View source for Matthew Nicks

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Matthew Nicks
| image = Matthew Nicks, Ade vs. GWS 2022 (52396645580) (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Nicks addressing Adelaide players, 2022
| alt = A fair-skinned bald man in a navy polo speaking to football players
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|5|13}}
| birth_place = [[Adelaide, South Australia]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]] ([[South Australian National Football League|SANFL]])
| debutdate = 14 April 1996
| debutteam = [[Sydney Swans]]
| debutopponent = [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood Magpies]]
| debutstadium = [[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]]
| height = <!-- ### cm -->
| weight = <!-- ### kg -->
| position = 
| statsend = 2005
| years1 = 1996–2005
| club1 = [[Sydney Swans]]
| games_goals1 = 175 (125)
| coachyears1 = 2020&ndash;
| coachclub1 = {{AFL Ade}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 113 (41–71–1)
| coachstatsend = round 7, 2025
| careerhighlights = 
| fullname = Matthew Nicks
}}

'''Matthew Nicks''' (born 13 May 1975) is a former professional [[Australian Football League]] player and currently the senior coach of the [[Adelaide Football Club]].<ref name="crows">{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/2019-10-15/nicks-appointed-senior-coach|title=Nicks appointed Senior Coach|publisher=[[Adelaide Football Club]]|date=15 October 2019|access-date=15 October 2019}}</ref> He was recruited from the [[West Adelaide Football Club]] to the [[Sydney Swans]] with the 21st selection in the [[1994 AFL Draft]].<ref name="AFL2005">{{cite book|title=AFL Record 2005: Guide to Season|editor=Lovett, Michael|year=2005|page=416|isbn=0-9580300-6-5}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Sydney Swans===
Nicks made his [[Australian Football League]] debut in 1996 for the [[Sydney Swans]] and played a total of 175 games over the next 10 seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Matthew%2BNicks/13677|title=MATTHEW NICKS|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref> He retired from AFL football in 2005 after prolonged struggles with injury and illness, including a broken leg in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/loyal-nicks-forced-to-call-it-quits/2005/08/09/1123353318391.html|title=Loyal Nicks forced to call it quits|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 August 2005 }}</ref> pneumonia in 2000, a broken finger in 2001<ref>{{Ref AFL Encyc|4th|483}}</ref> and a stress fracture in his leg in 2005. His second last game was the round 10, 2005 match against {{AFL StK}} at [[Docklands Stadium|Marvel Stadium]] in which the Swans came under severe scrutiny from the AFL, in particular from then-CEO [[Andrew Demetriou]] and [[Network 10]] commentators [[Stephen Quartermain]], [[Tim Lane (journalist)|Tim Lane]] and [[Robert Walls]], over their performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/a-new-face-after-roos-loses-faith-20050603-gdlg34.html|title=A new face after Roos loses faith|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=3 June 2005|access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/ugly-swans-flag-hopes-at-half-mast-20050530-gdlf1t.html|title=Ugly Swans' flag hopes at half-mast|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=30 May 2005|access-date=10 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/268684/nicks-homecoming-behind-enemy-lines|title=Nicks’ homecoming behind enemy lines|date=29 March 2018|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Port Adelaide Football Club assistant coach (2011–2018)===
Nicks joined the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] in 2011 as a club development coach in an assistant coaching position under senior coach [[Matthew Primus]] until the end of 2012 season, during which time the Power struggled towards the bottom part of the ladder, finishing 16th and 14th in 2011 and 2012 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/06/22/from-port-to-adelaide-gold-coast-suns-complete-the-grand-slam/|title=From Port to Adelaide, Gold Coast Suns complete the grand slam|publisher=The Roar|date=21 June 2020|access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref> From 2013 to 2015, he served as the club's backline coach under senior coach [[Ken Hinkley]] and in 2016, he served as the forwards coach under senior coach Hinkley.<ref>{{cite web|title=Matthew Nicks|url=http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/football/players-and-coaches/coaches/matthew-nicks|website=portadelaidefc.com.au|publisher=Port Adelaide Football Club|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Nicks was named as Port Adelaide's senior assistant coach under senior coach Hinkley. Nicks left the Port Adelaide Football Club at the end of the 2018 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/two-afl-assistant-coaches-to-depart-port/591405da-344c-4db8-86ac-d1faf4d33ed0|title=Two AFL assistant coaches to depart Port|date=6 August 2018|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

===Greater Western Sydney Giants assistant coach (2019)===
Nicks joined the [[Greater Western Sydney Giants|GWS Giants]] as a senior assistant coach under senior coach [[Leon Cameron]] for the 2019 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/256225/matthew-nicks-joins-giants|date=27 August 2018|access-date=14 February 2022|title=Matthew Nicks Joins GIANTS }}</ref> 

===Adelaide Football Club senior coach (2020–present)===
In October 2019, Nicks was appointed senior coach of the [[Adelaide Football Club]], shortly after previous senior coach [[Don Pyke]] announced his departure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/matthew-nicks-appointed-adelaide-coach-20191015-p530tg.html|title=Nicks says Crows will go on the attack|website=The Age|last1=Ryan|first1=Peter|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-15/adelaide-crows-announce-new-coach/11572704|title=Adelaide Crows announce Matthew Nicks as new coach|date=15 October 2019|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/306286/nicks-appointed-senior-coach|title=Nicks appointed Senior Coach|date=15 October 2019|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows-new-coach-revealed-to-be-matthew-nicks/news-story/04fa24d4d5c2e00460934af3b1832fad|title=Adelaide Crows new coach revealed to be Matthew Nicks|date=14 October 2019|access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> Due to a variety of reasons, including the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]], the club entering a rebuild at his arrival, and the lack of experienced [[assistant coach]]es at Adelaide, the Crows under Nicks slumped to a 0–13 start to the [[2020 AFL season|2020 season]], leading to Nicks being called “the least supported coach” in Adelaide’s history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/08/03/is-nicks-adelaides-most-least-supported-coach-ever/|title=Is Nicks Adelaide's Most "Least Supported Coach" Ever?|website=Seven News|author=SEN|date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/crows-coach-declares-club-took-big-step-backwards-in-horror-loss-to-roos/news-story/ff25c86b245c9ad54ea000e96b1c4f2a|title=Crows coach declares club took 'big step backwards' in horror loss to Roos|website=Fox Sports|author=Fox Sports Staff|date=August 1, 2020|access-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> He won his first game as Adelaide Football Club senior coach when the Crows defeated {{AFL Haw}} by 35 points in round 15, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/494556/disaster-averted-as-crows-break-drought-against-hawks|title=Disaster averted as Crows break drought against Hawks|publisher=Australian Football League|first=Marc|last=McGowan|date=1 September 2020|access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref>

==Player statistics==
: ''Statistics are correct to end of career''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Matthew_Nicks.html|title=AFL Tables – Matthew Nicks statistics|website=AFL Tables}}</ref>
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 36 || 6 || 2 || 1 || 25 || 11 || 36 || 12 || 8 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 4.2 || 1.8 || 6.0 || 2.0 || 1.3 || 0
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 20 || 6 || 3 || 150 || 99 || 249 || 59 || 26 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 7.5 || 5.0 || 12.5 || 3.0 || 1.3 || 0
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1998 AFL season|1998]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || '''24''' || 10 || 5 || '''291''' || '''138''' || '''429''' || 104 || 42 || 0.4 || 0.2 || '''12.1''' || '''5.8''' || '''17.9''' || 4.3 || 1.8 || '''9'''
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 23 || 9 || 5 || 263 || 123 || 386 || 106 || 26 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 11.4 || 5.3 || 16.8 || 4.6 || 1.1 || 4
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 19 || 13 || 13 || 229 || 86 || 315 || '''107''' || 29 || 0.7 || 0.7 || 12.0 || 4.5 || 16.6 || '''5.6''' || 1.5 || 6
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 18 || 16 || '''21''' || 186 || 70 || 256 || 89 || 32 || '''1.4''' || '''1.2''' || 10.3 || 3.9 || 14.2 || 4.9 || 1.8 || '''9'''
|- player for the buglers 2018–
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2002 AFL season|2002]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 21 || '''28''' || 18 || 186 || 72 || 258 || 86 || '''51''' || 1.3 || 0.9 || 8.9 || 3.4 || 12.3 || 4.1 || 2.4 || 3
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2003 AFL season|2003]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 18 || 16 || 11 || 125 || 57 || 182 || 62 || 34 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 6.9 || 3.2 || 10.1 || 3.4 || 1.9 || 0
|- 
|- style="background:#eaeaea;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2004 AFL season|2004]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 17 || 14 || 5 || 128 || 56 || 184 || 65 || 36 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 7.5 || 3.3 || 10.8 || 3.8 || 2.1 || 0
|- 
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
| style="text-align:center" | {{AFL Syd}}
| 23 || 9 || 1 || 2 || 58 || 27 || 85 || 26 || 22 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 6.4 || 3.0 || 9.4 || 2.9 || '''2.4''' || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 175
! 125
! 84
! 1641
! 2380
! 2023
! 716
! 306
! 0.7
! 0.5
! 9.4
! 4.2
! 13.6
! 4.1
! 1.7
! 31
|}

==Coaching statistics==
: Statistics are correct to the end of round 24, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Matthew_Nicks.html|title=AFL Tables – Matthew Nicks – Coaching Record|work=afltables.com}}</ref>
{{AFL coaching statistics legend}}

{{AFL coaching statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| scope=row style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal" | [[2020 AFL season|2020]]
|{{AFL Ade}}
| 17 || 3 || 14 || 0 || 17.6% || 18 || 18
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal" | [[2021 AFL season|2021]]
|{{AFL Ade}}
| 22 || 7 || 15 || 0 || 31.8% || 15 || 18
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| scope=row style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal" | [[2022 AFL season|2022]]
|{{AFL Ade}}
| 21 || 8 || 13{{ref|r82022}} || 0 || 38.1% || 14 || 18
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| [[2023 AFL season|2023]] || {{AFL Ade}} 
| 23 || 11 || 12 || 0 || 47.8% || 10 || 18
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| [[2024 AFL season|2024]] || {{AFL Ade}} 
| 23 || 8 || 14 || 1 || 34.8% || 15 || 18
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2| Career totals
! 106 !! 37 !! 68 !! 1 !! 34.9% !! 14.4
! colspan=2|
|}

==Notes==
:1.{{note|r82022}}Matthew Nicks missed the round 8 game against Carlton due to contracting COVID-19, senior assistant coach [[Scott_Burns_(footballer)|Scott Burns]] was appointed interim senior coach in his absence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-05 |title='A thousand anti-vaxxers coming at me': AFL star targeted online after health scare |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/ollie-wines-says-he-was-targeted-by-anti-vaxxers/101041904 |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{AFL Tables | M/Matthew_Nicks }}

{{Adelaide player squad}}
{{AFL coaches}}
{{Adelaide Football Club coaches}}
{{2001 Australian international rules team}}
{{1994 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicks, Matthew}}
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia]]
[[Category:Sydney Swans players]]
[[Category:West Adelaide Football Club players]]
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australia international rules football team players]]