Adelaide Crows set to announce head coach as decision is made
Adelaide is likely to reveal the choice for its next head coach in the coming days — with one name the bookies’ favourite.
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Adelaide has settled on its next senior coach with Matthew Nicks heavily backed to be unveiled today at West Lakes.
Adelaide’s select coaching panel headed by Mark Ricciuto met this weekend to finalise Don Pyke’s replacement as head coach.
GWS senior assistant Nicks is rated highly for his comprehensive coaching apprenticeship and ability to connect with current players while Adelaide requires a football department rebuild.
West Adelaide export Nicks is a hot $1.30 bet to take charge at West Lakes ahead of Adem Yze at $5.
However Nicks as of midday Sunday was yet to advise GWS that he could be leaving after one season with the 2019 grand finalist.
Crows chairman Rob Chapman said a new coach could be unveiled by Monday.
“The committee is meeting again this weekend,” Chapman told the Sunday Mail. “We need a fresh set of eyes as a coach and need a fresh start.”
Collingwood senior strategist Robert Harvey was interviewed last Wednesday along with Nicks who has served as a lieutenant to Port Adelaide’s Ken Hinkley and Leon Cameron at GWS since 2011. Adelaide has also spoken to Hawthorn pair Scott Burns and Yze.
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Candidates for a director of coaching have been determined should an inexperienced head coach request support.
“It will depend on who we select and what they feel they need. We have people ready to go who we have identified who could fill that (director) role if it is required,” said Chapman with Power premiership coach Mark Williams a high profile option.
Pyke resigned during Adelaide’s football department overhaul. Senior assistant Scott Camporeale and head of football Brett Burton were dismissed to give Adelaide’s ninth head coach a blank canvas.
“With Don stepping away and a new coach coming in there were two roles of significant influence within the football department. They are the senior assistant and head of football,” said chief executive Andrew Fagan who partners Ricciuto, Phil Smyth and James Podsiadly on the Crows’ select coaching panel.
“Noting that change was required it was ‘let’s give the person the ability and best possible chance to build a department around them’, get that fresh air.”
A six-week recruiting period allowed Fagan’s panel to conduct a forensic analysis of coaching candidates.
“We have spoken to people in the industry to get a view on them, it has been an extraordinarily rigorous process. I am confident we are going to have a coach who is a good fit for the club and capable of leading a talented group,” Fagan said.
The release of Adelaide’s, independent 50-page external football review steered by Jason Dunstall — that triggered significant personnel change — should alleviate the Crows boys’ club stigma which Chapman says is unwarranted.
However, Chapman said the Crows shouldn’t discount past players including Crows assistant Martin Mattner, Melbourne supremo Simon Goodwin and Port assistant Nathan Bassett as future head coaches.
“You must make the right decision for your football club at the time. If it was thought it was someone who had played football for the Adelaide Football Club I wouldn’t hesitate to appoint that person,” Chapman said.