Crows coach Matthew Nicks goes online to keep his players engaged and vows: ‘We’ll get through this’

First-year Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks says he and his players are using a variety of online tools to keep in contact with one another while separated during the coronavirus outbreak.

TOUGH TIMES: Crows coach Matthew Nicks during the club’s Marsh Community Series clash against Gold Coast. Picture: Sarah Reed

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New Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has vowed to “stay connected’’ to his players during the coronavirus crisis to help them deal with isolation and stop them from spiralling into an abyss.

Renowned people person Nicks, whose AFL senior coaching career has been halted after just one game as the country deals with the COVID-19 outbreak, said he had turned to “online tools’’ to keep his players engaged.

“We’re doing what we can at the moment with our playing group, using WhatsApp, online tools to stay connected,’’ Nicks said.

“We’re studying vision from games just to stay engaged, to give our guys something to do rather than be sitting on their own and thinking too much.

“It’s about staying together as much as we can, using online tools, and hopefully that helps our players going forward.’’

Nicks has walked into a freak situation in his first year in charge but said he was up for the challenge, albeit a unique one.

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Matthew Nicks (centre) walks back to the coaches box after the halftime break during his first game as coach, against Sydney. Picture: Sarah Reed

“The norm for us is to bond and come together, we’re stronger as one, that seems to be how sport has gone about things in tough times and crises,’’ he told SEN in a coaches link-up.

“The Adelaide Football Club has had a really tough four or five years off the field especially, they’ve gone through a helluva lot and have come together and become stronger.

“This is an unusual situation we find ourselves in now because of the inability to get together and grieve together about where we’re at.

“I think what it does do though is force us to think a little bit more about what’s important in life.

“I’ve had some fantastic conversations with players and staff around when you sit back in these moments you look at life differently, your priorities, certain things.

“You can find yourself cruising through life with probably the wrong priorities at times and when footy’s not here you realise what’s really important to you, and that’s family and friendship and connecting with people.

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“It’s amazing how the world is now getting a better understanding of how much we are connected and how important it is that we look after each other.’’

Nicks said the club had prioritised its players and staff “as much as we possibly can’’.

But with no football being played – and a return date uncertain – the Crows, like most AFL clubs, have been forced to let go, temporarily at least, about 80 per cent of their staff.

“The toughest part with all of this is that even when you’re in that mode and you’re looking after your loved ones, there are some really tough calls to make along the way, that’s probably the part that I’ve found the most challenging,’’ Nicks said.

“The landscape has completely changed from a football point of view – as well as society – and even as a new coach I’m going through something that none of us (AFL coaches) have been through.

“It’s challenging times, so I’m really now just getting around loved ones, which is family as well as our playing group.’’

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Nicks and his players likely won’t train together for some time, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: AAP Image/David Marauz

Asked whether he had regretted taking on the senior coaching role now that Australia is gripped in the coronavirus crisis, the strong-minded Nicks said: “No, not at all’’.

“The challenging times are when you want to be around your group, you want to be with your family,’’ he said.

“I’ve had the luxury of spending some time with my kids, I’ve got a five, four and two-year-old, so I’ll be getting them prepared and taking my coaching frustrations out on my five-year-old son, who is going to work on his right and left foot (kick).

“I love coaching and we’ll get through this, I’ve got no doubt that as a country and an industry there’s light at the end of the tunnel, so we’ll make our way through it.

“You don’t say you’re enjoying this challenge, but it’s a challenge that I’m happy to take on and be there for my group.’’