Matthew Nicks shuts down questions about Matt Crouch’s future at Adelaide

A blunt Matthew Nicks wasn’t interested in talking about Matt Crouch’s future at Adelaide, describing the midfielder as ‘super important’ to the club’s future.

A blunt Matthew Nicks has refuted a report that Matt Crouch will not be offered a new contract for 2024 before shutting down questions about the topic.

A TV story this week stated that Nicks had told Crouch he would not receive an extension when his deal expired at the end of 2023 and that the 27-year-old midfielder was furious.

On Friday, Nicks denied that, saying he was extremely disappointed at the report.

He described Crouch, a 2017 All-Australian and best-and-fairest winner who had been dropped three times this season, as a required player.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Matt Crouch will not get a chance to push his case for AFL selection this week due to a SANFL bye. Picture: Getty Images

“Let me set the record straight and I won’t answer 100 questions around this,” Nicks said.

“There was a news article on Tuesday night that was incorrect.

“I have not had a conversation with Matt Crouch about his future.

“I’ve said this the whole way through, we’ve got a squad of 44 players who are all super important to what we’re doing and Matt is super important to what we’re doing.”

Pressed further about the Crouch situation, Nicks said “next one … next question”.

Crouch has played five SANFL and 11 AFL matches this season, getting omitted most recently after the round 17 loss to Hawthorn.

The Victorian is understood to be frustrated at being out of the top side but has not been told the club wants to part with him at the end of the campaign.

News Corp understands that although Crouch wants to stay at the club, he is open to a move at the end of the season for more playing opportunities.

It is still expected that he will be traded, given another season on the fringes looms at the rebuilding Crows.

Matthew Nicks didn’t want to answer questions on Crouch. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Crouch will not get a chance to push his case for AFL selection this week due to a SANFL bye.

Adelaide is 5-13 heading into Saturday night’s home clash with 12-6 Carlton.

Nicks was hopeful second-year forward Riley Thilthorpe would play despite leaving training early on Friday because of an ankle issue.

Thilthorpe rolled his ankle during a session on Wednesday and the club did not plan to take a risk with him.

“We’re reasonably confident he’ll be OK … but we won’t make that call yet,” Nicks said.

Defender Josh Worrell will play his second game on Saturday night, coming into the side for the sore Tom Doedee.

Nicks said Doedee had pushed through substantial pain over the past six to eight weeks and needed to rest.

“It may be that he doesn’t come back before the end of the year, but we’d like to think he’s right to go next week,” he said.

SA TEAMS: CROWS’ SILVER LINING IN DOEDEE BLOW

Adelaide will give another opportunity to emerging defender Josh Worrell as it prepares to face Carlton without Tom Doedee.

Doedee’s absence with soreness opens a spot for Worrell to play his second game and first since round 13 last season.

Crows head of football Adam Kelly said Doedee was being rested due to an accumulation of issues that had lingered and held him back from playing his best.

Kelly said Worrell, who was drafted with pick 28 in 2019, had worked hard and developed strongly this past year.

“A freshen up will hopefully allow Tommy to finish the season strongly,” Kelly said.

“ (Worrell) has been a consistent performer across the SANFL season and has earned this opportunity.”

Joshua Worrell will play his second game for the Crows. Picture: Morgan Sette

The Crows are 16th on the ladder with a 5-13 record going into the game, while the Blues are seventh with a 12-6 ratio.

Forward Shane McAdam was named after recovering from the corked thigh he sustained in last week’s loss to Sydney at the SCG.

One of the four emergencies, Brayden Cook, Elliott Himmelberg, Lachlan Sholl and Ben Davis, will be the medical substitute.

Tom Doedee will rest his tired body. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Port Adelaide has made three changes for its away match against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

Swingman Lachie Jones, wingman Xavier Duursma and key defender Trent McKenzie come in.

Backman Tom Clurey and midfielder Willem Drew have been omitted, while halfback Dan Houston is sidelined with concussion.

Jones missed the past three games with a hamstring injury and Duursma had not been chosen in the AFL team since round 15.

Duursma has played just seven matches at the top level this season.

Last week’s medical substitute, Riley Bonner, is unavailable due to Covid protocols.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said this week would be a huge test against a side that had won nine games in a row.

Port Adelaide’s finals chances are very slim and it is relying on teams up the ladder losing to make the top eight.

“We’ve seen Collingwood play a really strong brand of football all season … and they’re obviously challenging everyone,” Hinkley said.

“They’re a real challenge at the MCG in front of their fans.”

Not selecting Brynn Teakle means Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson will again shoulder the ruck load.

Hinkley confirmed first-choice ruckman Scott Lycett’s season was likely over.

The veteran has been sidelined since injuring his shoulder against Melbourne in round 4 and is now undergoing antibiotic treatment to fight an infection.

“It takes a little bit of time to get through that,” Hinkley said.

Drew, Clurey, Jackson Mead and Teakle are the Power’s emergencies.

Fourth-placed Collingwood is one of the form sides of the competition and boasts a 13-5 record.

SA TEAMS

COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday July 30, 1:45pm at MCG

PIES

B: Murphy, Moore, Howe

HB: Crisp, Maynard, Quaynor

C: N.Daicos, Adams, Sidebottom

HF: Elliott, Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott

F: McCreery, De Goey, Johnson

FOLL: Cox, Pendlebury, J.Daicos

I/C: Lipinski, Bianco, Noble, Ginnivan

EMG: Henry, Brown, Ruscoe, Carmichael

IN: De Goey

OUT: Mihocek (injured), Carmichael (sub)

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Burgoyne

C: Amon, Boak, Duursma

HF: Butters, Marshall, Farrell

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOLL: Finlayson, Wines, Rozee

I/C: Bergman, Georgiades, Jones, McEntee

EMG: Drew, Clurey, Mead, Teakle

IN: McKenzie, Duursma, Jones

OUT: Clurey, Drew (both omitted), Houston (injured), Bonner (HS protocol)

ADELAIDE v CARLTON

Saturday July 30, 7:30pm at Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: Worrell, Butts, Hamill

HB: Smith, Murray, Dawson

C: Hinge, Laird, Jones

HF: McAdam, Fogarty, Soligo

F: Milera, Walker, Murphy

FOLL: O’Brien, Berry, Keays

I/C: Thilthorpe, Schoenberg, McHenry, Parnell

EMG: Cook, Himmelberg, Sholl, Davis

IN: Worrell

OUT: Doedee (injured), Cook (sub)

BLUES

B: Plowman, Weitering, Docherty

HB: Newman, McGovern, Saad

C: Cottrell, Cripps, Kennedy

HF: Fisher, De Koning, Owies

F: McKay, Curnow, Durdin

FOLL: Pittonet, Walsh, Cerra

I/C: Le.Young, O’Brien, Setterfield, Motlop

EMG: Honey, Newnes, Silvagni, Dow

IN: Owies, Pittonet

OUT: Silvagni (omitted), Honey (managed), Newnes (sub)

Is Nicks really forcing Crouch out the door?

—Matt Turner

Matt Crouch remains frustrated at being out of Adelaide’s side but has not been told the club wants to part with him at season’s end.

The Crows midfielder has been dropped three times this year, raising doubts about whether he will stay at West Lakes, even though he is contracted for 2023.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks keeps stating he wants the 27-year-old to stay at the club and privately is understood to not be forcing his exit.

News Corp understands Crouch wants to stay at the club but is open to a move at the end of the season for more playing opportunities.

The 2017 All-Australian, who has been out of the AFL team since round 17, has previously said he intends to honour his contract.

He would not discuss his situation at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, telling Channel 7: “I can’t talk right now. I’ve gotta get into training, sorry.”.

Matt Crouch has endured a tough season at the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

It is still expected that Crouch will be traded, given another season on the fringes looms at the rebuilding Crows.

The Victorian could appeal to rival clubs wanting an experienced, ball-winning midfielder.

He has played five SANFL and 11 AFL matches this campaign.

Crouch was a late withdrawal from the state league last week due to a quad issue but trained on Wednesday night.

He is averaging 27.4 disposals, 4.4 clearances and four tackles at AFL level this season after missing all of last year with a nagging groin problem.

Crouch has been in and out of the twos all season. Picture: SANFL Image

He re-signed in September on a two-year deal.

Although Adelaide is deeming him a required player, it will hurt his trade value if it does otherwise.

This month Nicks said the Crows would not stand in the way of anyone in the squad wanting to leave.

After featuring in the first six matches this campaign, Crouch was dropped for the first time after the Crows’ 59-point loss to GWS in April.

Midfield balance, form, how well other on-ballers are playing and needing to work on his deficiencies are among reasons the Crows have given for his three omissions this season.

Adelaide hosts Carlton on Saturday night.