Crows defender Daniel Talia says age gap played a role in breakdown between players and Don Pyke
Adelaide Crows defender Daniel Talia talks about the departure of Don Pyke, speculation around star on-baller Brad Crouch’s future, captaincy aspirations and why Matthew Nicks has energised the playing group.
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Adelaide defender Daniel Talia says the age gap between the playing group and coach Don Pyke, along with “other things behind the scenes”, led to the breaking point that saw the former mentor fall on his sword.
Pyke resigned from his role at the end of last season, while the club’s internal and external review - the latter led by Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall - saw longstanding senior assistant Scott Camporeale and head of football Brett Burton stood down.
Matthew Nicks was last month installed as senior coach, opting not to fill the vacant position left by Camporeale and entrusting the remaining staff to shoulder the load, while the Crows are yet to appoint a new footy boss.
Asked by SEN SA presenter Dwayne Russell on radio last night whether he saw the “breaking point” coming - following testing 2018 and ‘19 seasons - Talia said: “yeah, I did”.
“Pykey was a great coach and he obviously took us to one game away from a flag, so an amazing effort and his record was right there,” Talia added.
“I suppose where the group fell down is guys started playing for themselves a bit.
“It only takes one or two per cent, and if you get guys going away from what the team is trying to do you start getting those cracks.
“It was a brave decision by Don to step down and a really selfless one.
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“He was a great coach and I know he wanted to do great things with our side, but it wasn’t to be.
“We’ve got quite a younger group, so I think the breakdown there, maybe the age gap and a few little other things behind the scenes contributed to that.
“So, they’ve gone another way and Nicksy seems to be that guy who’s young and fresh and can communicate well with the guys.
“It’ll be interesting to see how we go.”
Talia, 28, who became a dad in September after his wife Megan gave birth to their daughter Ivy, said while Adelaide’s first to fourth year players returned to training yesterday, he won’t be back on the track until Monday.
He added the coaching and list changes - which has seen veteran star Eddie Betts, Hugh Greenwood, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Alex Keath and Josh Jenkins depart the club - had reinvigorated the playing group.
The dual All Australian defender also backed reigning club best and fairest winner Brad Crouch - who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of next season - to stay at West Lakes beyond 2020, despite being courted by St Kilda and Gold Coast.
“He’s a ripper and I’m sure he’ll be around for a long time,” Talia said.
“The position our club was in at the end of last year, we’re sort of rejuvenating the list and getting rid of old guys, Brad probably and his manager just wanted to know where he stood.
“He’d come off a career best year, and of course the manager doing his job is going to ask around.
“So I think the fans are starting to be aware of that, and as players you certainly are.”
Talia, who has previously been touted as captain material, has yet to skipper the club on gameday - an honour team-mates Matt Crouch and Tom Lynch have enjoyed previously in the absence of Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker.
He said he’d welcome the opportunity should it ever arise, and also intends to put his hat in the ring for the vice captaincy in 2020.
“There’s always been someone ahead of me,” he said.
“I’ve led the backline and whatever else, it just hasn’t fallen that I’ve captained the team on a day.
“But if it happens one day it would be amazing.”