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SEN Breakfast

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks (12.06.26)

11 Jun 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.537 - 26.33

Yes, IDD this footy season. And unlock your warehouse's potential with the latest innovations from Dexian. And switch to a Kogan Mobile low-price phone plan. Kogan.com. Clickin' awesome. Kane and Kingy. Bye. All right, straight into it, because Adelaide by 57 last night with a full four-quarter performance. What a result it was for our next guest. He's the coach of the Crows.

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26.35 - 32.9

His name is Matthew Nix. Nixie, thanks for your time. Good morning, boys. How are you? What did you say to the boys after the win?

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34.602 - 39.61 Matthew Nicks

I said, thank you. It was more pride than anything.

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Chapter 2: What were the highlights of Adelaide's recent performance?

40.431 - 64.345 Matthew Nicks

I'm not sure if that's the right word. You do so much work to try and get yourselves to a point where you just perform at a certain level and you're proud of the way they went about it. We came in with a real clear focus on what we wanted it to look like and we were able to execute it. So, yeah, really proud that they had that focus right and we came out and played the footy we wanted to.

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64.561 - 78.294

You're not taking any risks with the players, I've noticed. You're holding back Rankin, you're holding back Keane. Is this by design to really set yourself for the back half of the season or is this just happenstance?

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78.314 - 95.689 Matthew Nicks

Well, we just, Keane, we don't want to, I mean, sometimes it's, we probably could have played Rankin finals footy and you would have. You know, there's, what's the risk reward at the moment? If there's still a slight risk there at this time of the year, we're not going to take it. And we probably, you know, we've had a, a couple where we've been bitten with it.

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95.789 - 108.261 Matthew Nicks

You know, we've lost Kalachi a few times now this season, not necessarily taking risks, but yeah, maybe another week you look back. So when you get burnt, you probably make decisions off the back of that.

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Chapter 3: How does Matthew Nicks motivate his players after a win?

108.822 - 132.167 Matthew Nicks

Um, Isaac was keen as mustard was moving around quite well at training, but it's just enough there to say, well, it's not worth the risk. And when the guys come out and perform like they did, you know, you, Obviously, our decisions sort of backed up. Not always the case, but on this occasion, it's one where we get to have a look at these younger guys and they perform really well.

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132.187 - 133.369 Matthew Nicks

So that's even more pleasing.

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133.769 - 140.296

Seeing what Rochelle is doing as a genuine forward pocket, does it change your strategy or make you think about the use of Rankin when he returns?

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142.318 - 145.962 Matthew Nicks

Well, it won't change it because when Isaac went out, he was full mid.

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146.463 - 146.543

Hmm.

146.708 - 163.012 Matthew Nicks

I think when he really hit his straps the last two or three games, he was playing as 100% midfielder. It may not have looked like that at times, and that's sort of some of the stuff we work on, where we'll sort of slide a few guys and change them up here and there, like we do with Dawson.

163.253 - 186.601 Matthew Nicks

I mean, even Phil Thorpe gets through the midfield for small stints, but I think we've sort of landed, just as it sits at the moment, that Joshua Shelley's played some great midfield time this year, where he's been in there for a full game. Geelong's an example of that down in Geelong. But at the moment, his performances are really helping us ahead of the ball. He's got some real craft.

186.681 - 206.282 Matthew Nicks

He's a super talented player, and that's where he's impacting for us at this point in time. And we've got guys that are stepping up in other areas, which is pleasing, like Sam Berry. Pete Ling, obviously our captain, he's not stepping up. He just continues to play at a level that's hard to believe really. He's just, he's in such rare form.

206.843 - 212.11 Matthew Nicks

Um, so we're able to, to answer your question, we're able to keep Josh forward to the ball, which is just, you know, a real bonus.

Chapter 4: What is the strategy behind player management for the upcoming season?

241.212 - 260.854 Matthew Nicks

Things look different. He moves really well. I mean, sharp feet in the midfield are key. But there are a lot of different midfielders these days. A lot of different shapes and sizes. He's a very, very good decision maker. He looks calm and composed with the ball. So you want to get him where that footy is as much as possible.

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261.155 - 274.978 Matthew Nicks

At the moment, he's playing a wing role for us and doing that really well. And as we've experimented a little, we probably haven't quite seen as strong a game from him just at this point, but I've got no doubt he'll continue to grow.

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275.279 - 294.663

How do you see the player movement landscape at the moment? Luke Beveridge was asked about it during the week and he said, look, I don't think we're ready for players that are leaving to come out mid-year and tell the clubs that they're leaving. Also, how involved senior players become in the recruitment of players from other clubs who are still awkwardly contracted? Nixie, you're in that space.

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294.723 - 300.049

There's no doubt about that as you target a couple of big names. How do you view the landscape as it sits?

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301.351 - 318.352 Matthew Nicks

Oh, good question. It's... You know, one of those ones where you don't like people talking to your own boys, you know, especially when guys are in contract. When guys are coming out of contract, it's a really tough one. You know, you still want them to perform, and we've got a couple that are in that boat.

318.913 - 336.852 Matthew Nicks

You want them to perform, and so you want to really work with them about, you know, build belief for them, let them know what you love about them. At the same time, you know, they might be looking elsewhere. It's tough, but it's part of the game. You know, we brought in free agency for that reason. I think it's added to the game.

337.272 - 344.962 Matthew Nicks

We've seen what's happened in the States and the way things work over there. It's a very different environment to what we have. Everyone has a complete understanding. It's just how it works.

345.563 - 362.104 Matthew Nicks

I think the art of it is, as a coaching group or a coach, is to actually embrace that that's how things operate and how can you have your player still perform at the level for that remaining, whether it's 10 rounds or whatever that is. But again, it's famous last word, boys and chill it.

362.692 - 368.439 Matthew Nicks

Happens right in front of my eyes and then I get angry and frustrated and you guys come back and whack me for doing it.

Chapter 5: How does the performance of younger players impact team strategy?

475.482 - 499.686 Matthew Nicks

He structures us up really well. Now, saying that, Cain, off the back of last night, last night's games are so positive for us because Toby Murray gets an opportunity again to perform in a, you know, this guy's played less than 10, 15 games and you just go, you can see some stuff there and yep, there's still some work on. So it's exactly where he should be at this part of his career.

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500.037 - 524.498 Matthew Nicks

But he needs those small opportunities. This one was through suspension. Our veteran is super important to us, but it's a bonus for us. Texan also gets that ability to be fresh and play at his best and not have to worry physically about that grind. So there's always going to be a balance to that. And we're going to be criticised and we're going to be pumped up for the decisions we make around it.

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524.518 - 538.568 Matthew Nicks

But ultimately, we're just trying to do what's best for the team. We're not here to win games. You know, every single game in the season, we're here to get to that September and perform when we get there. And we haven't been able to do that, not since I've been in the chair anyway.

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538.768 - 558.107

So listening to that, it sounds like you'll go again next year, Walker. Is that what you heard? Well, I was very positive. If he's in your best team now at round 15, then you'd have to think something significant would have to change in the next 10 weeks for him not to be round one next year.

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559.015 - 581.26 Matthew Nicks

And to sort of answer that without answering it, there isn't a yes or no on that. There's not a yes or no. It depends on how Tex continues to, I guess, where does his body go? Where does his mind go? It might be a decision in the end that he makes. But at the moment, is he in our best team? 100% he is. There is no doubt about that.

581.847 - 602.453 Matthew Nicks

But is he in our best team when he's had six games in a row and things start to become a grind? That becomes really tough for him, and that's not having a go. That's actually the reality. That's what happens with your body when you get to the part where he's played 18, 19 years of footy. It becomes quite taxing. So the reality of it, we know that. He understands that as well.

603.254 - 606.758 Matthew Nicks

We've just got to make sure we manage this the right way so that he can play his best.

607.632 - 619.996

Now, Nixie, we've got a texter here that's sick of the renovation that's taking so long and is so large. He's sick of the trucks and the utes going up and down the street. What is the go with this renovation of yours? Have you got something going on that we need to know about?

621.539 - 625.086 Matthew Nicks

No. You're talking about the new facility?

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