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Nicks back to his best
3:32:54 PM Mon 7 June, 2004
Karen Collins
Sportal/exclusive to afl.com.au
Related Content:
__Re-live the great win over the Saints
Sydney Swans forward Matthew Nicks has endured a frustrating 12 months with injury and form, but against the previous undefeated St Kilda he showed his best.
Last year, Nicks played 18 matches kicking just 16 goals in a disappointing season.
After a pre-season interrupted by injury he played in the seconds before receiving a call-up to play his 150th match against West Coast in Perth.
The match ended in a loss but more importantly for Nicks he played himself into a starting position for all three subsequent matches.
He only managed one goal in these matches, but his determination and effort were well rewarded on Sunday as he booted four against the best team in the competition, including three at the back end of the third quarter when Sydney lifted the tempo to shut out the Saints.
?It?s nice to get at the end of a few,? Nicks told Sportal.
?The last month I have been happy with my form just working hard and today I worked hard but things just sort of fell into my lap a few times. That is nice to get the reward for when you are working hard.?
Although excited to contribute to the goal-scoring tally, after the match Nicks found himself remembering the terrible miss from a 25-metre set shot in front early in the second quarter.
?I sit down after the game and get the @@@@s for the ones I missed and the marks I dropped.
?But that is just human instinct and you can?t help that but it is a good win and that is the main thing and I will forget about it by Tuesday after I watch the video.?
The video will show how Sydney out-played the most potent side in the AFL in every aspect of the game.
?We had been looking at those guys all week trying to work out how to beat them and I think we went out and did exactly what we thought we had to do and it came off,? Nicks said.
?We knew the first five minutes were vital and if we let them off the hook and they ran away then they would get their tails up and it would be a hard day.
?So we just had to get in first and be hard at the ball from the start. They have been a real good side over the last ten weeks and just ran all over sides so we just made sure we got that first ball.?
Coach Paul Roos was full of praise for the 29-year-old veteran and his remarkable ability to come back.
?It?s a good effort because pre-season with his back and a bit of a hamstring, at some stages it looked like he wouldn?t play this year,? Roos said.
?We had him in for an op (operation) and it?s a real credit to him to kick four goals today in a pivotal performance with him and ?Hally? kicking nine between them.
?I think we know he is a talented player but at times his body doesn?t allow him to do things he would like so it?s terrific effort for him to come back from where he was in March to be able to play and play such a pivotal role in winning a game against the best team in the competition.?
After a challenging time off the field, Nicks is just happy to celebrate the win with the team wearing the guernsey.
?It?s nice to be back amongst it all and I just look forward to the next ten or so weeks coming into the finals. I am really enjoying my footy which is what I am trying to focus on,? the West Adelaide junior said.
?And I just have to work hard every week, just want to get the footy. There are times when I haven?t worked hard and my game falls apart so that has been a focus with John Longmire and the coaches.?
3:32:54 PM Mon 7 June, 2004
Karen Collins
Sportal/exclusive to afl.com.au
Related Content:
__Re-live the great win over the Saints
Sydney Swans forward Matthew Nicks has endured a frustrating 12 months with injury and form, but against the previous undefeated St Kilda he showed his best.
Last year, Nicks played 18 matches kicking just 16 goals in a disappointing season.
After a pre-season interrupted by injury he played in the seconds before receiving a call-up to play his 150th match against West Coast in Perth.
The match ended in a loss but more importantly for Nicks he played himself into a starting position for all three subsequent matches.
He only managed one goal in these matches, but his determination and effort were well rewarded on Sunday as he booted four against the best team in the competition, including three at the back end of the third quarter when Sydney lifted the tempo to shut out the Saints.
?It?s nice to get at the end of a few,? Nicks told Sportal.
?The last month I have been happy with my form just working hard and today I worked hard but things just sort of fell into my lap a few times. That is nice to get the reward for when you are working hard.?
Although excited to contribute to the goal-scoring tally, after the match Nicks found himself remembering the terrible miss from a 25-metre set shot in front early in the second quarter.
?I sit down after the game and get the @@@@s for the ones I missed and the marks I dropped.
?But that is just human instinct and you can?t help that but it is a good win and that is the main thing and I will forget about it by Tuesday after I watch the video.?
The video will show how Sydney out-played the most potent side in the AFL in every aspect of the game.
?We had been looking at those guys all week trying to work out how to beat them and I think we went out and did exactly what we thought we had to do and it came off,? Nicks said.
?We knew the first five minutes were vital and if we let them off the hook and they ran away then they would get their tails up and it would be a hard day.
?So we just had to get in first and be hard at the ball from the start. They have been a real good side over the last ten weeks and just ran all over sides so we just made sure we got that first ball.?
Coach Paul Roos was full of praise for the 29-year-old veteran and his remarkable ability to come back.
?It?s a good effort because pre-season with his back and a bit of a hamstring, at some stages it looked like he wouldn?t play this year,? Roos said.
?We had him in for an op (operation) and it?s a real credit to him to kick four goals today in a pivotal performance with him and ?Hally? kicking nine between them.
?I think we know he is a talented player but at times his body doesn?t allow him to do things he would like so it?s terrific effort for him to come back from where he was in March to be able to play and play such a pivotal role in winning a game against the best team in the competition.?
After a challenging time off the field, Nicks is just happy to celebrate the win with the team wearing the guernsey.
?It?s nice to be back amongst it all and I just look forward to the next ten or so weeks coming into the finals. I am really enjoying my footy which is what I am trying to focus on,? the West Adelaide junior said.
?And I just have to work hard every week, just want to get the footy. There are times when I haven?t worked hard and my game falls apart so that has been a focus with John Longmire and the coaches.?
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