Adelaide to wait until the summer to discuss a contract extension for Matthew Nicks
Adelaide are flying after four wins in five games. But even if they make the finals for the first time in Matthew Nicks’ reign, a contract extension will have to wait.
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Adelaide has no plans to accelerate contract talks with senior coach Matthew Nicks if the club ends its finals drought.
The Crows are expected to wait until at least summer to discuss an extension for the sixth-year mentor, pending the club’s first finals appearance since 2017.
Nicks has essentially been coaching for his job this campaign despite having another season to run on his deal.
After missing the finals in his first five years, he has repaid the club’s faith by turning Adelaide into a top-four contender in 2025.
The Crows sit third on the ladder with an 8-4 record ahead of Friday night’s huge home clash with reigning premier Brisbane.
While very pleased with how the team is playing, Adelaide is sticking to a week-to-week focus and have no intention to move talks forward even if the club books a top-eight spot.
Nicks would create coaching history if he steered Adelaide to the finals this year.
Each of the 52 first-time senior coaches in VFL/AFL history to be in charge for at least six seasons at their original club and reach the major rounds did so within five years.
The Crows appointed Nicks ahead of the 2020 campaign as they began a rebuild.
Adelaide finished bottom that first year, then placed 15th, 14th and 10th over the next three seasons.
It re-signed Nicks on a two-year deal in March 2024, only for the club to slide to 15th last campaign.
But the club has stood by him each time pressure mounted, particularly last season.
Adelaide’s promising campaign has come off the back of strong off-season recruiting and the arrival of the club’s first coaching director, Murray Davis, to support Nicks.
The Crows won their opening three matches this year, before losing three of the next four, then rebounding with four victories from its past five games, including three by at least 10 goals.
Originally published as Adelaide to wait until the summer to discuss a contract extension for Matthew Nicks
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