Port Adelaide’s leaders have crossed the proverbial line by branding Adelaide as smug and entitled, Crows coach Matthew Nicks says.
Nicks is disenchanted in feedback from Energy captain Tom Jonas and vice-captain Ollie Wines in the lead-up to Saturday evening’s grudge match between the South Australian foes.
Watch Matthew Nicks’ blast in the video above
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Each Jonas and Wines described the Crows as “arrogant and entitled” in separate paid tv spots this week.
“I think there’s a line you draw,” Nicks advised reporters on Friday.
“Port Power this time may have overstepped it.”
Nicks mentioned the feedback have overshadowed the final recreation of Energy nice Robbie Grey, who will retire after Saturday evening.
“It’s disappointing isn’t it,” he mentioned.
“We’re talking about arrogant and entitled and we have got a superstar of the game about to retire. Unbelievable.”
Nicks then had a refined dig at his membership’s cross-town rivals, inferring that they did one thing the Crows wouldn’t have.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work on both sides of the fence, and I can tell you that this club (Adelaide) prioritises others,” he mentioned
“It’s football. A contest. We cross the white line and we go to war.
“It’s an interesting one because we’re talking about something right now that I am amazed.
“When we played West Coast two weeks ago, Josh Kennedy’s final game, superstar of the club, (the Eagles) couldn’t have done it better in the lead-in as a football club, atmosphere was amazing.
“We’re not doing that here, are we?”
Adelaide’s players had but to debate the Energy barbs.
“The war of words can often get out of hand,” Nicks mentioned.
“That’s OK. We like to think we get it done on the ground.
“We encourage our guys to always think before they speak and we will go into this game with that mindset.
“We are coming to perform. But that is rivalries, there is just a line I guess and sometimes you cross it.”
Port coach Ken Hinkley refused to say whether or not he agreed with Jonas and Wines.
“I talk around our footy club, I don’t talk around other football clubs,” he mentioned.
“You would have to ask the boys. But I think there’s some honesty in what they talk like, for them, is how they must feel.
“Was this manufactured by me or anything to do with the game? We don’t need that for a Showdown.
“They are always fierce contests but that is what rivalries are, they are meant to be intimidating.
“… I think we’re all looking forward to the start. It will be an interesting game I am sure.”