Senior Coach Matthew Nicks says the Crows’ loss to Richmond was a tough reminder of how a good side will punish lapses in performance. 

Adelaide entered the first break with a 20-point lead over the reigning premiers but managed just two majors in the following two terms, conceding 11 to the Tigers. 

“We started really well, we had the game on our terms no doubt up until quarter time,” Nicks said. 

“But as every good side does, they arm wrestled it back and put us to the sword a bit in the second and third.”

Turnovers punished 

Nicks said lapses in concentration and turnovers in the midfield would be the Crows’ key focus going forward. 

“I think we leaked seven goals from our attacking mid zone,” he said. 

“There are things we’re learning each week, even from wins. 

“This week, and across the last four to six weeks, teams are scoring over 100 points against us and the turnover score is the one that’s really hurting us. 

“That’s Richmond’s strength, to be able to punish you whenever you make a mistake, and they did that.”

The senior coach said one of his young side’s strengths was learning from its mistakes and he was confident the players would take the Tigers’ punishment onboard. 

“It’s an area that I know our young guys will fix. We’ve had so many small things we’ve learned from,” he said. 

“This one’s a tougher one but we’ll keep working on it because we’d like to think we can keep some sides under that 100 mark and give ourselves more of a chance to win those games.”

Bringing back the fight

Nicks said one thing to like from Sunday’s game was the Crows’ final term fight back. 

Taylor Walker, James Rowe and Lachie Sholl booted three consecutive goals in the first eight minutes to bring the margin back to nine points, but that momentum was quelled by Tigers star forward Jack Riewoldt. 

“We were pleased with the fight towards the end,” Nicks said. 

Nicks said it was a credit to his young side that they didn’t go lying down after “losing their way” in the second and third quarters. 

“We lost a lot of shape on the ground (in those terms) and they brought pressure, we invited more pressure, and they’re a very, very good side when it comes to that.

“(At three-quarter time) we had a conversation around what wasn’t going our way.

“There are simple things we do well when we play our best football and it was a matter of getting back to those.

“And we did that. It probably didn’t look pretty on the TV but it was just our ability to compete, to get the ball forward and give our forwards a chance and they did that in front of goal.

“It wasn’t our best day in front of goal. But that last quarter, for a five or 10 minute patch, to get ourselves back into the game was a credit to our young group because it could’ve been a lot worse than that if we hadn’t stepped on the accelerator.”

Riewoldt’s revolt

Adelaide’s senior coach praised Riewoldt for reclaiming the match for the Tigers after the Crows’ late burst. 

“A key moment was Reiwoldt going back with the flight in the last quarter and then the way it played out for the rest of the game - they’re a fantastic team but for a leader to stand up like that, it was unfortunate for us,” he said. 

“Unfortunately we were on the other end of it. It would’ve been nice because we had a bit of a run going into that point… but it turned the game,” he said. 

O’Brien’s solid performance

Ruckman Reilly O’Brien was on Nicks’ radar after a strong performance against Tigers Toby Nankervis and Mabior Chol. 

“I thought that was probably Reilly’s best game for the season. He found that ability to mark the footy again behind the ball. It was a really positive showing from Reilly for us,” Nicks said. 

“He’d be the first to admit that he probably hasn’t had that to where he did last year, so for him to bounce back today and play a really solid game for us, that’s a great sign. 

“He’s had some really tough match-ups and today was no exception, but he definitely stepped up. 

“Coming off the back of a match-up against Gawn, to play the way he did today was a really good sign.”

Walker’s fine form continues

Forward Taylor Walker booted four of Adelaide’s 12 majors and took six marks. His fourth goal was key to the Crows’ final quarter momentum. 

But when asked whether Walker’s consistently strong performances continued to amaze him, Nicks said quite the opposite - that he always had faith in his ability to score, but the key was Adelaide’s midfielders. 

“It doesn’t amaze me, because I think if we give Tex enough opportunity he has the ability to perform,” he said. 

“It’s more about what we do as a team and giving him those opportunities. If we give him the ball the way we’ve shown, at times, this season, he’ll be able to finish for us. 

“If you look at the last quarter, it starts in the middle of the ground. 

“When our guys get it done in there we get it forward, and if Tex is sniffing around, it’s danger time. 

“We’re really pleased with how he’s performed this year and he’s doing a lot of stuff off-field, so it’s a good sign.”