ADELAIDE CROWS

There’s another AFL coaching career about to be launched, but Nicks has had a very thorough apprenticeship, his playing days with the Swans followed by nine years in the system as an assistant coach with Port Adelaide and last year GWS.

There’s been a real changing of the guard at the Crows, both on the field and in the coach’s box, where after four seasons in charge, Don Pyke has been replaced by first-time senior coach and former Sydney defender Matthew Nicks. Taylor Walker stood down as captain, and some of the Crows’ best-known faces are gone altogether, including Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Sam Jacobs, Alex Keath and Hugh Greenwood. It will be a