Dual Adelaide coach Malcolm Blight says new coach Matthew Nicks should set club’s leadership/culture
Why Malcolm Blight says now is the perfect time for new coach Matthew Nicks to set Adelaide’s leadership and culture agenda.
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AFL legend Malcolm Blight believes new Adelaide boss Matthew Nicks should dictate the club’s leadership and culture while inspiring a list capable of stunning rivals in September.
Adelaide is yet to appoint a head of leadership and culture despite being a key recommendation of Jason Dunstall’s independent football department review which was submitted in early October.
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Dunstall’s review identified a head of leadership as vital to tackling a culture of ‘self survival’ among players but dual Crows premiership coach Blight says that is Nicks’ No. 1 priority.
“In my opinion, I reckon that is the senior coach’s role as much as anyone. Jason can have an opinion of his own but having been in charge as a senior coach I think that is the probably the most important role you do,” Blight told The Advertiser.
“Sure there is tactics and skill but you have to set the parameters. Hopefully the senior players follow suit and everyone is on the same page.
“It is a tough business, you have a six per cent chance of winning the damn thing.
“If someone else wants to do it that is fine but my opinion is leave it to beaver.”
Blight says Nicks’ impact at West Lakes has been so profound that outsourcing leadership and cultural responsibility isn’t required.
“I just think the whole verve and vitality with Matthew Nicks, you just know it relieves everyone and they just get back to enjoying themselves and their company,” said Blight, who is auctioning his signed and framed 1925-2000 Brownlow Medallists photo until Monday at Lloydsonline to raise money for bushfire victims.
“Hopefully everyone is on the same page. It is a tough business, you have a six per cent chance of winning the damn thing. If someone else wants to do it that is fine but my opinion is leave it to beaver,” said Blight.
Rory Sloane will be Nicks’ sole skipper notes Blight, saying: “It looks like it is going to go that way.”
Adelaide slid to 11th in the final year of former coach Don Pyke’s tenure but Blight predicts a swift rebound to finals under 175-game Sydney star Nicks.
“I think the Crows are still a chance and have put them eighth in my predictions. I honestly think they can sit at the bottom of the eight and who knows what can happen from there,” Blight said.
Blight sees similarities with the feeling and emerging talent at West Lakes that accompanied his first year as Crows boss in 1997 when Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards, Andrew McLeod and Mark Ricciuto turned into premiership princes.
Midfielders – Ned McHenry and No. 9 draft pick Chayce Jones – have impressed the ‘Messiah’.
“There are seven or eight A-graders in that team, the kids are coming. Are McHenry, Chayce Jones the blokes that sprout because there is room for them? They will get their chance, be very hungry kids.
“Would you have known Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards, Andrew McLeod and even Mark Ricciuto would sprout like they did into fantastic long term players.”
Originally published as Dual Adelaide coach Malcolm Blight says new coach Matthew Nicks should set club’s leadership/culture
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