News Murray Davis joins as Coaching Director

[MRB37]

From memory Burns was on the radar of a a lot of head coaching roles and assistant roles.

We all have our own takes on why Nick's has failed to date, but as I said I was more looking for positives of the appointment.

He interviewed with us in 2011, but used the R word in his pitch so was no chance of getting the job after that.

 

[Cap]

He interviewed with us in 2011, but used the R word in his pitch so was no chance of getting the job after that.

talk about a sucker for punishment.

Was that our pitch as an assistant? Hey we took your advice, can you come and help us fix up the mess?

 

[DroppingTheBall]

I think there was a degree of not handling the expectations (it's something we've struggled with as a club since '98), but they definitely changed up the gameplan this year.

I was wondering at the time whether it was related to the loss of proven talent in defence at the start of 2024, with limited access to Murray, Milera and Butts, meant the midfield was instructed to position a bit more defensively and to be more careful about taking risks that result in turnovers, thus exposing the inexperience of Borlase, Keane, Worrell...and no Tex to straighten us up.

 

[MRB37]

I was wondering at the time whether it was related to the loss of proven talent in defence at the start of 2024, with limited access to Murray, Milera and Butts, meant the midfield was instructed to position a bit more defensively and to be more careful about taking risks that result in turnovers, thus exposing the inexperience of Borlase, Keane, Worrell...and no Tex to straighten us up.

I think the reason they'd argue the gameplan didn't work was because Thilthorpe was out. Go slow, wide boundary side and try and keep it in a 50/50 contest at worst, but they expected to have Thilly as the big target down the line to take marks.

He spent the entire off-season doing nothing but preaching defense. That's how he wants us to play, it wasn't a mistake or reacting to a certain player being out, it was 100% premeditated and planned. It sucked when he did it in 2022 to minimise loses and it sucked last year when he tried it again.

 

[George Kramer]

I think the reason they'd argue the gameplan didn't work was because Thilthorpe was out. Go slow, wide boundary side and try and keep it in a 50/50 contest at worst, but they expected to have Thilly as the big target down the line to take marks.

He spent the entire off-season doing nothing but preaching defense. That's how he wants us to play, it wasn't a mistake or reacting to a certain player being out, it was 100% premeditated and planned. It sucked when he did it in 2022 to minimise loses and it sucked last year when he tried it again.

That’s because he sucks.

Interesting he didn’t go back to the plan when TT came back, clearly he even realised it sucked.

But those critics hey? They don’t know what’s going on internally

 

[Bring back Bas]

Need to let this play out and see before we make judgements.


On CPH2333 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Since when?

 

[Rotayjay]

If his partner and child are staying in Brisbane, I hope Davis won't be doing too much of his job remotely. You can't be a footy coach over MS Teams or Zoom - not a very effective one anyway.

I think the writing is on the wall - he knows Nicks is heading for the chopping block and that he could be the Adelaide senior coach within a year, maybe two.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

If his partner and child are staying in Brisbane, I hope Davis won't be doing too much of his job remotely. You can't be a footy coach over MS Teams or Zoom - not a very effective one anyway.

I think the writing is on the wall - he knows Nicks is heading for the chopping block and that he could be the Adelaide senior coach within a year, maybe two.

Maybe this power couple are looking to take out Nicks and Doc in one fell swoop

 

[Mr_Moogle]

That’s because he sucks.

Interesting he didn’t go back to the plan when TT came back, clearly he even realised it sucked.

But those critics hey? They don’t know what’s going on internally

I'm not getting fooled into another redemption arc. If he didn't learn anything from 2023, I'm not going to assume he learned anything from a couple of decent games in the back half of 2024.

 

[baldandbroke]

I'm not getting fooled into another redemption arc. If he didn't learn anything from 2023, I'm not going to assume he learned anything from a couple of decent games in the back half of 2024.

I'm hearing you.

The fan in me wants that arc though.

No matter how many times Nicks has shown me he can't - I still have a dark little corner of my mind that says "What if?" - I remind myself to check back on those thoughts mid-season when darkness my old friend has returned as is settling in for the year.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I'm hearing you.

The fan in me wants that arc though.

No matter how many times Nicks has shown me he can't - I still have a dark little corner of my mind that says "What if?" - I remind myself to check back on those thoughts mid-season when darkness my old friend has returned as is settling in for the year.

The part that I find difficult is that even though I don't rate him, I don't think he's well supported either. So the what if for me is "what if he had a coaching panel around him that didn't stink, or a quality, experienced GM above him?". Do we employ resources to "fix" Matthew Nicks, or do we cut the cord? We went through this before with Walsh/Sando. Would not surprise me at all if Davis is our next coach.

 

[TBM]

so I'm guessing no Montgomery for 2025 then? Anybody know if he's staying at GWS?

 

[crows dude]

The part that I find difficult is that even though I don't rate him, I don't think he's well supported either. So the what if for me is "what if he had a coaching panel around him that didn't stink, or a quality, experienced GM above him?". Do we employ resources to "fix" Matthew Nicks, or do we cut the cord? We went through this before with Walsh/Sando. Would not surprise me at all if Davis is our next coach.

Yep. Never replaced Bailey who was Sandos right hand man. Left Sando with no support.

 

[conVINCEd]

Yep. Never replaced Bailey who was Sandos right hand man. Left Sando with no support.

Was pretty harsh on Sando after getting us to the 2012 prelim.

Lost Bailey with no replacement, Tippett deserted us and Tex did his knee.

On our 2024 season, crazy to hear several comments from the club about how we fixed things up after round 4, but the slow start meant we just weren’t able to recover enough to play finals.

Fellas, we lost to Richmond. At home.

 

[TBM]

Yep. Never replaced Bailey who was Sandos right hand man. Left Sando with no support.

Wonder how big a factor Ricciuto has been in not having a senior assistant / under-investing in our coaching department.

After all, he did join the board not long after Bailey's death.

 

[AFC979810]

The part that I find difficult is that even though I don't rate him, I don't think he's well supported either. So the what if for me is "what if he had a coaching panel around him that didn't stink, or a quality, experienced GM above him?". Do we employ resources to "fix" Matthew Nicks, or do we cut the cord? We went through this before with Walsh/Sando. Would not surprise me at all if Davis is our next coach.

The worry is we head to his 6th season in charge with over 100 games of coaching experience.

Will more resources stop Nicks from making bonehead decisions?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The worry is we head to his 6th season in charge with over 100 games of coaching experience.

Will more resources stop Nicks from making bonehead decisions?

Only if he delegates...

 

[Mr_Moogle]

The worry is we head to his 6th season in charge with over 100 games of coaching experience.

Will more resources stop Nicks from making bonehead decisions?

I don't think so. They shelled out and got him one of the best fitness bosses in the league and it made no difference at all.

 

[AFC979810]

I don't think so. They shelled out and got him one of the best fitness bosses in the league and it made no difference at all.

Unfortunately I think we are a victim with timing with regards to Burgo - if his track record of jumping around is anything to go by.

I feel the biggest boost you can get from a fitness guy is when you already have a list on the up. If we were to time it perfectly - the year to add Burgo would have been at the end of 2025.

 

[GreyCrow]

Have we worked out what his role is and is he above or below Nicks?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Have we worked out what his role is and is he above or below Nicks?

All the assistants now report to Davis who reports to Nicks.

Sounds like Davis it taking over the organising of the day to day coaching.

Hopefully he takes over coaching strategy too.

Apparently to free up Nicks to spend more one on one time with the players.

Sounds like our version of Carr.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I do feel for Nicks a bit.

Even very good coaches have experienced, savvy football brains around them that they talk stuff through. Bounce ideas around, challenge each other.

We haven't had that. I had never heard of Davis until this signing but hopefully he is the wise head we need

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I do feel for Nicks a bit.

Even very good coaches have experienced, savvy football brains around them that they talk stuff through. Bounce ideas around, challenge each other.

We haven't had that. I had never heard of Davis until this signing but hopefully he is the wise head we need

We have been poor at the collective coaching group. Need more than 1 smart strategic coach & this year we were clearly lacking.

We have had too many similar types. One of Burns & VB should really have been moved on.

We currently don't have a decent forward coach.

 

[hugecannon]

I do feel for Nicks a bit.

Even very good coaches have experienced, savvy football brains around them that they talk stuff through. Bounce ideas around, challenge each other.

We haven't had that. I had never heard of Davis until this signing but hopefully he is the wise head we need

True, but are the successful coaches able to listen and take on feedback, trust that the assistant may have different ideas worth trying when challenged? Probably yes, is this Nicks capable of this?

He feels very stubborn and arrogant in his views and system, and we’re the poorer for it.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

True, but are the successful coaches able to listen and take on feedback, trust that the assistant may have different ideas worth trying when challenged? Probably yes, is this Nicks capable of this?

He feels very stubborn and arrogant in his views and system, and we’re the poorer for it.

Unfortunately he is just not really smart.