Crows eager to lure Giants assistant back to Adelaide

The Adelaide Crows are reportedly eager to lure assistant coach Brett Montgomery from the GWS Giants.

That is what SEN SA’s Michelangelo Rucci is reporting with Matthew Nicks planning for the future in the midst of a disappointing 2024 season.

Former Western Bulldogs player Montgomery, who won the 2004 premiership and 2000 best and fairest with Port Adelaide, has been with the Giants since 2022 after spending four years with the Power as an assistant coach.

Rucci believes that Nicks, another ex-Power assistant, is keen for Montgomery to return to Adelaide where he has spent a large portion of his playing and coaching career.

“The one thing that is going to happen is change, it’s inevitable at every football club,” Rucci said on SEN SA’s The Run Home.

“Change is already in place at Adelaide. They’re planning to be better, better-staffed, better-resourced, better-prepared for the season next year.

“I’m not saying this is a guarantee that is going to happen but this is what Matthew Nicks is aiming for…

“Brett Montgomery is working at GWS. We know there are challenges with that because he still has his family here in Adelaide. He’s being asked by Matthew Nicks to return to Adelaide to be his assistant coach.

“He probably would take defence where let’s be quite blunt about it, Jack Hombsch is starting out in that role where Brett Montgomery has a fair bit of experience.”

Nicks’ interest in Montgomery comes as the former Carlton and Bulldogs assistant begins to push himself into senior coaching equations after a lengthy spell as an assistant.

“I read a column by Kane Cornes saying that Brett Montgomery is one of those next coaches in waiting if you look at the dynamic way in which he set up the GWS defence. Every club should be looking at him as a senior coach,” Rucci continued.

“Well, Matthew Nicks is looking at him as support staff at Adelaide.

“A big question here for Brett Montgomery. Do you stay in a GWS system that looks like it’s going to have more success than Adelaide in the immediate term because everyone looks for senior coaches who have come out of successful systems?

“Or do you make the lifestyle, family, work-life balance decision to come back to Adelaide and work with a man you know well in Matthew Nicks?

“That is going to be an interesting one to watch. We know that the carousel starts turning after August when assistant coaches are told if they’re going to be renewed or should look on.

“I’ll be intrigued as to what decision Brett Montgomery makes about where his future is.”

While Rucci believes there will be change at West Lakes, he fully expects Nicks to be at the helm in 2025 despite Adelaide sitting 15th on the ladder after the head coach signed a two-year deal earlier in the campaign.

“There will be change,” he added.

“But I have no doubt that Matthew Nicks will be sitting in the senior chair at the start of next year.”

Image from GWS Giants.