Assistant coach Scott Burns defends Matthew Nicks tenure at Adelaide

Adelaide assistant coach Scott Burns has publicly supported head coach Matthew Nicks ahead of Saturday's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. Nicks, who is in his seventh season with the club, has not received formal confirmation regarding his contract status for next year. While speculation surrounding his future has intensified, Burns stated that the internal focus remains on the upcoming match at Adelaide Oval. Burns emphasized that the club has undergone a significant transformation under Nicks, moving from a period of team disarray to consistent finals contention. He argued that the elevated expectations currently placed on the coach demonstrate the progress made by the program during his tenure. The club aims to build on this foundation as they approach the post-season challenge.

• 4:14 AMAFL — Nicks deserves to coach in 2027 regardless of finals result: Burns