The Adelaide Football Club has “arrived” and should have finals in its sights in 2023, according to Fox Footy pundits.
The Crows kicked off Gather Round last Thursday night with a blistering 56-point win over the previously undefeated Carlton – Adelaide’s third-straight victory – to soar into the top eight and build momentum in its season.
And one fortuitous twist of fate was critical in determining the club’s surge back into post-season contention.
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As highlighted by dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy’s First Crack, the Crows in 2021 launched an audacious bid for North Melbourne’s No. 1 draft pick that year – which it eventually used on Jason Horne-Francis – offering their Pick 6 and two future first rounders in a package that was denied by the Kangaroos.
But less than two years later and the Crows would be left grateful they held onto those three selections.
Adelaide used its Pick 6 in 2021 to draft Josh Rachele and dealt its two future firsts to land Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine, all of whom have played starring roles in the club’s impressive 3-2 start to 2023, and in Dawson’s case, took over the captaincy reins.
“They are coming with a rocket, and it made me have a think about a sliding doors moment,” Montagna said of the Crows on First Crack.
“If you remember back to 2021, Adelaide made an audacious bid to get Pick 1 … North Melbourne rejected that, and rightfully so.
“They (the Crows) ended up getting Josh Rachele, Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine with those three picks, so Adelaide fans should be thanking the North Melbourne Football club for saying: ‘Thanks for your offer but no thanks.’
“They have changed the football club with what they’ve been able to do.”’
The Crows in 2023 are ranked No.1 in the AFL in scores per forward 50 entry and ranked No. 3 in marks inside 50, while both Rankine (12 goals) and Rachele (10 goal) sit top 15 in the competition’s leading goalkickers and are rated as above average by Champion Data.
Meanwhile, the move of Dawson, who’s rated as elite by Champion Data, to the midfield over the last fortnight has paid huge dividends.
The new Crows skipper has averaged 29.5 disposals, 7.5 tackles, six clearances and 7.5 inside 50s in those two games that the team has won by an accumulative total of 95 points.
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North Melbourne great David King, although declaring he thinks Adelaide is still two years away from really making a push for the flag, was full of praise for Nicks’ team, conceding he underestimated it in recent years.
“Adelaide has arrived, and think Adelaide in 2025 will be alive and they will be the team that can come with a rush,” King told First Crack.
“I was worried about their list, I’ve got to admit, probably two years ago. But since then they’ve added some major pieces in Rankine and Dawson.
“I still don’t think they have the most talent on their list, but what they’re getting out of that talent, through system, I think Matthew Nicks is doing an outstanding job, and so too his lieutenants.
“They’re averaging over 100 points a game. Their ability to win the footy – they’re second-best in contested possessions – and they’re third-best in the AFL at hanging onto (the ball) in the uncontested game. The mix and blend is just perfect.
“Every time I look at them I think, gee whiz, their ability to punish teams is as good as I’ve seen. I’m in love with what they’ve done, because I thought they were coming from a long way back.
“I always say the rebuilding coach can’t survive, he’s there for three or four years of absolute pain. But they’ve come out of the ground really quickly and I’m really thrilled for Matty Nicks.
“They probably lack just a couple of more midfielders, but they’re not far away from really challenging, I think they’ll be playing finals this year.”
