Adelaide Crows’ senior coach Matthew Nicks addressed the media following his team’s hard-fought victory over West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. The Crows, trailing by 10 points early in the final quarter, rallied to secure a 13.9 (87) to 12.8 (76) win, marking their 16th win of the season and securing a spot in the 2025 Toyota AFL Finals Series.
Nicks highlighted five key takeaways from the match, emphasizing the challenges posed by the determined Eagles and the resilience shown by his team in clinching the victory.
Full Credit to the Eagles
Adelaide faced a formidable challenge from the 18th-placed West Coast Eagles, who displayed relentless pressure and intensity throughout the match. The Eagles, buoyed by their home crowd and the emotional farewell of retiring stars Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed, came close to causing a major upset.
Nicks acknowledged the Eagles’ performance, admitting they outperformed Adelaide in several critical areas. “Today unfortunately we didn’t bring our best and our opposition did, I thought they were outstanding tonight,” Nicks stated. “Our opposition were better than us with their energy, their intensity, the pressure they brought, they beat us in that area of the game tonight.”
“But we did enough just to scrape through, and we took great learnings from the game to hopefully put in a better performance against Collingwood.”
Thilthorpe Cleared After Third-Quarter Scare
A tense moment unfolded when star forward Riley Thilthorpe collided with Eagles skipper Liam Duggan, necessitating an assessment of his neck. Fortunately, Thilthorpe was cleared, having suffered only a jarred neck, and returned to play a pivotal role in the final quarter by scoring two crucial goals.
“I think he jarred his neck which then shot some nerve pain down his arm, so initially it looked like he’d done something to his shoulder and we were worried,” Nicks explained. “But after a minute or so of recovery he was fine.”
Crows Trio Stand Up in Second Half
With the game hanging in the balance at half-time, three Adelaide players stepped up to seize control. Skipper Jordan Dawson led by example with significant contest wins, while Izak Rankine provided the spark with his brilliance. Zac Taylor, often overlooked, delivered a standout performance with a career-high 20 disposals, crucial tackles, and a vital goal.
Nicks praised the trio’s influence, stating, “I like Jordan (Dawson) a lot, Izak Rankine as well. I thought he bounced back really well after a slower first half. And Zac Taylor was the other one who I thought played one of his best halves of footy in his career in the second half, which was really pleasing for him.”
The Inexact Science of Managing Players
Adelaide’s decision to rest Taylor Walker, their all-time leading goalkicker, was a strategic move with an eye on the upcoming match against Collingwood. Nicks discussed the complexities of player management, especially during the crucial end-of-season period.
“I think it’s always difficult, and there’s not an exact science to when you should rest players,” Nicks said. “Taylor this weekend for example, we know how important he is to our group, not just with the football with hand but what he does for our group with his leadership on the field.”
“Now that we’ve got across the line and got the result it’s a good move, but going into the game we don’t know that.”
Nicks Reflects on Securing Finals Spot
The victory officially secured Adelaide’s place in the finals, marking their first appearance since 2017. With two matches remaining in the regular season, the Crows sit one game clear at the top of the ladder. Nicks took a moment to reflect on this achievement but remained focused on the challenges ahead.
“I take maybe a second to reflect on how big it (returning to finals) is,” Nicks said. “I think it’s great, I think it’s a sign of what we’ve done now over a longer period of time, and the work we’ve put into developing and building a strong group of people.”
As the Crows prepare for their next match against Collingwood, the focus remains on maintaining their momentum and delivering strong performances in the lead-up to the finals. The team’s resilience and strategic planning will be crucial as they aim to capitalize on their successful season.
