‘We’re not quite there’: Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks laments missed opportunities in loss to Melbourne Demons

His side showed flashes of promise, but Matthew Nicks was left to rue missed opportunities culminating in another Adelaide Crows loss.

The Crows suffered their third consecutive defeat on Sunday. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has been pleased with how his team has responded on the field to the Taylor Walker racism furore, but lamented a couple of missed opportunities against premiership contenders.

In their past two games, the bottom-two Crows have tackled top-four sides Port Adelaide and Melbourne, losing to the Power by four points after controlling large portions of the game, and on Sunday going down by seven goals to the Demons, despite starting strongly and getting to within three points of their more-fancied opponents in the third quarter.

“Definitely the last two weeks we’ve found the game that we put out there earlier in the season,” Nicks said post-match in reference to their 3-1 start.

“In fact, I think we’ve been even better these last couple of weeks as far as the way we’ve connected up.

“Some of our younger players around that 20-to-21-year-old age I think have really stepped up and their game’s gone to another level, so great signs for us.

“But we’re disappointed that we don’t get the result because at times today, and coming in at three-quarter time, we feel like we are right in that game and the opportunity was there for us.

“Unfortunately we’re not quite there at this point, we don’t quite have the polish in our game and the ability to put scoreboard pressure on our opposition.”

The Crows recorded seven of the first eight scoring shots, but only had 1.6 and a six-point lead to show for it, and then things were further exacerbated when key forward Elliott Himmelberg was subbed out during the first quarter due to a hamstring injury.

Considering superstar Melbourne defender Steven May was a late withdrawal due to soreness, Nicks put Himmelberg’s early exit from the game down to “Murphy’s Law”.

But of that younger group of players that Nicks referred to, the likes of Ned McHenry, Nick Murray, Andrew McPherson, Chayce Jones, Harry Schoenberg and emerging key forward Darcy Fogarty, who kicked a team-high three goals, enthused the coach the most.

“‘Fog’ today that’s a couple of weeks in a row now against high-quality opponents where he’s competed really well,” he said.

As for the old guard, Nicks described Paul Seedsman as “incredible” for the team, after the former Magpie produced another stellar performance which strengthened his All-Australian bid this season.

“He’s obviously really important to our ball movement but he’s also now brought that leadership and he’s got the guys playing a stye of footy that they’re showing DNA now off the back of some our really important leaders and he’s one of them,” Nicks said.

Tom Lynch is another senior player who performed very well against the Demons, and while he won’t be offered a new contract for next year, Nicks said he hoped the 2017 grand final player found a new home somewhere else.

But if he failed in his bid to secure a contract at a third club, Nicks insisted there would be a position for him at Adelaide in a coaching capacity.

As for the Crows’ final game against North Melbourne next weekend, Nicks anticipated that it would take place at Adelaide Oval on the Sunday, but stressed it hadn’t been confirmed yet.

Nicks has coached Adelaide since the start of last season. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A career-high seven goals from Bayley Fritsch has helped Melbourne see off a spirited, but outclassed, Adelaide outfit at the MCG on Sunday to set up a final-round showdown with Geelong for the minor premiership at Kardinia Park next week.

The result saw the Demons move back to the top of the ladder, where they’ve now resided for 12 weeks this season, with just two points separating them and the second-placed Cats.

Melbourne’s victory also rules the Western Bulldogs out of finishing the year in first place.

The bottom-two Crows were far from disgraced, though, and seriously tested the flag fancies on more than one occasion, getting to within three points in the third quarter, before losing by 41.

Adelaide started the game strongly as it dominated the uncontested possessions (57-40) in the first quarter and cut the Demons up with their transition footy.

But despite registering seven of the first eight scoring shots inside 14 minutes, the Crows failed to make Melbourne pay the full price, managing just 1.6, including three missed set shots, to lead only by six points.

At that stage, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin must’ve been second-guessing his decision to pull star defender Steven May out of the line-up before the game due to general soreness, as seven of Adelaide’s first eight inside 50s resulted in a score, and Darcy Fogarty was looking dangerous.

But Goodwin’s anxiety would’ve been eased considerably early in the second term, by which time not only had Adelaide key forward Elliott Himmelberg (hamstring) been subbed out, mitigating May’s absence, but the Demons had turned the tables on their less-fancied opponents, opening up a 28-point lead on the back of five consecutive goals, as Christian Petracca began to work his way into the game.

The Crows continued to have a crack, though (they led the clearances 20-17 and contested possessions 74-72 at half-time), and they were rewarded for their efforts early in the third term when they cut the deficit back to three points as Melbourne’s costly turnovers continued to mount.

However, Melbourne responded to the challenge again, kicking six of the last eight goals, including four from Fritsch, to stamp its authority on the contest.

The Demons sit two points clear on top of the AFL ladder. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Seedsman shows the way

Paul Seedsman continued to be a shining light for Adelaide in what has been another disappointing season for the club. The former Magpie collected 15 of his career-high 36 disposals in the first quarter, to be the driving force behind the Crows’ bright start, and he had a whopping 24 by half-time. He also finished the contest with 738 metres gained, 10 inside 50s, 10 score involvements and a magnificent goal from outside 50m as he continues to press for membership in the All-Australian squad.

Pickett finishes off a beautiful play

The play of the day for the Demons probably came just after time-on in the third quarter when Angus Brayshaw handballed it to Max Gawn running past on the wing before the big ruckman fended off the Ben Davis tackle and combined with Luke Jackson to get the ball to Christian Petracca, who delivered a laser-guided pass lace out onto Kysaiah Pickett’s chest deep in the forward pocket. The goalsneak proceeded to kick the easy goal to put Melbourne up by 16 points just as the Crows were making another charge.

Jackson the joker in the pack?

Jackson continues to grow with every passing week, and played another pivotal role as that forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck. The Rising Star favourite ended up with 16 touches, 19 hitouts and two goals, and combined beautifully with Max Gawn again who registered 19 disposals, 27 hitouts and 10 clearances. The young tall looms a vital piece of Melbourne’s September plans.

Third club beckons for Lynch

Has Adelaide stamped Tom Lynch’s papers a little early? The rationale of needing to rebuild and blood as many youngsters as possible in season 2022 is sound, but the star utility, who turns 31 next month, produced a compelling audition for a rival club who might consider throwing him a lifeline as he registered 29 touches, seven marks, eight score involvements, a goal assist and a goal.

Unwanted by the club in 2022, Tom Lynch (L) was one of five Crows to register 25 disposals or more on Sunday. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Goodwin wants answers

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is frustrated by the fact that the AFL has not yet made a decision on whether or not the pre-finals bye will be scrapped less than a fortnight out from it being scheduled.

Although it does sound like it will be done away with this year, to minimise the chance of Covid causing major disruption to the finals, it hasn’t been confirmed yet by the AFL.

And Goodwin would like some answers as soon as possible, even though league supremo Gill McLachlan said only a few days ago that “the later you can make the decisions, the better outcomes you get”.

“People like to plan what’s going on, they like to understand where things are at, and I think the more we can give people an indication on what that looks like, the better – because you do base some decisions this time of year around that,” Goodwin said after his team beat Adelaide by 41 points at the MCG on Sunday.

“I think there’ll be a lot of clubs at the moment that would be looking at that and thinking they could make some decisions based on what’s going on so the more information we can get, the better.

“We don’t know what’s happening next week (beyond Round 23) so that would be nice to know what’s going on there.”

McLachlan said there was strong support from the clubs for the bye to be scrapped, but Goodwin wouldn’t confirm if Melbourne was one of those clubs.

“We just do whatever we’re given. We just want to know … once we know then we’ll start some planning,” he said.

Goodwin has coached the Demons since 2017. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Of more immediate concern for the Demons is their minor premiership showdown with Geelong at Kardinia Park next week, and they look set to welcome back star trio Steven May, Tom McDonald and Jack Viney for the huge clash.

May was a late withdrawal on Sunday due to soreness, while McDonald (back) and Viney (suspension) were also absent.

The winner of the Demons-Cats clash in the final round, which will be staged on Saturday or Saturday night, will determine who finishes on top of the ladder (providing Port Adelaide doesn’t beat the Western Bulldogs by a big enough margin that would see them overtake Geelong if the Cats were to win).

It’s been 57 years since the Demons won a minor premiership, and with the city of Melbourne’s ability to stage finals under increasing doubt as a result of being ravaged by another lockdown, Goodwin said he feels “incredibly” for the club’s fans who have waited so long to see their side launch a serious assault on a flag, but may miss out on witnessing it from the stands.

“They’re craving coming to the MCG to see their team compete and win and play in some significant games and they’ve been enormous for our footy club for a long period of time,” he said.

“We can still feel their support through the messages, social media and a range of different things.

“They’ve been on this journey for a long time and they need to know from us that we are doing everything we can to play the best for them and we want to make them proud.”

One player who could loom as the joker in the pack during the finals is emerging young star Luke Jackson who continued his impressive progression against the Crows with another outstanding performance as a forward-ruck.

“He’s evolving quickly, ‘Jacko’. His game has come on in leaps and bounds,” Goodwin said.

“His aerial work has improved and you saw late in the game today (with) his ruck work what he can give around centre bounce and clearance and I think the duo with ‘Gawny’ (Max Gawn) is becoming pretty potent for us.

“We’re enjoying his development, that’s for sure, but we’re looking for some big things from him.”

DEMONS 3.3, 7.4, 12.7, 16.8 (104)

CROWS 1.6, 3.7, 8.8, 9.9 (63)

LERNER’S BEST Demons: Fritsch, Jackson, Petracca, Gawn, Salem, Langdon, Oliver. Crows: Seedsman, Lynch, Fogarty, Keays, Butts, Laird, Sloane

GOALS Demons: Fritsch 7, B.Brown 2, Petracca 2, Jackson 2, Melksham, Spargo, Pickett. Crows: Fogarty 3, McAdam 2, Seedsman, Mackay, Murphy, Lynch.

INJURIES Demons: Nil. Crows: Himmelberg (right hamstring).

LATE CHANGE Steven May (general soreness) replaced in Melbourne’s selected side by Joel Smith.

UMPIRES Donlon, Haussen, Findlay

VENUE MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LERNER’S VOTES

3 B.Fritsch (Melb)

2 P.Seedsman (Adel)

1 L.Jackson (Melb)