Currently sitting in 15th position with just five wins to their name thus far into the season, the Adelaide Crows' rebuild is yet to hit full steam, with one pundit suggesting that Matthew Nicks won't be at the helm to see the club rise up the ladder once more.
Former Kangaroo David King has cast serious doubts about the security of Nicks' tenure, with the 47-year-old now in season three in the top job.
King appeared on SEN Breakfast, revealing that not only did he believe that Nicks' wouldn't see out Adelaide's rebuild, but that the last placed North Melbourne had a more promising list.
“There’s no way Matthew Nicks can survive this rebuild phase at the Adelaide Crows,” King said.
“He’s (Nicks) got a list that’s far from the envy of the rest of the coaching fraternity. The list is more than poor, I think they’ll be asking for priority selections within three years.
“Their form at the moment, they’re wallpapering over the cracks through the unbelievable season of Taylor Walker, guys like Rory Laird producing a high level, Ben Keays is having a great year.
“So the older bracket are playing seriously good football. Who are the under 23s that are actually saying, ‘I’m your man, follow me’.
“I actually think the Kangaroos’ list, and it has been flogged this week, has a better four to five prospects for five, six, seven years time than what the Adelaide Crows’ list does.”
North Melbourne are currently on the hunt for a new senior coach after the departure of David Noble, but have the likes of number one pick Jason Horne-Francis developing their craft in blue and white. While at the Crows, top picks like Chayce Jones (pick 9) and Ned McHenry (pick 16) are still trying to develop the consistency needed at senior level since their debuts.
“I’m concerned that the win-loss strike rate, which gets all coaches in the end, will come under serious scrutiny in the next 12 to 24 months,” King continued.
“There were a couple of people challenging whether he should have even had his contract extended. That’s the first point, isn’t it? That’s the first little start of the discussion. It’s a shocking setup, I think the AFL needs to look at all the tools that can help get lists back in order.
“I know it’s mid-season trading and I know it’s trading players in contract, it’s all of these things, otherwise you are just going to continue to set fire to young coaches with vulnerable lists and football clubs that get jumpy because boards panic. It’s on their watch, they get sacked, they get questioned.”
Adelaide next face Collingwood at home in Round 18, searching for their sixth win of the season against a surging opponent.
