Can high-flying Crows handle the hype? Coach isn’t sure

Steve Larkin | July 20, 2025

Coach Matthew Nicks isn’t sure how Adelaide will handle the increasing hype.

“There are two types of noise,” Nicks said after the Crows belted Gold Coast by 61 points on Sunday.

“There’s a negative noise and there’s a really positive noise.

“So can we deal with the positive noise? It’s a challenge that I can’t answer. But we’re having a crack at it.”

The Crows, steaming to a return to the finals for the first time since 2017, hold third spot – just one win shy of ladder-leaders Collingwood.

Nicks’ outfit is displaying an eye-catching blend of style and substance – they’re rated No.2 for scoring, and No.2 for scores against.

But the sixth-year coach of the Crows acknowledged the next challenge would be more mental than physical.

“Are we able to remain focused on what the team needs as individuals?” he asked.

“The accolades, the noise, the positive  – do we want to sit back and listen to that and lose our way and go away from team?

“That will be the challenge for us because everything we’ve done to this point has been for the team.”

The Crows meet arch foe Port Adelaide next Saturday night.

And Nicks knows there’s nothing the Power, who will miss the finals, would like more than to put a dent in Adelaide’s ambitions.

“That’s the Showdown, isn’t it?” Nicks said.

“It has been shown with the results, it’s just such an even battle – it doesn’t matter where you sit (on the ladder), whether your form is  coming in strong or not.

“Showdowns, there’s something different about them. That’s the passion of footy that we love.”