Adelaide Crows team selection news ahead of round 2 clash with Essendon

Sid Draper showed plenty of promise on debut despite starting as the sub against St Kilda. Now coach Matthew Nicks has hinted it could be the ‘perfect’ role going forward for the young Crow.

Matthew Nicks says the Crows will likely remain unchanged ahead of an early-season test against Essendon at the MCG.

Adelaide was one of the standout sides in Round 1 in a dominant display against St Kilda, piling on 21 goals to start a crucial season under Nicks perfectly.

The Crows have not won at the MCG since 2017, and Nicks said it was a great chance to carry over their strong form with full player availability.

“When you perform the way you do and you perform well you want to keep the side similar,” he said.

Matthew Nicks will back the side that defeated St Kilda to take on Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

“Everyone is playing their role in a way and it was a team performance so we will look at that because everyone is available which is great.

“How do we change our mix slightly if we need to and it all depends on our opposition.

“It is a large ground so we will look at things but again it comes down to a group performing well and the cohesion being strong, do we change that so we are in that space?”

This would mean second-year Dan Curtin likely stays in a forward-wing role, while No.4 draftee Sid Draper remains as the sub.

Curtin, who came to the club as a defender and has been used at times as a midfielder, had seven disposals and three marks against the Saints.

Nicks said there was more to his performance than just stats.

“It is interesting, it depends on what you call involved because from our view we look at him playing a role in our side,” he said.

“Not everyone can go and get 30 possessions and we have guys in different roles and he plays a certain role for us that is not high possession, it is a lot about positioning and a lot about what we are asking him to do.

“He is being asked to do a lot of roles and for a young guy he performed to the level we wanted on the weekend.

“I guess that’s the key for us and a positive, he is versatile and he is hard to match up on and he has shown he can play multiple positions.

Nicks is backing Curtin despite a quiet game. Picture: Getty Images

“He came here a defender, we know he can play on ball prior to the AFL level and we aren’t going to do that to him just yet but he is now playing forward of the ball and he has shown us enough to get selected in our first side where some others have been stiff to miss out.”

Draper was used as the starting substitute in his debut for the club, having performed strongly in an impressive second-half cameo against Brisbane in the Crows’ pre-season game.

Nicks said he played an important role for the Crows.

“He did exactly what we asked of him in the role, that doesn’t mean that it will be a different role. We see the sub role as important as any other role,” he said.

“People may see four quarters as maybe a reward for a player but where some guys are in their career it is perfect for them and where Sid is at the advantage he brings to our side coming on slightly fresh … I think he has shown the impact he can have.”

Debutant Sid Draper. Picture: Getty Images

Draper came on for Crows talisman Taylor Walker, with Nicks’ side boasting a big enough lead to give the former captain a rest.

“There’s a few reasons, obviously a six day break and one thing that we have openly talked about is how we are going to manage him through the season,” he said.

“A lot of opinions about where he is at, there’s a couple of important ones which are mine and the rest of the coaching group about where he is at and we are going to do what we need to do to have him out on the ground because he is really important to us.

“We all know what Tex brings to our side and he is in my best 22 easily.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows team selection news ahead of round 2 clash with Essendon