Adelaide coach Nicks to equal unwanted record before Western Bulldogs game
Adelaide Crows will play the Western Bulldogs on Saturday in the AFL finals series. For the team’s coach, Matthew Nicks, the match will test changes to the midfield: he will equal Alec Hall for the most matches as a VFL/AFL coach without a finals win, ABC News Australia reports.
Over the past two years, the Crows have recorded the second-highest number of regular-season wins. Last year, the team won the minor premiership but ended its finals campaign with two consecutive losses. Against Hawthorn, Adelaide lost the clearances by six and also allowed its opponent to win 20 more contested possessions after clearances.
Midfield play
In the 2025 season, Adelaide led in contested possessions won after clearances and in contested possessions. At the same time, the team had a negative clearance differential, and these difficulties were more noticeable against strong midfields.
The Crows’ defence, meanwhile, maintained high figures. This season, the team conceded an average of 1.47 points per opposition entry inside the 50-metre zone, the best full-season figure among league clubs. One issue remained the transition from defence to attack and the creation of scoring opportunities.
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Changes to the lineup
Nicks tested different midfield options throughout the season. Izak Rankine, who missed last year’s finals series due to a four-match suspension after using a homophobic slur toward a Collingwood player, has played permanently in the midfield for the first time in his career this year. According to the article’s author, he has added more active defensive work and involvement in contests for the ball to his attacking potential.
Jake Soligo and Brayden Cook were also used in the midfield, while Dan Curtin was moved there over the past month. Curtin is 197 cm tall and has averaged 15.5 disposals per match this season, the best mark of his career.
The Western Bulldogs enter the game with one of the league’s strongest midfields, led by Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards. In Round 23, the Crows lost the clearances to Fremantle but outperformed their opponent in contested ball after clearances; the article calls this indicator important for maintaining territorial advantage.
