The challenge is going to get bigger - Nicks on Brisbane

Fresh off a win for the first time in over a month, Matthew Nicks was quick to talk about the week that was, as the Crows load up to play the Lions on Sunday.

“It’s a little bit of a longer week [when you win],” Nicks began, ahead of the game against Brisbane.

“It’s nice to build a bit of belief off the back of what we’re working on here. I guess you take that break as an opportunity to put two really good weeks together.

“We’ve got a couple of days this week to sharpen the sword a bit more and prepare ourselves for a pretty tough one.

“For us to come out and nail that was really pleasing. Now we’ve got to do it again. That’s the AFL at the moment, it’s such a tough, tight season.

“It’s so balanced at the moment that every game is tough, but this week we run into a team that probably sat first half of the year a little bit similar to us.

“They weren’t getting the results we know they should be and they’ve been able to get back to their best. So they we’re gonna go and play against one of the best teams in the comp at this point on their home deck.”

The only change the Crows have made is the addition of Brodie Smith for the injured Will Hamill.

Nicks spoke ahead of naming the team that Thursday;

“If the team [is] able to get the job done, it’s 23 players that have an impact in that game or they’ve done something right,” Nicks said.

“Occasionally we can look at who hasn’t had much impact on the game and you’ve got to make a change here, but that’s not the case.

“Sometimes not every player can come off the ground and [have] 30 possessions. It just doesn’t work that way.

“Very important roles that are played may not look like they’ve impacted the game when you look at the statistics and kicks and marks and handballs. They’ve done a fantastic job in other areas.

“We’re going to lose Will Hamill, which is one that we were hoping didn’t got that way. He injured his hand during the game last week. He’ll go in for surgery today, he’ll miss three to four weeks. It’s a cracked finger.

“Will was going so well, he’s found his grove this year, made that spot his own.”

Matthew Nicks made it clear why he picked Brodie Smith over others waiting in wings, such as young guns Daniel Curtin and Hugh Bond;

“Brodie Smith was one of the best on the ground on the weekend. There’s no doubt about that, he’s done everything we’ve asked. He’s gone back and performed the way we’ve asked him to. We’ve challenged him with that.

“The balance of playing against a strong side right across the board. There’s no weaknesses in Brisbane’s team and they will punish you if you make mistakes.

“The competition is that close. We’re playing a very good side this week, there’s no weeks that you don’t. If you get it wrong, you’re going to lose games of footy.

“We’ve got eight weeks to go. We want to bring that momentum from last week and that belief in the way we play. If we are good enough, we can take it up to Brisbane.”

On the draw against Brisbane last time they played, Nicks said the Crows had taken on lot from that game;

“We’ve already looked through a fair bit of that. What we did well and maybe where we missed it earlier in that game,” Nicks said.

“It was a game of two halves, we felt like we got it right in the second half.

“Now Brisbane at the moment are in a lot stronger form then they were at that point.”

Coverage from the clash at the Gabba begins 3:40pm Adelaide time on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, as well as several radio streams.