Nick: Contested ball drop-off a ‘mindset’ issue as Brodie Smith in doubt for North Melbourne clash

The Crows are less likely to blood hyped youngster Billy Dowling in Tasmania as coach Matthew Nicks said the drop-off in contested ball numbers was a “mindset” issue.

Matt Crouch is set to return for the Crows. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Adelaide’s contested football drop-off early in games is a mindset issue, according to coach Matthew Nicks.

Starts have been a problem all season for the Crows, who have kicked just 14 goals in first quarters and trailed at half-time in each of their six matches.

After last Friday night’s three-point home defeat to Essendon, Nicks described Adelaide’s opening as “slow”, “reactive” and “off”, but did not have immediate answers as to why.

He said on Wednesday that the team might have lost a little sight of the importance of contested footy while trying to improve in other areas, including its polish.

Matt Crouch is set to return for the Crows. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“Sometimes when you’re under pressure and performances aren’t where you need to be ... you can stray a little bit from your values,” Nicks said of the 1-5 Crows.

“We’ve dropped off in an area we’ve prided ourselves on for years.

“Essendon came and brought an edge … we knew it was coming and we didn’t match it.

“We pride ourselves on contest and we haven’t been bringing it of late.

“There’s no doubt it’s a mental issue and one we’ve got to get right.”

Adelaide looks likely to make at least two changes for Saturday’s clash against bottom-placed North Melbourne in Hobart.

Midfielder Matt Crouch (suspension) will replace Sam Berry (foot) and veteran Brodie Smith (back tightness) is expected to miss the game after not training on Wednesday.

Key defender James Borlase appears well placed to hold his spot even if Jordon Butts (hamstring) is available from a one-match absence.

Goalsneak Lachie Murphy (knee), who has been sidelined since round 3, seems unlikely to play at AFL level this week.

Butts, Murphy, forward Lachlan Gollant and untried midfielder Billy Dowling trained with the B team in match simulation.

Forward/midfielder Luke Pedlar could be in line for a recall after lining up with the As.

The 15th-placed Crows head into Saturday’s match a long way off the internal and outside expectations of the club as a 2024 finals contender.

Asked if his side had been too focused on outcome over process this year, Nicks said it had not been intentional but as a younger group the team had not quite struck the right balance.

“The expectation is irrelevant if we get the process right,” he said.

Nicks praised his inexperienced backline, including the likes of Mark Keane and Josh Worrell, for keeping his team in games this season.

The Crows were smashed 62-43 in inside 50s against the Bombers, but hung in until the end.

“Our back six continue to fight, which we’re probably looking for in a few other areas at the moment, more from a consistency point of view,” Nicks said.

The Adelaide coach would not comment on GWS captain Toby Greene being banned for a collision in which he braced for contact in a marking contest.

Nicks said while he understood the AFL was prioritising player welfare, there was a fine line when it came to competing hard at the footy and unintentional collisions.

Originally published as Nick: Contested ball drop-off a ‘mindset’ issue as Brodie Smith in doubt for North Melbourne clash