[VIDEO] Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL live scores, blog, highlights

A sold-out Adelaide Oval is the venue for a monster Thursday night clash between the Adelaide Crows and the Collingwood Magpies. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST)

The football action is flowing thick and fast through these bye rounds, and although the last round’s only been done and dusted for a couple of days, we’re back into it already with a Thursday night blockbuster.

Both teams are coming off the bye last weekend. For Adelaide, it’s been a long wait for redemption.

In their last start, nearly two weeks ago, the Crows were at home against a Melbourne side that’s been struggling for years. But, seemingly not switched on, the Crows were very poor in the first half, enabling the Demons to run out to a big lead. Although the Crows fought back late, the deficit was too big to reel in.

The loss sees the Crows languishing on 11th place on the ladder with some work to do if they are to avoid missing the top eight for the second year in a row.

The sight of thousands of Adelaide supporters heading for the exits early, as the players dropped their heads on the field, was the enduring image of an awful night for the crows. With the bye last weekend, they’ve had to wait a long time for a chance to put things right.

But the Crows will have some work to do. Their opponents, Collingwood, are on a high.

The Magpies are also coming off the bye, but will be hoping their momentum remains intact. They’ve won their last four on the trot, and at their last start were far too good for traditional rivals Carlton.

Blowing the insipid Blues out of the water, particularly during a devastating burst in the second and third quarters, the Magpies looked unstoppable. They led by 56-points at the last change, and if not for some inaccurate finishing, could have led by even more. Although the Blues got a few junk-time goals to peg the margin back, there was no disputing Collingwood’s superiority.

Flying high in 5th place, with a winning streak of four games, the Magpies have some real momentum behind them. Confidence is high, and they’ll be hard to stop.

The Crows have plenty of big names to watch tonight, none bigger than Patrick Dangerfield. His virtuoso masterclass against GWS a few weeks ago was something special; he’ll be keen to replicate that form against a big name opponent.

Gun midfielder, Scott Thompson, after an indifferent start to the year, is also starting to hit some good form.

First use of the ball is important, and Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs is among the best in the business. Up forward, the contribution of big name recruits James Podsiadly and Eddie Betts will be critical if the Crows are to get over the line.

There’s some good young talent making their way into the Adelaide side and Matt Crouch looks the pick of them. He’s another one to keep an eye on tonight.

There’s plenty of gun players to watch in the Collingwood side. Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan, his heavily tattooed arms standing out, is sure to pick up a huge stack of possessions. Alongside him in the midfield, captain Scott Pendlebury is another ball magnet that the Crows will have to work hard to keep quiet.

And even if those big names are kept quiet, the likes of Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom will still need to be kept under control – a task easier said than done!

Travis Cloke is an imposing figure up forward, and will attract the attention of the best Crow defenders. In defence, young Tom Langdon looks a star on the rise and will be looking to attract more of the ball as he continues his break-out year.

With the backdrop of a full house at the picturesque Adelaide Oval, a desperate home side coming up against a high-flying away team, this match has all the ingredients for an epic clash that could well prove crucial to in the race to the finals.

Join us live from 7:30pm (AEST) as we go through the evening’s action. Post your thoughts, observations and barracking below, as the ball is bounced and we get another sensational weekend of football action under way.