Tom Jonas says Crows have a good coach in Matthew Nicks who he will continue to catch up with as a good mate outside of footy
The catch-ups between Tom Jonas and Matthew Nicks look set to continue even now the former Power mentor has been named Adelaide’s new coach and Jonas has confirmed what everyone is saying - the Crows have a good one.
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PORT Adelaide co-captain Tom Jonas spent seven years with Matthew Nicks at Alberton and describes him as one of his good mates who he will continue to catch up with despite Nicks being named new Crows coach.
Speaking on The Lowdown Podcast this week, Jonas echoed what most who have worked with Nicks have said about the former Sydney Swan and his ability to connect with his players.
“I spent seven years with Nicksy, he was there a year before I got drafted, he was my development coach and then backline coach and he’s a good operator,” Jonas said.
“He is a great appointment and he will do a good job, I hope he goes well, I’m good mates with Nicksy and we catch up when he’s in Adelaide which will be a lot more often now.
“But he’s a great relationship builder, he thinks outside the square, he is always trying to upskill and has great enthusiasm so I think he’s a very strong appointment.”
Jonas’ co-host on The Lowdown, departing Crows midfielder Hugh Greenwood, said Nicks was already getting rave reviews from the players.
“From all reports he (Nicks) seems great, I’m still hanging out with a bunch of the boys here and they’ve all met with him and they’ve all said he’s great,” Greenwood said.
“The messaging (at his press conference) was contested footy and that’s what fans want and hopefully what they’ll get, we always say the game is won and lost at the contest so it’s a good place to start.”
Gold Coast bound Greenwood is among a raft of changes to Adelaide’s playing list this off-season along with Cameron Ellis-Yolmen (Brisbane), Eddie Betts (Carlton), Sam Jacobs (GWS), Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs), Josh Jenkins (Geelong), Andy Otten and Richard Douglas (retired).
He said his new role at the Suns would involve more midfield time.
“Basically helping out the young guys in the midfield, (long-term contract) security was a big thing and opportunity was another, I wanted to go somewhere I could contribute in a position I feel like I can influence the game the best and help the team win games of footy,” he said.
“At this stage playing more of an inside role and being a bigger body and helping out those (young and developing) guys and still being able to go forward and hit the scoreboard.
“My split (at the Crows) was 60-40 (midfield/forward) on a good day whereas it might be 70-30 or 80-20 (at Gold Coast), so not a massive change but being the fifth or sixth midfield rotation I would start and finish the quarter on the interchange (at Adelaide) so my game time was always a bit lower, so even if it’s just playing a couple more minutes here and there.
“Big Wittsy (Jarrod Witts) led the AFL in hit-outs last year so to be able to sit under him will be handy but you look at (Ben) King and (Jack) Lukosius and (Izak) Rankine, and potentially the No.1 and 2 picks it will be exciting to work with those guys.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au