Adelaide Crows Coach Matthew Nicks Expresses Confidence in Unique Midfield for 2026 AFL Campaign
Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks is firmly backing his team's unique midfield structure to deliver strong performances in the 2026 AFL season, while also providing a detailed update on the recovery of promising young talent Sid Draper.
Patience Required for Young Gun Sid Draper's Development
Sid Draper, who was selected as the No.4 pick in the 2024 AFL draft, managed to play ten games during his debut season last year. However, the emerging midfielder was substituted on or off in eight of those appearances, with his only second-half season game occurring in the final round against North Melbourne.
Draper did not feature in either of Adelaide's finals matches as the team crashed out in straight sets. The nineteen-year-old has faced significant challenges during the pre-season, primarily due to persistent groin issues that have hampered his training progress.
Nicks is advocating for patience with the teenage prospect, emphasizing the importance of long-term development over short-term gains. "Sid's unique. These guys are so powerful that their bodies need to be fine-tuned," Nicks explained. "We'd rather have Sid up and going for the next decade than fast-track him and push him too early, and have him break down and he's playing sporadically over the next decade."
The coach praised Draper's attitude during recovery, noting "He's done a great job in that place, shown a lot of patience." Nicks expects Draper to return to full training within three to four weeks and anticipates seeing him participate in practice matches closer to Round 1 of the upcoming season.
Midfield Group Faces Scrutiny and Challenges
The Crows' midfield unit faced considerable criticism throughout last season, widely regarded as the team's weakest link during their straight-sets finals exit. Captain Jordan Dawson remains a clear standout performer, while Izak Rankine and Jake Soligio delivered solid contributions within a group that generally lacked depth.
Emerging star Dan Curtain, who had been training extensively as an inside midfielder, will miss the start of the season after suffering a dislocated kneecap during training last month. This injury represents a significant setback for the midfield's development plans.
Nicks confirmed that Josh Rachele will spend more time rotating through midfield positions this season, building on similar responsibilities from the previous year. The coach remains confident in his midfield group despite external skepticism, stating "We have faith in our midfield group. And some would say it's dangerous. We know our group intimately. Our guys, we back them in."
"But the reality is there is a fair bit of noise around. Do we have that big-bodied midfielder? Do we have this type of midfielder? I think we've got a ... unique midfield," Nicks added, acknowledging the ongoing debate about the composition of his midfield unit.
Training Intensity Reflects Team Culture
Nicks also addressed the Crows' intense training standards, highlighted by an incident last month where Mark Keane cleaned up Mitch Marsh during match simulation drills. The coach emphasized that this physical approach reflects the team's core cultural values.
"We're never going to stop Keaney. Part of it is we don't want to," Nicks stated. "That's our culture. When people talk about culture, that's part of it, that's who we are. And that's been led by our playing group. If you train at this level, you can't expect to then come in and play at this level."
The coach acknowledged that maintaining high training standards occasionally results in physical incidents, but believes this approach is necessary for competitive preparation. "We want to train at this level, so knowing that there'll be a small drop away. And our guys do a great job in that space. Every now and then we push the envelope and it can become a little bit sort of head in hands at times," Nicks concluded.
