coaching group goes past us to get to the ground.
Matthews is correct
The last 10 minutes is on the players, but they only implement what they are taught.

Hes not a coach, hes a footy manager.

His game day influence is next to 0

 

[Cromulant]

A good day for Nicks today

Some good match ups which worked a treat

Especially when THE key matchup went down.

Hope hes not too bad

 

[rabidcrow]

This has been covered previously

The Nicks apologists explained at the time that playing Curtin as a key defender was part of his development and it was a plan by the club, with long term focus on the betterment of the player.

In actual fact, we just didn't have any talls available in the SANFL that week. Curtin was tallest, so he played full back.

The very next week Butts returned from injury and Curtin moved up the field. He never revised the key defender "learning" role.

That’s a pretty good reason to play him there then
Had played back before, one of the bigger boys left and so for team balance he played there. Makes sense

If Keane went down early today as well he might have been sent back to help the team

 

[Danger in Texas]

Our gameday tactics seem to have taken a step up this year. Whether this is Davis’ doing rather than Nicks, who knows, but it’s better to have as many smart brains in the coaching box as possible

Selection is the main thing that’s still pretty questionable, followed by late game strategies

 

[FR0GGY]

Luckily Kelly has nothing to do with anything on gameday.

It was interesting to hear Leigh Matthews comments last night when asked about what role the coaches play in the last 10 minutes of a close game... "Almost nothing except rotations, you have to hope the players are able to execute"

Well their work should at least be done pre game in training.
Collingwood train for close games and more often than not they come up trumps.

 

[FR0GGY]

A good day for Nicks today

Some good match ups which worked a treat

Yep if you just started following us you’d be impressed. Drop the perennial underperforming player/ players that won’t be here next year, bring in players in form.

Be ready for the game from the opening bounce, get a win against “a top 8 side (yes I know they’re 9th now) away from home.
What a week.