Nicks, however, spoke to AFC Media post-game, and provided these five takeaways.<\/p>\n
Thilthorpe\u2019s five-goal haul and midfield rotation<\/p>\n
Riley Thilthorpe showed no signs of slowing down from his All-Australian year in 2025 with a scintillating performance in the match simulation against the Power.<\/p>\n
Thilthorpe provided a strong target inside-50, clunking most marks and was accurate in front of goal, finishing the match with five majors.<\/p>\n
Nicks said Thilthorpe\u2019s performance was a reward for effort and the hard work he continued to put in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see someone work as hard as he does and who is such a competitor, you do expect him to do that,\u201d Nicks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really hard match-up ahead of the ball, especially in the air.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a reason he went so early in the draft and we know how important he is for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was a really good step for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old also spent a bit of time rotating through the midfield, attending a few centre bounces in the final term.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiley went on-ball at times today and when the ball hits the ground, he\u2019s unique because he\u2019s got long arms and he can take a pretty clean-ground ball,\u201d Nicks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor an opposition midfielder, it\u2019s quite a challenge to move 100-odd kilos and when he gets himself set in there he\u2019s so good at ground level and is able to hold his space.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make the most of it with Riley and we don\u2019t want to leave him in a spot where he\u2019s relying on us to deliver the ball to him, we\u2019d love to get him in and around it every now and then.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does help our midfielders as well, giving them a little chop out here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruck line-up<\/p>\n
Former Swan Lachlan McAndrew featured with Adelaide\u2019s AFL side for the first time – albeit in a practice game – after honing his craft in the SANFL last year.<\/p>\n
Against the Power on Friday, the 210cm ruck not only provided his teammates with first use at stoppages, but also impacted around the ground with his strong marking ability.<\/p>\n
Nicks said McAndrew was adapting well to the new rule being introduced this year preventing rucks from crossing the centre line before engaging with their opposition ruck at all centre bounces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the fact that after a pretty good smack in the sternum he was able to go again, he\u2019s a warrior, he loves the contest and he\u2019s got some real strengths, some real weapons with what he brings,\u201d Nicks said.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/McAndrew-trial-game-WEB.png\"\/)
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\u201cOne is his height, and the fact he\u2019s a really good jumper, so he\u2019s working really well with our mids at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven around the ground, I thought Lachie really held his own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toby Murray, who was yet to make his AFL debut, also spent time pinch-hitting in the ruck, splitting his time between the centre bounces and the forward line.<\/p>\n
Nicks said Murray, the younger brother of backman Nick Murray, also impressed against the Power.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Toby got his opportunity, he did some really nice things for a young kid who has really only just started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cook\u2019s versatility<\/p>\n
Much has been made about Brayden Cook\u2019s switch from the forward line to defence this pre-season, but against the Power, the 23-year-old moved between the backline and the wing.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018He\u2019s done a lot of work on his defensive actions and been doing a bit of that across half-back for most of the pre-season,\u201d Nicks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was also a former winger, so we knew today he could play both roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrayden has a great awareness when he gets the ball in his hands, he\u2019s very damaging.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a young player coming through who\u2019s now starting to show some maturity, so I thought today was a great step.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Murray-Davis-v-Port-Adelaide-WEB.png\"\/)
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