Did the Izak Rankine saga impact the Crows' flag chances?
Adelaide's incredible 2025 campaign came to a crashing halt after succumbing to a straight-sets exit following the 34-point loss to Hawthorn.
But on the brink of September, Rankine's four-game suspension put multiple nails in the coffin, with Collingwood and the Hawks finishing the job.
The star forward is built for the finals, and was a key missing ingredient in Nicks' side as their front half struggled and their midfield looked one-paced.
The Pies and Hawks cashed in on a Rankine-less Adelaide team, as both Victorian clubs progressed through to the preliminary finals, with the latter facing Geelong next week.
Nicks declared that the 25-year-old's absence "changed the dynamic of (the) group".
He would've been available had Adelaide made the grand final.
"No (it didn't weigh on us)," Nicks said.
"We won't ever know, will we? What it did do, it changed the dynamic of our group. Izak is - and this is my opinion - I think he's one of the best players in the game. So, I think if any team were to lose their best player, it becomes quite a challenge to replace that.
"Some of our younger guys stepped up and showed that they can play at the level, but the challenge we had was to fill in that void that Izak has had there for us all year.
"That's purely on field - I don't feel like it affected us away from footy. If we could have had Izak Rankine in for the last couple of games, I'm pretty sure we'd take that.
"As we've mentioned - things like that, we want to make sure we look after everyone that may have been affected by that.
"Izak, front and square on that. As much as I can be there for him, and we can be there for him, we will be there for him, to make sure what he's going through, that he's actually okay, and others."
Friday night's loss was also the first time in 42 years that a minor premier has suffered an immediate exit from the finals.
North Melbourne, in 1983, bowed out in straight sets as Essendon and Hawthorn took the chocolates.
That year, the Hawks took out the premiership.
