Preview R14: Changes vs. Hawthorn Hawks

[SLOWNE]

Thats bollocks.

Im not a Nicks fan but its incredibly dumb to say he'd rather coach an average side than win a flag.

Nicks isn't smart enough to realise what he is doing. When we win, it's because they execute his plan. Who is better at executing plans? Experienced players.

Nicks looks for players that reflect his own opinion of himself as a player. Loves the guys that train the house down, appear to be trying hard (no matter the actual output) and buy-in to his mantras. If we fail? Well that's just the players not executing his plan well enough, likely due to younger players.

You can see the direction to the SANFL coaches to extoll the virtues of the senior players at any opportunity, just in case justification is needed later to bring them back. Young guys get spoken about conditionally, "Yeah Cheddar had a great game just needs to work on some defensive KPI's".

It is sickening and the smug manner in which it is shoved down our throats is the turd on top of the crapcake.

Just heard Roo saying they've bought in Murphy for forward defensive pressure (which he doesn't provide effectively) and he's been in good form in the SANFL (playing a completely different position).

Cooked.

The fish rots from the head.

 

[Coopers]

Murray Davis doesn't look like the sort of person that would punch Matthew Nicks but he could be a silent assassin for all we know

What does an assasin look like though?
See, it's part of the craft. The trade. The "compétence d'élite".

 

[SellarStardom]

The negative responses on FB and insta are good to see, this club like many do take notice when the fans turn on them publicly

 

[Betts are off]

I feel like a couple Crows could use a good game tonight. It would be nice to see Rankine and Soligo have some increased impact. Both doing a role, but not tearing games apart much in recent games.

Also would be nice to see TT have another tentpole game for season 2025. He's been fine for the last month, but hasn't had one of those game breakers for a few rounds. Would love another one of those for him.

 

[cleanhands]

No I don’t. I’m relating to your comments on Smith v Edwards selection and even now, we didn’t have to bring Murphy in, we have other players.

It’s just so deflating seeing Murphy again, we’ll actually I won’t be seeing him

 

[weekend at bernies]

just popping my head in to see if everyone has survived?

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

There's an article in the 'Tiser today about our backline and the defense / offense debate

Bargain Backline
After the GWS game (54 to 32 win), coach Matthew Nicks

Matthew Nicks

Age

50

Ht

187cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.4

3star

was asked what satisfied him most. Kicking 20 goals and blowing sides off the park or being so stingy in victory?

"I enjoy footy as much as anyone and enjoy watching the spectacle," Nicks said after the 22-point home triumph against GWS in windy conditions on April 19.

"But from a coaching point of view, my experience would tell me you... have to be able to defend.

"There's not many teams who win a grand final who have 100 points kicked against them week in, week out."

Two months on, the third-placed Crows are having statistically their best defensive season in two decades as they look to end an eight-year finals drought.

 

[CharlieCrow]

Its probably been said here before but this selection is more than just about Murphy the player.

It is a clear statement from the selection panel that our youth policy is mostly to leave you in the SANFL for a couple of years to slog away on suburban mudpiles until an injury pops up to necessitate your inclusion.
Our first round picks usually get a straight up selection and occasionally someone has emerged to come from the clouds eg Berry and Soligo. But mostly our recruits get to slog away for a couple of years before getting their chance. Doedee and Worrell are two prime examples. In fact it seems that you get a better go if you come from the Rookie list - eg Keays, Murray, Butts and O'Brien.
Players like Edwards, Taylor, Ryan, Dowling and Bond are never really given their opportunity - perhaps with the exception of Taylor - which might entail a block of games to demonstrate their capacities and to fit in with game plans.
Certainly not like Curtin who has had a number of games running around looking lost until he has finally starting to look like the player we had hoped he would become.
From all accounts, the players I have named all seem ready to take their opportunity, but we know that probably none of them will get a real chance until next year - if at all.

This is also a clear statement that a number of players have their cards stamped. Jones and Schoenberg are superior players to Murphy and - if experience is your defining objective - would have been better selections for this game.
The experienced Sholl and Cook are also superior in skills but sadly for them, our team skill level and improved pressure game plan have gone way past what they have to offer, although I would pick both above Murphy.
Borlase and Nankervis are probably in the same bunch but they are better placed in the selector's eyes and are good depth.
All of these players, however, have a right to ask why they have not been chosen ahead of Murphy - every single one of them - even Borlase whose inclusion might initiate the release of Hinge into the midfield under the right circumstances.
I would have thought it is a clear message to most of them that they are on their last contract and should explore their options - or are only ever going to be depth.

This is also a clear statement that an element of selection is based on memory. This would explain the selection of Smith and Laird and the almost certain re-selection of Crouch when he is fit. And perhaps even the selection of Walker - although I don't see the emergence of a true replacement, given our three-headed monster theory is successful.
Laird has played well since returned to the backline - occasionally very well - but I would have liked Edwards or Ryan, or Bond in his role of stopper, to have had his opportunities. Smith kicks in well but I haven't seen anything truly warrants his inclusion. And the whole kicking in thing needs a complete revision after last week's game when it failed miserably to release the ball beyond the pack on the western boundary in the last quarter!
And Crouch has been replaced by Peatling and, to a lesser degree by Berry, and that's that!
We will never know what these young blokes can do if we continue to hang on to wringing out the last drop of game time from our past.

So its more than just poor old Murphy. Its asking way too much for him to take the blame for these structural issues.
We should expect that Balme and Davis can influence this selection culture as we move forward, but it may not happen in time to resolve what looks like a positive opportunity right now.
If no change comes then it will get Nicks in the end! He will have to take responsibility for this and if, or - more likely - when it ends in tears. It will be his fault and he will be gone, and we will have lost this generational chance chance.

 

[Jars458]

Just heard Roo saying they've bought in Murphy for forward defensive pressure (which he doesn't provide effectively) and he's been in good form in the SANFL (playing a completely different position).

Cooked.

He's a club mouthpiece who eats conflict of interest for breakfast.

 

[spenze]

Peatling out, replaced by Murph.

If only we had a midfielder who could go forward we could get games into, that'd be a high price to pay for one of those

 

[beartoo]

Its probably been said here before but this selection is more than just about Murphy the player.

It is a clear statement from the selection panel that our youth policy is mostly to leave you in the SANFL for a couple of years to slog away on suburban mudpiles until an injury pops up to necessitate your inclusion.
Our first round picks usually get a straight up selection and occasionally someone has emerged to come from the clouds eg Berry and Soligo. But mostly our recruits get to slog away for a couple of years before getting their chance. Doedee and Worrell are two prime examples. In fact it seems that you get a better go if you come from the Rookie list - eg Keays, Murray, Butts and O'Brien.
Players like Edwards, Taylor, Ryan, Dowling and Bond are never really given their opportunity - perhaps with the exception of Taylor - which might entail a block of games to demonstrate their capacities and to fit in with game plans.
Certainly not like Curtin who has had a number of games running around looking lost until he has finally starting to look like the player we had hoped he would become.
From all accounts, the players I have named all seem ready to take their opportunity, but we know that probably none of them will get a real chance until next year - if at all.

This is also a clear statement that a number of players have their cards stamped. Jones and Schoenberg are superior players to Murphy and - if experience is your defining objective - would have been better selections for this game.
The experienced Sholl and Cook are also superior in skills but sadly for them, our team skill level and improved pressure game plan have gone way past what they have to offer, although I would pick both above Murphy.
Borlase and Nankervis are probably in the same bunch but they are better placed in the selector's eyes and are good depth.
All of these players, however, have a right to ask why they have not been chosen ahead of Murphy - every single one of them - even Borlase whose inclusion might initiate the release of Hinge into the midfield under the right circumstances.
I would have thought it is a clear message to most of them that they are on their last contract and should explore their options - or are only ever going to be depth.

This is also a clear statement that an element of selection is based on memory. This would explain the selection of Smith and Laird and the almost certain re-selection of Crouch when he is fit. And perhaps even the selection of Walker - although I don't see the emergence of a true replacement, given our three-headed monster theory is successful.
Laird has played well since returned to the backline - occasionally very well - but I would have liked Edwards or Ryan, or Bond in his role of stopper, to have had his opportunities. Smith kicks in well but I haven't seen anything truly warrants his inclusion. And the whole kicking in thing needs a complete revision after last week's game when it failed miserably to release the ball beyond the pack on the western boundary in the last quarter!
And Crouch has been replaced by Peatling and, to a lesser degree by Berry, and that's that!
We will never know what these young blokes can do if we continue to hang on to wringing out the last drop of game time from our past.

So its more than just poor old Murphy. Its asking way too much for him to take the blame for these structural issues.
We should expect that Balme and Davis can influence this selection culture as we move forward, but it may not happen in time to resolve what looks like a positive opportunity right now.
If no change comes then it will get Nicks in the end! He will have to take responsibility for this and if, or - more likely - when it ends in tears. It will be his fault and he will be gone, and we will have lost this generational chance chance.

Great post, but I take issue with you about O'Brien. He served his time s in the 2s before getting the 1 ruck role gig.

 

[Crowstar]

Nicks is the campaigner.

like I am sure Murph is a great bloke and he is just copping the Mitch Marsh treatment. Can't blame him for putting his hand up for selection, he has busted his ass for 20 years to be where he is.

Nicks on the other hand can fck right off for his cowardly selection, baseless smugness and tactical ineptitude.



Sad to say our next premiership coach might not even have been born yet. A real winner has little to no chance of slipping past our incompetent board.

Amen my friend. Amen.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

7. Kicks the ball along the ground
8. Has a possession-less final quarter

In the last quarter, he is the on field player who has subbed out.

 

[Cromulant]

In the last quarter, he is the on field player who has subbed out.

We can only hope for a "brave" performance where he gets hit off the ball right next to Dawson......

 

[Slime Roy]

Isn't Murphy one innocuous incident away from complete spinal paralysis..
Is it really even worth the risk, coupled with the output we're all expecting??

 

[weekend at bernies]

Murphy selection is just further proof that Nixs doesnt have eyes on the future of our list. If he was planning on being here for years to come he would be playing youth over players who have shown time and time again they cant cut it.

 

[Afcprophet]

Honestly, what's their logic with murphy?

 

[dogs105]

Peatling out, replaced by Murph.

If only we had a midfielder who could go forward we could get games into, that'd be a high price to pay for one of those

We'd have to draft one. Probably need to be a high pick

 

[Coopers]

Isn't Murphy one innocuous incident away from complete spinal paralysis..
Is it really even worth the risk, coupled with the output we're all expecting??

There's no way that's the case, they couldn't accept the liability even if he was crazy enough to play.

He had a neck injury a couple years back, he is fine now.

 

[Slime Roy]

Honestly, what's their logic with murphy?

Cute!

 

[Slime Roy]

Murray Davis doesn't look like the sort of person that would punch Matthew Nicks but he could be a silent assassin for all we know

Rd 14 Late Out Murray Davis - Stockholm Syndrome

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Murphy is a proven failure at the top level. You know what you are going to get and it isn’t good. This is why so many don’t trust the club.

 

[Bearded Clam]

View attachment 2341201

I havent got instagram..

Can someone who has write “go and get fxxked” in response to this for me.

Ta

 

[LiquidCrow]

Honestly, what's their logic with murphy?

Hope he'll have a blinder then straight swap for NWM?

 

[SugarShane]

Man I am Nicks apologist but **** me I cant defend this.

Murphys time at the club is done, and we have wasted way too many games on him. It’s not even going a man down, Murphy actively gets in the way, fluffs up what should be goals, and other teams capitalize the other way. He doesn’t fit the synergy of the team.

If you go back and watch the Gold Coast game you will see every time he went near the ball, something bad happened. Compare that to Rankine, Rachele god even Keays these days, when they get near the ball in the forward line good stuff happens.

The other issue is we a bunch of high to medium draft picks that can’t get into the team because we don’t have many injuries. What a great opportunity for Draper, Edwards, Dowling to get them in. Who knows they might surprise with a breakout game. If not, I’d rather 10 Draper possession than 10 Murphy possessions.

It’s hard to comprehend what Nicks sees when literally every other person in Australia can see he’s not up to it.

This is the most frustrating. The arguments from the other side are "Well, no one else in the SANFL is demanding selection!!!"

Maybe so. But we don't know the ceiling of a lot of them. We absolutely, unequivocally, certainly know Murphy's ceiling and we've already seen it. We may not get more out of a Dowling or Edwards tonight, but it's hard to imagine we're going to get less.

Giving a game to Murphy tonight does nothing other than give us 12-14 ineffective possessions and take away 2.5 hours of development that could go to a player that should be a part of our future.