No looking back for Nicksy

[SWANSBEST]

No looking back: Nicks
2:48:54 PM Thu 27 November, 2003
Karen Collins
afl.com.au
Sydney Swans forward Matthew Nicks is hoping a recent holiday in America will result in a change of fortune after it revitalised his passion for football.

While most reports suggested he struggled last season - managing 15 or more possessions just twice in 18 matches and kicking 16.11 - due to a chronic back injury - Nicks said his disappointing year was simply due to poor form.



?The year was very frustrating, probably more embarrassing than anything,? the 28-year-old admitted to afl.com.au.

?I guess that?s made me even hungrier this year so just to get back (to training) on Monday was great. I was really looking forward to it.?

Though embarrassed by his individual performance, the West Adelaide junior refuses to blame his back condition, preferring to move on and concentrate on next season.

?The back wasn?t a problem. There are a lot of different things that I have to look at, move on from ? a lot of stuff. Look I will just make a few changes this year and hopefully have a good pre-season before Christmas and look forward to next season.?

Nicks endured restricted game time thereby hindering any chance of running into form, and as such his name was mentioned during trade week.

?Look when you are not playing well you cannot expect to be played but it does make things difficult when you are not on the ground,? he said.

?There is not much you can do about trade time I mean that?s how the game is played, you go where you are pushed or you go where you are wanted. Obviously after the season I had the club were going to look and see what they could get for me and I am just lucky no-one wanted me.?

After 149 matches in the red-and-white since debuting in 1996, Nicks is happy to remain in Sydney and fulfill the final year of his contract, though he feels far from comfortable.

?I am very happy as this is where I want to play, but comfortable is something you are when you are playing good football,? he reflected.

?But once I start playing good football you can come and interview me again and I will be comfortable.?

To reach such a state of contentment, the 2001 International Rules representative believes he must get fit and get the body right before focusing on football early next year and earning a place in the starting senior side.

?Depends on how we set up (as to where I might fit in) but if they play me up forward I can kick goals and if they play me down back I believe I can do a job.?

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=128096

[Plugger46]

It would be great to see Nicksy back to his best, running off a half-back flank.

[Dpw]

Originally posted by Plugger46
It would be great to see Nicksy back to his best, running off a half-back flank.

You will be waiting for awhile I just can't find a spot in our back six for him, should see out his contract this year and be delisted handy backup at best.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Plugger46
It would be great to see Nicksy back to his best, running off a half-back flank.

I reckon he is well past his used-buy date. And please keep him OUT of the forward line. His kicking from a set-shot is generally poor. Whilst he lacks the zip to get around opposition backmen, whilst lacking the marking strength to outmuscle tall defenders.

I'd rather blood another young pup than keep Nicks in the side. It sounds harsh to a great clubman, I know. But footy is a brutal industry. I just can't see Nicksey having the pace these days to play the position he used to, HBF.

JF

[footyhead]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
I reckon he is well past his used-buy date. And please keep him OUT of the forward line. His kicking from a set-shot is generally poor. Whilst he lacks the zip to get around opposition backmen, whilst lacking the marking strength to outmuscle tall defenders.

I'd rather blood another young pup than keep Nicks in the side. It sounds harsh to a great clubman, I know. But footy is a brutal industry. I just can't see Nicksey having the pace these days to play the position he used to, HBF.

JF

I was a great fan of Nicks, I have met him a nuber of times I think he's a good chap.
But, when i think back to the Eade game plan of flooding the back line, maybe Mathew was a little over rated in his abilities off of a HBF. Now under Roos where where defenders cannot rely so much on the congestion of a supper defensive game plan, and where pace and skill of foot and hand are more the order of the day, perhapes Mr Nicks has been a little exposed. Apity really cos as has been said he is a good club man, who added a bit of zest to the team at his zenith.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by Dpw
You will be waiting for awhile I just can't find a spot in our back six for him, should see out his contract this year and be delisted handy backup at best.

I didn't say he will get back to his best. I said it would be great to see him get back to his best. I think he's probably passed his best, but if he's injury free, then who knows. He's not that old (28), and a very good footballer on his day, so you never know. He can't kick a set-shot at goal to save himself, so he has to play in the backline for mine.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Re: No looking back for Nicksy

Originally posted by SWANSBEST
(Nicks) I am just lucky no-one wanted me.?

I think thats what we have here. Though we agree he was once an alright player he is now past it.

[Bear]

He was a VERY GOOD player, how quickly some forget.

I have not given up on him making a good contribution, but he is on his last chance. Should not be played as a forward IMO, rather a backman or winger.

[DST]

Originally posted by Bear
He was a VERY GOOD player, how quickly some forget.

I have not given up on him making a good contribution, but he is on his last chance. Should not be played as a forward IMO, rather a backman or winger.

Agree with you on that one Bear he was a very very good player at his best, which was not that many years ago.

Injuries have really knocked off his pace and mobility recently but if he gets himsefl fit again he has age on his side to play good footy.

As for not being able to force himself into the backline I think there is plenty of room for him on the HBF. Gives us the opportunity to play Kennelly on the ball and Nicks has always been a beautiful balanced kick on the move.

DST

[Charlie]

A very good player who was one of my favourites back in the late 90s up to last season. Ironically, his play off the HBF was a prototype of the style that Roos now employs, but he has never actually played a good game since Roosy took over. I can't see him getting very far past his 150th game next year.

Hopefully he can prove me wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.

[NMWBloods]

I think he could find a spot on the HBF and shift Kennelly to the wing. I liked the way Nicks played at his best and I'd love to see him recapture his form. Guys playing well in their late 20s can be very useful for a young up-and-coming side.

BTW Charlie - it's 2 x c's and 1 x s!

[stellation]

do we give preference to finding a spot on the HBF to Nick or to Saddo? If we look to blood LRT as CHB, Bolton takes one flank... are the coaching staff actually looking for LRT at CHB or is it just r

I am not making sense...

I hope he at least gets one more game and starts it.

I thought he was good at times at his best...

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I'm afraid the consensus opinion is correct, Nicks will probable spend 2004 renewing his acquaintance with Rohan Warfe in the reserves.
And frankly I can not believe that Warfe managed to hold his place in the squad!

[DST]

Originally posted by Ruckman
I'm afraid the consensus opinion is correct, Nicks will probable spend 2004 renewing his acquaintance with Rohan Warfe in the reserves.
And frankly I can not believe that Warfe managed to hold his place in the squad!

Warfe has a contract for 2004 and we have a team that has 42% of it's listed players who have either not played or played less than 25 games.

Pretty easy to see why he remains on the list and is only magnified when we didn't pick up an established player during the trading period.

Another year under the belt for Scheinder, LRT, Powell, Mikeljohn and some game time for McVeigh, Thewlis, Malckeski, Dempster and we will be ready to retire Warfer but not just yet.

DST

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Yes, your right, a fulltime captain of the reserves is a usefull thing with so many youngsters. I'm not sure he needed to take up a spot of the list as well.