Nick’s Backs Struggling, Crows to Lift Against AFL’s Best

Adelaide’s defensive woes show no signs of abating, with captain Nick Laird battling an ongoing back issue that has limited his on-field impact. Despite Laird’s return from a five-week layoff last week, the Crows’ once-vaunted defense has continued to struggle. In their last three games, they have conceded an average of over 100 points, including 111 to the Western Bulldogs and 107 to Melbourne. “We’re certainly not happy with where our defense is at the moment,” coach Matthew Nicks admitted. “We’re giving up too many easy goals, and we’re not applying enough pressure.” Laird’s absence has been a major factor in the Crows’ defensive struggles. The 29-year-old is the team’s most experienced and influential backman, and his leadership and guidance on the field are sorely missed. “Nick is a huge part of our defense,” Nicks said. “He’s a great organizer, and he helps everyone around him play better.” In Laird’s absence, younger players like Jake Kelly, Harry Schoenberg, and Will Hamill have been handed increased responsibility. While they have shown glimpses of their potential, they have also made some costly mistakes. “They’re all learning on the job,” Nicks said. “They’re going to make mistakes, but we’re confident they’ll grow into the roles.” The Crows’ defensive woes will be put to the test on Friday night when they face the reigning AFL premiers, Melbourne. The Demons boast one of the most potent forward lines in the competition, led by Tom McDonald, Ben Brown, and Bayley Fritsch. “It’s a massive challenge for us,” Nicks said. “Melbourne is the best team in the competition, and they have a lot of firepower up forward.” To have any chance of defeating the Demons, the Crows will need to shore up their defense significantly. Laird’s return will be a boost, but he will need strong support from his younger teammates. “We’re confident we can turn things around,” Nicks said. “We have the talent, and we have the work ethic. We just need to execute.”Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is confident his underachieving outfit will rise to the occasion against AFL ladder leaders Sydney.Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is confident his underachieving outfit will rise to the occasion against AFL ladder leaders Sydney. Consecutive losses to fellow bottom-half sides Hawthorn and Richmond have left the Crows’ final hopes in tatters before next week’s mid-season bye. But Nicks insists there is still plenty to play for against the Swans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. “We’re up against the best team in the competition but we know what we need to bring – it’s whether we actually bring it on the day,” Nicks told reporters before training on Wednesday. “We’ve got a few soldiers back possibly this week… that brings a little bit of confidence and belief as well. “We’ve put our heads down and gone to work… and when you’ve got a group like we do you have confidence that they will bring it. “We didn’t quite get to where we needed last week (in an eight-point loss to Richmond) but when you come up against the best we know we’re going to lift.” Veteran Adelaide forward Taylor Walker (back) and attacking livewire Izak Rankine (hamstring) are both a chance to return from injuries against Sydney. The pair face fitness tests, with Nicks hopeful they will be cleared to add firepower in the Crows’ front half. Nicks said last round’s debutant Billy Dowling will retain his spot on the side, but warned he could yet swing the axe at selection. “In a team environment when the team’s not performing well, then certain parts of that come under stress,” Nicks said. “Part of that is some of our individuals are under pressure because we’re just looking for performance that’s going to get us in the fight, and that hasn’t changed. “That’s been there for the last two or three weeks; there’s been players under pressure where we need a little bit more from them.” Nicks had been due to fall off-contract at the end of the season but in March was given a two-year extension until the end of 2026. Adelaide’s chairman John Olsen last week said he had “no issue” with the extension despite the club’s poor performances. Nicks, in his fifth season as coach and with 33 wins from 96 games, feels he still has strong backing from the club hierarchy, including Crows CEO Tim Silvers. “I’ve got a lot of really good support around me and that’s where I’m extremely lucky to have the job I’ve got, the position I’m in and the footy club behind me,” Nicks said. “I feel that support, especially in times like this where we are under pressure. “I’m talking about the likes of John Olsen and Tim Silvers, who are really there for me at the moment.”Adelaide’s talismanic ruckman Sam Jacobs has backed his young teammates to lift against the AFL’s best after their heavy loss to Richmond. The Crows were outclassed by 82 points at the MCG on Sunday, leaving them with a 3-6 record after nine rounds. But Jacobs said the side had shown enough in patches to suggest they could match it with the competition’s heavyweights. “We’ve got a young group and we’re still learning,” Jacobs said. “But we’ve shown in patches that we can play with the best teams. “We just need to do it for longer periods of time.” The Crows were without injured captain Taylor Walker and key defender Jake Lever against the Tigers. Jacobs said their absence had hurt the side, but he was confident they could cover their losses. “We’ve got a lot of depth in our squad,” Jacobs said. “We’ve just got to find a way to get the best out of the guys we’ve got.” The Crows face another tough test this weekend when they host ladder-leaders West Coast at Adelaide Oval. Jacobs said the side was determined to bounce back from their loss to Richmond. “We’re not going to let this one loss get us down,” Jacobs said. “We’re going to learn from it and we’re going to come back stronger.”