The All In: The Advertiser’s footy writers have their say on some of the big questions
Hinkley or Nicks? Which Crow has the most to prove and which one will they miss the most? At Port it’s one captain or two? Our footy writers weigh into some burning questions in our new regular column ‘The All In’.
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Yes it’s November, but football is back.
While Port Adelaide has been on the track for over a week, the Crows return to West Lakes in an official capacity today and start their first pre-season under new coach Matthew Nicks.
But our insiders have told us the off-season program they were given when they left the club in September has been brutal so don’t expect them to be behind.
Pre-season also ramps up well and truly for The Advertiser’s football team with only two weeks until the national draft.
With that in mind, our team of writers has weighed into some of the big questions hovering over the Power and the Crows in our new regular column ‘The All In’.
1. Who would you rather be going into 2020, Ken Hinkley or Matthew Nicks?
Matt Turner: Nicks. He has a clean slate to build the Crows how he wants without a great deal of expectation. Ladder-wise, Adelaide didn’t bottom out but the past two years with the pre-season camp, poor on-field performances, fan anger, resignation of Don Pyke, sackings of Brett Burton and Scott Camporeale, and departures of several long-serving stars were among the club’s toughest times. By blooding youth, tweaking the game style and re-engaging with fans, Nicks can help the Crows contend again. Hinkley is under huge pressure going into 2020 and things could quickly go awry if early losses mount. He cannot afford to tread water or go backwards. And the club and supporters will not put up with it in Port’s 150th year.
Andrew Capel: Ken Hinkley. Sure, the Power coach probably needs to make the finals to keep his job but much of the club’s recent planning has revolved around 2020 and beyond. Port has stockpiled first-round draft picks in the past two years (it has selections 12 and 18 this year after hitting paydirt with Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma last year) and it is time for on-field results. The Power - in a better position to make the finals than the rebuilding Crows - has backed Hinkley in for its 150th anniversary celebrations and he should be excited at the challenge that lays ahead, despite the scrutiny he will be under.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: Matthew Nicks. Comes in with no pressure. The rumblings are still there for Hinkley and he needs to make finals to activate that trigger clause.
Reece Homfray: Line ball who has the more hair. But I’d take Nicks’ honeymoon period over the pressure cooker facing Kenny.
Jordan Pinto: Both should be excited. Nicks is starting with a clean slate at the Crows and there is plenty of natural development in each list. But Hinkley will be the one feeling the pressure if the results don’t go the Power’s way, regardless of the improvement of the young talent.
Richard Earle: Matthew Nicks. First year coach always gets a honeymoon period, can do no wrong and already has captured the imagination of the Crows fans. Whereas Hinkley must win from the outset to remain at Alberton.
Liz Walsh: 100 per cent Matthew Nicks. Fresh start, with a cleaned-out playing list and the excitement that comes with a new era. Ken Hinkley’s shoulders will be carrying the weight of expectation of the club’s 150th. If Port doesn’t start this season well, he could well be gone by the bye.
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2. Which Crows player has the most to prove to Nicks this pre-season?
Matt Turner: Bryce Gibbs. I think they all have a lot to prove to Nicks, as they jostle to impress the new coach and stake claims for round one. But Gibbs had a difficult 2019, getting dropped four times just one season after landing as a big-name signing. Can he re-establish himself, not as a star but as a regular contributing member of the Crows’ best 22? I think he can. It will be interesting to watch his year unfold.
Andrew Capel: Tyson Stengle, With star goalsneak and fan favourite Eddie Betts traded back to Carlton, Stengle - who has inherited Betts’ No. 18 jumper - will be given the chance to take over his small forward’s role. The former Tiger hasn’t been renowned as the best trainer but he would want to put his best foot forward under the new Crows coach this pre-season.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: Wayne Milera. Wasn’t allowed to settle by the coaching staff in 2019 and needs to make a midfield position his own in 2020.
Reece Homfray: Shane McAdam. Drafted as a mature-age player from Sturt last year and talent never in question but had a long way to go fitness-wise for AFL standard. Saw glimpses last season, with Eddie gone he should be pushing his case after 12 months in the system.
Jordan Pinto: Wayne Milera. He’s, arguably, the club’s most-talented player but he failed to prove he’s deserving of a full-time midfield spot - a position which his attributes suit - last year. Can he leave Nicks with no choice in 2020?
Richard Earle: Taylor Walker. Following a scathing review of club leadership, without the title of captain he needs to show he can play alongside Fogarty and not instead of the young emerging star.
Liz Walsh: David Mackay and Darcy Fogarty.
3. Which player that left Adelaide in the off-season will the Crows miss the most?
Matt Turner: Alex Keath. Only one player who left finished in the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest and that was the intercept-marking former cricketer. Yes, Tom Doedee, who is coming off a knee reconstruction, looms as a likely replacement but Keath was a breakout star of the competition during the first half of the season and he could have been very handy playing alongside Doedee had he stayed.
Andrew Capel: Eddie Betts. With Adelaide undertaking a list revamp, the time was right for him to move on but he will still leave a big hole - on and off the field. While Betts started to show his age and struggled last season, he still kicked 37 goals and brought people through the gates.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: Tempting to say Eddie Betts but Sam Jacobs departure means the Crows are dangerously short at cover in the ruck department.
Reece Homfray: Sam Jacobs. Alex Keath had the most upside of all the departures but Jacobs’ departure leaves them woefully exposed in the ruck should Reilly O’Brien go down.
Jordan Pinto: It has to be Alex Keath, at least while Tom Doedee works his way back to form. Keath took nine more intercept marks than any other Crow in 2019, despite missing four matches with a leg injury. And in those four games without Keath, Adelaide conceded 58 marks inside-50 - on average, the opposition took just 9.9 per game in the first 17 rounds.
Richard Earle: Josh Jenkins. Say what you like about him, not many blokes kicked 40 plus goals a year over the duration of their career.
Liz Walsh: Club wise, Andy Otten, A nice guy with a work ethic to back it up. Footy wise, Cam Ellis-Yolmen.
4. If you just woke up from a two-month nap and were told Don Pyke, Brett Burton and Scott Camporeale were all gone, what would your reaction be?
Matt Turner: I wouldn’t be that surprised. There were signs that things were getting stale at Adelaide following the loss to North Melbourne in April and by season’s end, it had unravelled. Under Pyke these past two years, Adelaide rarely looked like the team he led to the 2017 grand final and changes were needed.
Andrew Capel: Surprised by Pyke, who had two years to go on his contract, but not the other two. After two failed years - on and off the field - following the club’s appearance in the 2017 grand final, significant changes had to be made.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: BigFooty finally got its way.
Reece Homfray: Fair enough. But I hope a few of the players apologised as they were clearing their desks.
Jordan Pinto: Players still rule.
Richard Earle: I would think one word, camp.
Liz Walsh: Relieved.
5. Port Adelaide - one captain or two in 2020?
Matt Turner: One. I think the club will bow to tradition and supporters’ wishes by returning to a sole captain next season, and therefore bringing back the skipper wearing the number one guernsey. Is it a backflip? Yes. But I’m firmly of the belief the club shouldn’t have gone to two captains in the first place so I think they’re righting a wrong. As for who the captain will be - Tom Jonas. It will also allow Wines to worry about getting back to his best form.
Andrew Capel: I’d go for one in its 150th anniversary year - Tom Jonas. I’m certain Port would prefer one skipper next year but the question is whether it has the courage to abandon its co-captaincy model (Jonas and Ollie Wines) after just one season.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: I don’t get all the fuss why clubs like co-captains so much. Keep the fans on side and go to one.
Reece Homfray: Two. If it was what the team needed this time 12 months ago then why would it be any different now? The club had the you-know-whats to make a bold call last year now have the conviction to stand by it.
Jordan Pinto: If two is best for the playing group moving forward, don’t look back.
Richard Earle: One. Tom Jonas. Returns to natural order at Alberton in its 150th year.
Liz Walsh: One. Tom Jonas will go it alone next year.
6. Have we seen the best of Jack Watts and Charlie Dixon?
Matt Turner: I still think Dixon has a 50-goal season in him - something he has never done - so I’d say no, we haven’t in regards to him. When he is up and running, Dixon is one of the premier big forwards in the competition because he brings a lot more to the table than goals, including his unselfishness, chasing and tackling. Staying fit is obviously crucial to his chances of a strong 2020 but so is improving his marking. Put simply, he drops too many he should take. Improve that aspect of his game and goals will come. Watts will have a tough time cracking into Port’s best 22 but he has something the Power don’t have a lot of - a really good kick. He’s likely past his best but Port does not need him at his best to be valuable. It’s a cliche but like Gibbs with the Crows, he just needs to play his role.
Andrew Capel: Watts, yes, Dixon, no. If Big Charlie can stay fit - and he has done a mountain of work in the off-season - then I think he has a career-best year still in front of him. But - at age 29 - 2020 has to be it.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: Will we ever see the best of Jack Watts? I think Charlie Dixon has a little bit more to give.
Reece Homfray: No and no. We only got a glimpse of Watts at half-back before breaking his leg and it was very impressive so he’ll go back there and play better than he has as a forward. Dixon isn’t changing positions but at 29, fully fit and in a contract year I would be confident of him kicking 50 goals this season.
Jordan Pinto: We’ve seen it but just not consistently for a variety of reasons. But both can still improve.
Richard Earle: Yes, I fear injury will not allow them to fulfil their potential.
Liz Walsh: Yes. Although Jack Watts will want to use 2020 to repair his reputation, so he’ll have lots to prove.