Crows coach tackles job speculation as fans face own finals challenges
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks won a standing ovation and Tex took a journo to task after the Crows finals win on the weekend. Now fans have their own challenges ahead.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks insists there were no coaching future discussions with club hierarchy before his drought-breaking finals win on Saturday night.
Nicks banked the Crows’ first playoff win since 2017 with a stirring 22-point elimination final triumph against the Western Bulldogs in front of a packed Adelaide Oval – he later told journalists the topic of his contract had not come up before the game despite reports he faced the axe.
Today, Crows fans are facing their own challenges as airfares and accomodation costs surge in the wake of the weekend win. Return airfares and accommodation to the first Crows’ final away since 2017 – and the first one in Brisbane since 2003 – are setting supporters back well over $1000.
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The victory was Nicks’ first finals win in his seventh year at the helm and came amid reports he could be sacked if Adelaide lost the game.
Nicks spoke with Crows chairman John Olsen and chief executive Tim Silvers in the wake of the speculation, but said his contract was not one of their topics.
“I’m contracted into next year,” he said after Adelaide’s 14.6 (90) to 9.14 (68) win over the Bulldogs.
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“We didn’t have a conversation about my contract or any of that.
“There wasn’t a need for a conversation anything out of the ordinary that we wouldn’t normally have.”
Nicks, whose Crows travel to play Brisbane in a semi-final next Saturday night, said he understood the nature of the speculation.
And he said relief was not the correct word to describe his mood after the Crows booted the last four goals of the elimination final to down the Dogs.
Adelaide held a 19-point lead at three quarter-time but the Bulldogs hit the front by one point some eight minutes into the final term.
“The question was asked. We answered it,” Nicks said.
“Relief is not the right word.
“It’s more reinforcing the belief that I have in them (his players) and we have in them as a coaching group.
“We believe in them. They just need to believe in themselves – and you get that through moments like tonight.”
Champion forward Taylor Walker made his own feelings known after the game, taking reporter Tom Morris to task about his report earlier in the week that questioned Nicks’ future.
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“Just so grateful for the opportunity this footy club gave me,” Walker said about it being his last game at Adelaide Oval.
“But in saying that it’s not about me, it’s about this footy club and we’ve got three more games to go. Much to your disgust.”
Morris responded by saying “No, I’m happy for you.”
But Walker backed it up with smile on his face saying “Nicksy will be here, don’t you worry about that. We answered the critics, didn’t we? Really, really stoked, mate. That was awesome.”
Crows by the numbers
It was a mighty effort in the backlines, with the Crows Josh Worrell delivering a record-breaking defensive masterclass to help Adelaide defend 61 inside 50s from the Western Bulldogs.
Worrell finished with an AFL finals record 19 interceptions alongside a career-high 34 disposals and 10 marks. The previous record was 16, set by Melbourne’s Stevem May in the 2022 qualifying final.
All-Australian half-back Wayne Milera also starred for the Crows, with 27 disposals at a remarkable 100 per cent efficiency as well as an equal team-high seven score involvements.
And leading goalkicker Josh Rachele added three goals and two points to his tally with a particularly damaging second quarter.
Taylor Walker played his last game at Adelaide Oval, kicking one crucial goal in the final quarter to take his total score at the venue to 319.198.
His career total is now 713, five behind St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt who is ranked 25th in VFL/AFL history.
Izak Rankine clocked more than 30 disposals for the fourth consecutive game, finishing with 34, seven clearances and two goals, including one of the most amazing snap shots of the season.
Rankine was one of six Crows playing their first final, along with Lachlan McAndrew, James Borlase, Hugo Hall-Kahan, Brayden Cook and Luke Nankervis.
Darcy Fogarty had seven score involvements including two goals.
– with AAP
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