Adelaide Crows 2021 outlook: Can Matthew Nicks’ men bounce back from worst season in club’s history?

Riley Thilthorpe headlined a bumper SA-flavoured draft crop for Adelaide. But how much impact can these youngsters make next season?

Simeon Thomas-Wilson

@Simeon_TW

4 min read

January 5, 2021 - 5:30AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Can new Crows draftees Luke Pedlar, Riley Thilthorpe and Brayden Cook take the club forward in 2021? Picture: Mark Brake

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The only way is up for the Adelaide Crows, right?

After a horror season like no other in its history, the Crows have rejuvenated the list with a smorgasbord of young draft picks the club hopes will be part of the playing group that will lead it to renewed success.

Fans should prepare for short term pain for long term gain, but they’re just looking for a sign.

INS: Jackson Hately (GWS), Riley Thilthorpe, Luke Pedlar, Brayden Cook, Sam Berry, James Rowe (draft), James Borlace, Tariek Newchurch (Category B rookies).

OUTS: Brad Crouch (St Kilda), Bryce Gibbs (retired), Kyle Hartigan (Hawthorn), Rory Atkins (Gold Coast), Riley Knight, Patrick Wilson, Ayce Taylor, Jordan Gallucci, Myles Poholke, Ben Crocker (all delisted)

Matthew Nicks had a baptism of fire in his first year in charge of Adelaide. Picture: Kelly Barnes

COACH STATUS

The Crows fans were certainly aware Matthew Nicks had a big job ahead of him in 2020 and, after a dire start, would have been buoyed by the way they ended the year with some wins after being beaten from pillar to post for much of the season.

The fans will need to continue to be patient in the rebuild, but will hope to see some more progress made in 2021.

Brodie Smith is responsible for generating a lot of the Crows’ run and carry. Picture: Sarah Reed

GAME PLAN

It took a while for Crows and AFL fans to see Nicks’ game plan in action given how poor Adelaide were for much of the season.

But in their good run home the Crows showed plenty of run and carry off halfback while also actually winning the contest rather than getting smashed at it.

Adelaide was also able to take the game on a lot more in the closing stages of the season. Nicks will be looking for his side to do this on more occasions in 2021.

Having sorted that out the Crows will need to work on becoming a much more potent attacking force, an area where they seriously struggled in 2020.

New assistant coach James Rahilly has come from Geelong and Nicks will be hoping he can give the blunt Crows attack some form of edge.

Former Giant Jackson Hately will wear the tricolours in 2021 and be a huge addition to the team’s midfield rotation. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

TRADE TABLE REPORT

Tried to bluff St Kilda on Brad Crouch in an attempt to get Pick No.2 as compensation and failed.

But this was made up for by the Giants not taking pick 40 for Hately, who the Crows will get for nothing via the pre-season draft.

Hately looms as an immediate replacement for Crouch but is also a leader and of good character, which Nicks has put at a premium in his Crows rebuild.

Bryce Gibbs retiring, Kyle Hartigan going to Hawthorn and Rory Atkins to the Suns should give more youngsters a chance in the rebuild.

The Crows also secured a future second-round pick from Melbourne, with an eye on the 2021 national draft — with next year’s South Australian talent rated highly.

As the highest draft pick in the club’s history, Riley Thilthorpe will have all eyes on him when he makes his debut. Picture: Getty Images

THEIR 2020 DRAFT HAUL

No.2 pick Riley Thilthorpe stands at 200cm and can run like the wind and will add to an Adelaide forward line that struggled in 2020 and provide support for Reilly O’Brien in the ruck.

But it might be the Crows’ last selection of the draft who could have the biggest impact early on.

James Rowe shone in the SANFL and with Tyson Stengle again in trouble off-field, don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old small forward finds himself in Adelaide’s Round 1 side after a pre-season in an AFL system.

Luke Pedlar will provide grunt to the Crows midfield whenever he gets his chance, while Sam Berry is a tackling monster and could get a go early on.

Brayden Cook could also carve an opening in the Crows forward line if it again fails to fire.

Could Darcy Fogarty reinvent himself as a big-bodied midfielder? Picture: Kelly Barnes

PLAYERS THEY CAN REINVENT

Rory Laird’s move to full-time midfielder resulted in the Crows turning things around and Crouch’s departure opens up another spot in the engine-room.

Hately should get plenty of minutes in there but do the Crows decide to look at making Darcy Fogarty a pinch-hitting midfielder for him to realise his talent?

Lachlan Sholl was moved to the wing with great results while youngster Chayce Jones also played on the outside after some time on ball and forward.

Wayne Milera will be hoping to spend less time on the sidelines injured and more time winning games for Adelaide next season. Picture: AAP

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Wayne Milera struck gold last year, signing a five-year deal before COVID-19 hit, but then was struck down with a foot injury for much of the season.

Previous Crows senior coach Don Pyke seemed to not know Milera’s best position, flicking him forward, back and through the midfield at times.

When he first got the Crows job Nicks said he saw Milera as a midfielder, providing some quality with his speed and skill.

Former Adelaide senior assistant Scott Camporeale says he will be like a new recruit for the Crows in 2021 as he seeks to show just why the Crows rated him so highly.

Fogarty also needs a big pre-season ahead of the 2021 season after first getting injured and then dropped by Nicks after his fitness wasn’t up to scratch.

With Taylor Walker’s final season looking likely to come in 2021 Fogarty will need to show that he can be the one to replace Tex and be a key part of the Crows forward line for years to come.