AFL 2021: Latest Adelaide Crows pre-season news ahead of the 2022 season
After two years at the helm, Adelaide likes what it sees from coach Matthew Nicks. So much so, that is has set in motion plans to extend his contract beyond next season.
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Adelaide has begun talks with coach Matthew Nicks over a contract extension and hopes to re-sign him this summer.
Nicks is set to enter the last season of his initial three-year deal, having helped steer the club’s rebuild after the departure of 2017 grand final coach Don Pyke.
The Crows finished bottom with a 3-14 record in Nicks’s first campaign, before improving to 15th (7-5) this year, netting wins against premier Melbourne and preliminary finalist Geelong.
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Adelaide chief executive Tim Silvers told News Corp the club had begun contract discussions with Nicks and his management over the past month, impressed by his time at West Lakes.
Asked if the club expected to announce a contract extension over summer, Silvers said “I’d like to think so”.
“These things can take time but we’ve started discussions and we’ve shown our intent,” Silvers said.
“Matty is an outstanding, great leader and has genuine buy-in from the group.
“I look forward to him being a long-term coach for the club.”
Silvers said the club expected to build on its seven wins next season.
“I feel like we played a brand of footy our members and fans can be proud of,” he said, reflecting on 2021.
“Our expectation is that improvement continues.
“With some older veterans bowing out, we’re still going to potentially be one of the youngest clubs in the competition so there might be some ups and downs.
“But we’re developing our club to play a style of footy that will be strong in finals.”
Silvers spent 17 years at Hawthorn, rising from payroll manager to chief operating officer, before joining the Crows in March to replace Andrew Fagan.
The Adelaide boss said he saw similarities to the Hawks’ rebuild under coach Alastair Clarkson that culminated with flags in 2008 and 2013-15, notably an influx of high draftees.
Last December the Crows picked Riley Thilthorpe (No.2), Luke Pedlar (11), Brayden Cook (25) and Sam Berry (28) inside the top 30.
A year earlier, it was Fischer McAsey (6), Harry Schoenberg (24) and Josh Worrell (28).
“We’ve got big groups of players that we drafted together … and that became the nucleus of a premiership side for Hawthorn for many years,” Silvers said.
“I don’t want to put that sort of pressure on our club but what I do see is we’ve drafted some genuine, elite talent.
“Our next challenge is to develop them and make them elite AFL footballers.”
Crows reveal Tex’s shock reintegration date
Taylor Walker will return to the Crows for day one of pre-season next Wednesday — more than a month ahead of when he is required — as he makes his return from his racial vilification scandal.
The former captain finished last season away from the club after receiving a six-game AFL ban in August for making a racist slur to North Adelaide player Robbie Young.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said he caught up with Walker this week and the former captain was in a really good space, “training the house down” in anticipation for the upcoming pre-season, starting on Wednesday.
Nicks was confident the squad was ready for Walker to be reintegrated.
“I don’t think there’s a player more keen to get back and train with the group,” Nicks said.
“Tex isn’t required back officially until after Christmas but he’ll be there Wednesday.
“He’s been there right throughout this off-season training with our players — we’ve had up to 15 to 20 of them doing sessions together and he’s been a big part of that.
“I’m really confident with the work that Tex has done and the work that everyone’s done that we’re going to see a really positive return from him.
“He just wants to get his teeth back into footy again.
“I know that (enthusiasm) will be met by the rest of the playing group.”
Nicks was emotional when he spoke at a press conference in the days after Walker’s ban, calling his slur completely unacceptable and something he would not stand for as a coach.
On Thursday, he said it did not take long to feel comfortable with Walker again.
“The key to that was sitting down together and opening up,” he said.
“The support was there and the support will be there ongoing.”
At his first press conference since Adelaide’s season ended in 15th spot with a 7-15 record, Nicks also said:
■ None of his players hesitated in getting the Covid vaccine, which the AFL had made mandatory to play and train. “Everyone’s had their first vax to this point, a couple of players are still to have their second. As a footy club we encourage everyone to be vaccinated,” he said.
■ The club viewed Sydney recruit Jordan Dawson as someone who could play as an inside and outside midfielder. “Jordy’s preference is to really get his teeth into the game and into the midfield,” Nicks said. “Really his weapon is his ability to use the ball on the outside.”
■ Adelaide wanted to add speed and power to its list at next week’s draft, where it had picks 4, 33, 75 and 80. “The game seems to be trending that way and we saw that as recently as the grand final,” Nicks said, referring to Melbourne’s 74-point premiership win.
■ Matt Crouch’s latest groin surgery would probably set him back a week and there was no rush for him to return. Crouch did not play this season due to hip and groin issues. “The initial five minutes before I spoke to him, I was quite concerned,” Nicks said. “But Matty’s got 20-odd weeks before Round 1. He’s a very important part of our side. This small incident is not going to be a big thing in his comeback.”
Nicks was speaking at Fulham Hungry Jack’s as the Crows announced the fast-food company as a principal partner for the next four years.
From 2022, whenever Adelaide players kick goals from beyond 50m, fans will receive a free whopper.
“We’re working on kicking goals from outside 50,” Nicks said.
“Brodie (Smith) does that every week … and I know Paul Seedsman is pretty keen for you to talk about him as well.
“I think it will be a good one (concept) to look forward to on game day.”
Sloane: Playing group can’t wait for Tex’s return
Adelaide captain Rory Sloane is confident Taylor Walker will “slot in seamlessly” into the playing group when the Crows start pre-season.
Walker was banned for six games in August after he was found guilty of making a racial slur towards now ex-North Adelaide player Robbie Young at a SANFL game.
He took leave from the Crows following the sanction, which included a $20,000 fine and an order to undertake education, but did attend Adelaide’s Club Champion award in September.
First to four year players are due back for pre-season training at the end of this month, and older players in early December.
Sloane told The Advertiser Walker had done a lot of work in the off-season to repair relationships.
“He has been catching up with all our players. He has spent a lot of time with our group,” he said.
“He will slot in seamlessly I reckon, it will be great to have him back. I know the boys have missed him.
“And he’s looking fit and firing too. He’s had a good break and gotten away and had some good family time as well which I think was important for him.
“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into pre-season with him because he is an incredible leader.”
Last month Walker was part of a trip to Port Augusta by the Crows Indigenous program, which was separate to the education he has to undertake as part of the sanction.
The visit by the Crows players included community work and a cultural experience.
Sloane said Walker had taken a lot out of the trip.
“He loved the trip up to Port Augusta,” he said.
“He spoke very highly about getting out to regional areas like that and he has encouraged everyone to do.”
Sloane spoke to The Advertiser at South Australia’s Ronald McDonald House ahead of the charities’ largest annual fundraiser – McHappy Day which is on Saturday.
This year’s is the 30th anniversary of McHappy Day, which raises vital funds to keep Australian families of seriously ill and injured children together in their time of need.
Sloane met and played with kids and families who are using the House’s facilities while their children undergo treatment in Adelaide – 100kms away from where they live.
“It is pretty incredible to see what Ronald McDonald House can do,” he said.
“It is a complete life change for those affected so to be able to have these facilities available for families, it would mean the world to them.”
One family who is extremely grateful for the facilities available at Ronald McDonald House is Aimme Hutchesson and 14-year-old son Cooper from Mt Gambier.
Cooper, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in February this year.
They haven’t been back to Mt Gambier since and had to go to Sydney in May for a bone-marrow transplant.
“I don’t know where we would be without the place, it has been wonderful,” she said.
“The staff have been lovely and just a real help.”
As part of McHappy Day $2 from every Big Mac sold will go directly to the charity, while $2, $10 or $50 Helping Hands and $5 Silly Socks will be available at McDonald’s restaurants while donations will also be accepted.
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Originally published as AFL 2021: Latest Adelaide Crows pre-season news ahead of the 2022 season
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