Glenelg coach Mark Stone should be candidate for Crows assistant role under Matthew Nicks
Glenelg coach Mark Stone masterminded the club’s first premiership in 33 years. And he could be a brilliant addition to new Crows coach Matthew Nicks’ team.
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Contacting Glenelg coach Mark Stone should be among new Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks’ phone calls in the next day or two.
There is no doubt he could do much worse than have a chat to the bloke who worked his magic masterminding the Tigers’ charge to premiership glory in just his second season in charge.
But the offer would need to be substantial to prise Stone away from the Bay oval after what he has been able to achieve.
Stone has worked in the AFL system with West Coast, Sydney and Fremantle and has openly said he has aspirations to return to the national competition.
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Not as a line coach though, he has been there and done that. He wants the head role or be senior assistant. What he has enjoyed for the past two years is being in control of his own team.
The Crows have a vacancy sign on the offices of head of football and senior assistant. Would head of football appeal to Stone? Doubtful considering he thrives on the hands-on involvement and challenging his football nous in the coaching box. So he might be content to sit in the senior assistant’s chair.
The Tigers’ players will be devastated if he leaves. And for a significant reason which should make him appealing to the Crows.
The players love him, they were devoted to his message and methods, and he a terrific teacher.
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said the club wanted the new head of football person appointed as “soon as we can”.
“That process is under way and it’s great to have Nicksy in the seat, because it’s an important relationship that he will have with that person,” Fagan said.
Nicks has chatted with his assistants on the phone and they will “get together” before the players return to discuss what structure works best.
“I’m really open to them, they’re a really good bunch of coaches so I’ll take on board anything they’ve got and try to blend it together,” Nicks said.
Nicks also said there may be opportunities for other people to be introduced into the system.
“I have worked alongside some fantastic operators in the coaching space and learnt from a lot of them, but that will be discussions Andrew and I will have going forward,” he said.