Two-time Adelaide premiership coach Malcolm Blight is not a fan of Matthew Nicks’ defensive mindset.
In the wake of the weekend’s 75-point Showdown defeat to Port Adelaide, the Crows coach explained the thought process behind his negating game plan.
“At this point we’ve got a fair bit of work to do around prioritising defence,” Nicks said on Triple M after the loss.
“We played against a side that were outstanding in that area. It may look like it through the TV that their offence is what’s getting them the win but it’s off the back of defence.
“When you’re not prioritising that defence, you’re not getting it done. It can make you look like you’re not trying.
“I’ve not doubt it’s not through lack of effort from our guys but it can look that way when you’re five metres off, doing your work too late.”
Blight responded to those comments saying he cannot work out why defence would be the order of the day for the Crows.
“This is my pet hate in football,” Blight said on Sportsday SA.
“You’re about to stymy a football club, to grind it to a halt. I’ll tell you why - prioritising defence.
“There are three rules in football if you are going to keep it as basic as you can. The first one: you’ve got to plan to get the ball. If you’re not planning to get the ball and you’re prioritising defence, you’ll run second to the ball all the time, you’ll be beaten all the time. You follow your man, all you do is chase.
“The second thing is: use the ball. So plan to get the ball and then use the ball. Hopefully you get a goal.
“And the third and final thing is: if they get it, the nearest player puts on pressure. That’s as simple as the game is in its most simple philosophy.
“To say that you prioritise defence means that those blokes in the middle of the ground are going to be too worried about a midfield player getting the ball.
“It’s rubbish.
“Unless you’ve got the best team and the greatest defence and the best forward line, you’re not going to win. So you can’t pinch games by playing like that (defensively). I guarantee you now you’ll end up kicking five goals like they did.
“They’ll go up to the Gold Coast and if they can’t win this one they are gone.
“To actually prioritise defence, it’s rubbish.
“It is a rookie coach with a rookie idea. I’ll tell you now, it won’t work.”
The Crows play the first of their three Queensland hub games against the in-form Suns at Metricon Stadium on Sunday as they strive to avoid going 0-3 to start the 2020 season.
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