Matthew Nicks

Australian rules footballer

Australian rules footballer

Matthew Nicks

Nicks addressing Adelaide players, 2022

Personal information
Full name|  Matthew Nicks
Date of birth|  (1975-05-13) 13 May 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth|  Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)|  West Adelaide (SANFL)
Debut|  14 April 1996, Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood Magpies, at SCG
Playing career1
Years|  Club|  Games (Goals)
1996–2005|  Sydney Swans|  175 (125)
Coaching career3
Years|  Club|  Games (W–L–D)
2020-|  Adelaide|  102 (36–65–1)

1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005.

3 Coaching statistics correct as of round 20, 2024.

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Matthew Nicks (born 13 May 1975) is a former professional Australian Football League player and currently the senior coach of the Adelaide Football Club.[1] He was recruited from the West Adelaide Football Club to the Sydney Swans with the 21st selection in the 1994 AFL Draft.[2]

## Playing career

[edit]

### Sydney Swans

[edit]

Nicks made his Australian Football League debut in 1996 for the Sydney Swans and played a total of 175 games over the next 10 seasons.[3] He retired from AFL football in 2005 after prolonged struggles with injury and illness, including a broken leg in 1995,[4] pneumonia in 2000, a broken finger in 2001[5] and a stress fracture in his leg in 2005. His second last game was the round 10, 2005 match against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in which the Swans came under severe scrutiny from the AFL, in particular from then-CEO Andrew Demetriou and Network 10 commentators Stephen Quartermain, Tim Lane and Robert Walls, over their performance.[6][7][8]

## Coaching career

[edit]

### Port Adelaide Football Club assistant coach (2011–2018)

[edit]

Nicks joined the Port Adelaide Football Club in 2011 as a club development coach in an assistant coaching position under senior coach Matthew Primus until the end of 2012 season, during which time the Power struggled towards the bottom part of the ladder, finishing 16th and 14th in 2011 and 2012 respectively.[9] From 2013 to 2015, he served as the club's backline coach under senior coach Ken Hinkley and in 2016, he served as the forwards coach under senior coach Hinkley.[10] In 2017, Nicks was named as Port Adelaide's senior assistant coach under senior coach Hinkley. Nicks left the Port Adelaide Football Club at the end of the 2018 season.[11]

### Greater Western Sydney Giants assistant coach (2019)

[edit]

Nicks joined the GWS Giants as a senior assistant coach under senior coach Leon Cameron for the 2019 season.[12]

### Adelaide Football Club senior coach (2020–present)

[edit]

In October 2019, Nicks was appointed senior coach of the Adelaide Football Club, shortly after previous senior coach Don Pyke announced his departure.[13][14][15][16] Due to a variety of reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the club entering a rebuild at his arrival, and the lack of experienced assistant coaches at Adelaide, the Crows under Nicks slumped to a 0–13 start to the 2020 season, leading to Nicks being called “the least supported coach” in Adelaide’s history.[17][18] He won his first game as Adelaide Football Club senior coach when the Crows defeated Hawthorn by 35 points in round 15, 2020.[19]

## Player statistics

[edit]

Statistics are correct to end of career[20]
Legend

| Goals |

| Kicks |

| Disposals |

| Tackles

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Behinds |

| Handballs |

| Marks
Season  | Team  | No. | Games  | Totals  | Averages (per game)  | Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

G  | B  | K  | H  | D  | M  | T  | G  | B  | K  | H  | D  | M  | T
1996 | Sydney | 36 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 11 | 36 | 12 | 8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0
1997 | Sydney | 23 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 150 | 99 | 249 | 59 | 26 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 12.5 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0
1998 | Sydney | 23 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 291 | 138 | 429 | 104 | 42 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 12.1 | 5.8 | 17.9 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 9
1999 | Sydney | 23 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 263 | 123 | 386 | 106 | 26 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 11.4 | 5.3 | 16.8 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 4
2000 | Sydney | 23 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 229 | 86 | 315 | 107 | 29 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 12.0 | 4.5 | 16.6 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 6
2001 | Sydney | 23 | 18 | 16 | 21 | 186 | 70 | 256 | 89 | 32 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 10.3 | 3.9 | 14.2 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 9
2002 | Sydney | 23 | 21 | 28 | 18 | 186 | 72 | 258 | 86 | 51 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 8.9 | 3.4 | 12.3 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 3
2003 | Sydney | 23 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 125 | 57 | 182 | 62 | 34 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0
2004 | Sydney | 23 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 128 | 56 | 184 | 65 | 36 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 10.8 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 0
2005 | Sydney | 23 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 58 | 27 | 85 | 26 | 22 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 9.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0
Career  | 175  | 125  | 84  | 1641  | 2380  | 2023  | 716  | 306  | 0.7  | 0.5  | 9.4  | 4.2  | 13.6  | 4.1  | 1.7  | 31

## Coaching statistics

[edit]

Statistics are correct to the end of round 24, 2023.[21]
Legend

W | Wins  |  L | Losses  |  D | Draws  |  W% | Winning percentage  |  LP | Ladder position  |  LT | League teams

Season  | Team  | Games  | W  | L  | D  | W %  | LP  | LT

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2020 | Adelaide | 17 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17.6% | 18 | 18
2021 | Adelaide | 22 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 31.8% | 15 | 18
2022 | Adelaide | 21 | 8 | 13[1] | 0 | 38.1% | 14 | 18
2023 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 47.8% | 10 | 18
2024 | Adelaide | 23 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 34.8% | 15 | 18
Career totals  | 106 | 37 | 68 | 1 | 34.9% | 14.4  |

## Notes

[edit]

1.^ Matthew Nicks missed the round 8 game against Carlton due to contracting COVID-19, senior assistant coach Scott Burns was appointed interim senior coach in his absence.[22]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nicks appointed Senior Coach". Adelaide Football Club. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
2. ^ Lovett, Michael, ed. (2005). AFL Record 2005: Guide to Season. p. 416\. ISBN 0-9580300-6-5.
3. ^ "MATTHEW NICKS". Retrieved 1 August 2022.
4. ^ "Loyal Nicks forced to call it quits". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 August 2005.
5. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 483. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
6. ^ "A new face after Roos loses faith". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
7. ^ "Ugly Swans' flag hopes at half-mast". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 May 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
8. ^ "Nicks' homecoming behind enemy lines". 29 March 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
9. ^ "From Port to Adelaide, Gold Coast Suns complete the grand slam". The Roar. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
10. ^ "Matthew Nicks". portadelaidefc.com.au. Port Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
11. ^ "Two AFL assistant coaches to depart Port". 6 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
12. ^ "Matthew Nicks Joins GIANTS". 27 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
13. ^ Ryan, Peter (15 October 2019). "Nicks says Crows will go on the attack". The Age. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
14. ^ "Adelaide Crows announce Matthew Nicks as new coach". 15 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
15. ^ "Nicks appointed Senior Coach". 15 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
16. ^ "Adelaide Crows new coach revealed to be Matthew Nicks". 14 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
17. ^ SEN (3 August 2020). "Is Nicks Adelaide's Most "Least Supported Coach" Ever?". Seven News. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
18. ^ Fox Sports Staff (1 August 2020). "Crows coach declares club took 'big step backwards' in horror loss to Roos". Fox Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
19. ^ McGowan, Marc (1 September 2020). "Disaster averted as Crows break drought against Hawks". Australian Football League. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
20. ^ "AFL Tables – Matthew Nicks statistics". AFL Tables.
21. ^ "AFL Tables – Matthew Nicks – Coaching Record". afltables.com.
22. ^ "'A thousand anti-vaxxers coming at me': AFL star targeted online after health scare". ABC News. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Nicks.

Matthew Nicks's playing statistics from AFL Tables

* v
* t
* e

Adelaide Football Club - current squad

* 1 Jones
* 2 Keays
* 3 Berry
* 4 Murphy
* 5 Crouch
* 6 Curtin
* 7 Thilthorpe
* 8 Rachele
* 9 N. Murray
* 10 Pedlar
* 11 Edwards
* 12 Dawson (c)
* 13 Walker
* 14 Soligo
* 15 Cook
* 16 Michalanney
* 17 Welsh
* 19 Taylor
* 20 Hinge
* 21 Burgess*
* 22 Ryan
* 23 Rankine
* 24 Worrell
* 25 Peatling
* 26 Schoenberg*
* 27 Nankervis
* 28 Neal-Bullen
* 29 Laird
* 30 Milera
* 31 Dowling
* 32 Fogarty
* 33 Smith
* 34 Draper
* 35 Borlase*
* 36 Gallagher*
* 38 Sholl
* 39 T. Murray*
* 40 Bond
* 41 Butts
* 43 O'Brien
* 44 Cumming
* 45 Strachan
* 48 Keane
* McAndrew*

* Coach: Nicks

* denotes rookie listed players

* v
* t
* e

Current AFL coaches

* Matthew Nicks (Adelaide)
* Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions)
* Michael Voss (Carlton)
* Craig McRae (Collingwood)
* Brad Scott (Essendon)
* Justin Longmuir (Fremantle)
* Chris Scott (Geelong)
* Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast)
* Adam Kingsley (Greater Western Sydney)
* Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
* Simon Goodwin (Melbourne)
* Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne)
* Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
* Adem Yze (Richmond)
* Ross Lyon (St Kilda)
* Dean Cox (Sydney)
* Andrew McQualter (West Coast)
* Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)

Italics denote caretaker coach

* v
* t
* e

Coaches of the Adelaide Football Club

AFL|

* 1991–1994: Cornes
* 1995–1996: Shaw
* 1997–1999: Blight
* 2000–2004: Ayres
* 2004–2011: Craig
* 2011: Bickley
* 2012–2014: Sanderson
* 2015: Walsh
* 2015: Camporeale
* 2016–2019: Pyke
* 2020–: Nicks
* 2022: Burns

AFL Women's|

* 2017–2018: Goddard
* 2019–: Clarke

Italics denote caretaker coach

* v
* t
* e

Australian squad - 2001 International Rules Series

* Black
* Bowden
* Bradley
* Caracella
* Chick
* Francou
* Gaspar (gk)
* Goodes
* Goodwin
* Hardwick
* Harvey
* Hay
* Johnson
* King
* M. Lappin
* N. Lappin
* Lloyd
* Maxfield
* McLeod
* Nicks
* Ottens
* Ramanauskas
* Smith
* Stevens
* Tredrea
* Voss (c)
* White

Coach: Lyon

* v
* t
* e

1994 AFL national draft

* 1\. Jeff White
* 2\. Anthony Rocca
* 3\. Shannon Grant
* 4\. Scott Lucas
* 5\. Joel Smith
* 6\. Robert McMahon
* 7\. Tony Brown
* 8\. Daniel Harford
* 9\. Ben Wilson
* 10\. Blake Caracella
* 11\. Damien Ryan
* 12\. Shane Sikora
* 13\. Chris Hemley
* 14\. Michael Martin
* 15\. Scott Camporeale
* 16\. Adem Yze
* 17\. Carl Steinfort
* 18\. Robert Di Rosa
* 19\. Ben Holland
* 20\. Stuart Mangin
* 21\. Matthew Nicks
* 22\. Winston Abraham
* 23\. John Rombotis
* 24\. Matthew Manfield
* 25\. Steven Sziller
* 26\. Tim Elliott
* 27\. Toby Kennett
* 28\. Shawn Lewfatt
* 29\. Jason Torney
* 30\. Chad Liddell
* 31\. Allen Nash
* 32\. Simon Cox
* 33\. Mark Cullen
* 34\. Michael Polley
* 35\. Marty Warry
* 36\. Matthew Robbins
* 37\. Ashley Blurton
* 38\. Matthew Collins
* 39\. Stephen Carter
* 40\. Michael O'Loughlin
* 41\. Adam White
* 42\. Douglas Headland
* 43\. Dean Matthews
* 44\. Jeremy Dyer
* 45\. Gary Moorcroft
* 46\. Justin Charles
* 47\. Robert Ahmat
* 48\. Austinn Jones
* 49\. Shaun Baxter
* 50\. Brett Higgins
* 51\. Clay Sampson
* 52\. Danny Stevens
* 53\. Mark Orchard
* 54\. Ian Downsborough
* 55\. Mark Belleville
* 56\. Ryan Smith
* 57\. Emil Parthenides
* 58\. Peter Bird
* 59\. Nathan Saunders
* 60\. Brad Scott
* 61\. Stephen Zavalas
* 62\. Justin Blumfield
* 63\. Ross Funcke
* 64\. Robert Powell
* 65\. Lee Fraser
* 66\. Scott Taylor
* 67\. Anthony Bourke
* 68\. Luke Norman
* 69\. Dean Helmers
* 70\. Adam Benjamin
* 71\. Jason Spinks
* 72\. Dean Grainger
* 73\. Sam McFarlane
* 74\. Troy Luff
* 75\. Gerard Jess
* 76\. Todd McHardy
* 77\. Ben Dixon
* 78\. Daryl Griffin
* 79\. Aaron Hamill
* 80\. Ben Atkins
* 81\. Tim Allen
* 84\. Doug Hawkins
* 85\. Michael Agnello
* 86\. Shaun Gordon
* 87\. Simon Arnott
* 88\. Nathon Irvin
* 89\. David Nicholson
* 90\. Matthew Joy
* 93\. Michael Murphy
* 94\. Jade Rawlings
* 95\. Kym Eyers

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