The Adelaide Crows look to continue their white-hot form against the suddenly rejuvenated Collingwood Magpies. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEST).
Adelaide flew under the radar after a start far more impressive than their 4-4 record suggested, but since then the Crows have been unstoppable.
Seven consecutive wins, by an average of 47 points, has seen the club soar into the top four, with Don Pyke’s chances of winning a flag in his first season as coach growing by the week.
They’ve been particularly superb on their home deck, winning six of seven by an average of 41 points.
If they get a home final, they’ll be very hard to knock off – so motivation in such a tight top-eight race shouldn’t be a problem for the Crows.
Collingwood’s year may be a write-off, but they’ve hit some form of late and are a real chance to play spoiler as the season reaches its end.
Consecutive beltings of Brisbane and Geelong looked to have corrected the ship for the Magpies after a 2-5 start, but miserably uncompetitive losses to the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Melbourne had them on a collision course for the bottom four.
But with three straight wins to their name, including a stunning upset over the Giants in Sydney last week, it looks the black and white are back, even if it is a little late.
The Crows have won their last three games against Collingwood, although the Pies won the previous six before that.
Adelaide’s 14-25 record against Collingwood is their worst, percentage-wise, against any side in the competition.
Prediction
Collingwood deserve a little more credit than they’ve received for their purple patch, and go into this match with a genuine chance.
But Adelaide’s form has been just about the best in the competition, and with so much to play for in the tightest finals race in years, should be able to get up once more.
Crows by 19 points
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Another comfortable performance from the Crows. Next week is shaping to be one hell of clash at the Cattery.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Big crowd at Adelaide Oval tonight: 50,012.
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
Poor Tay Adams unlucky to miss out on a sneaky one
Stirling Coates
Editor
ADELAIDE CROWS v COLLINGWOOD THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Brad Crouch (ADE) - Dug in deep to rack up 29 touches - 16 contested - nine tackles and five inside 50s. 2 VOTES - Jarryd Lyons (ADE) - Very strong around the ground with 21 disposals, seven tackles and two goals. 1 VOTE - Adam Treloar (COL) - Tried all night for the 'Pies, collecting 36 disposals at 81% and seven tackles.
Stirling Coates
Editor
ADELAIDE CROWS v COLLINGWOOD FULL TIME REPORT Adelaide Crows - 14.13 (97) Collingwood - 10.9 (69) GOAL KICKERS Crows: Betts 3, Lynch 2, Lyons 2, Henderson, Jacobs, Walker, Jenkins, McGovern, Atkins, Cameron Magpies: Crisp 2, Cloke 2, Greenwood 2, Adams, Moore, Varcoe, Aish DISPOSAL LEADERS Crows: Sloane 22, B. Crouch 20, M. Crouch 19 Magpies: Treloar 25, Pendlebury 22, Adams 21 TEAM STATS Disposals: Magpies 405, Crows 385 Contested Possessions: Magpies 159, Crows 157 Tackles: Magpies 95, Crows 65 Inside 50s: Crows 57, Magpies 47 Clearances: Crows 41, Magpies 38
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND MAGPIES SIREN Taylor Adams with a smart kick around the body to the lead of Jeremy Howe inside 50. The siren sounds with his kick in the air, and it's just a behind across the face. Adelaide were by far the better team this evening, and they finish off 28-point victors. ADE - 14.13 (97) COL - 10.9 (69) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
Highlight-reel grab from Jake Lever to cap off a superb evening for the young defender. He's racked up the 11 one-percenters and helped keep Jesse White off the scoreboard. ADE - 14.13 (97) COL - 10.8 (68) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CROWS Adelaide get the kick inside 50 and Charlie Cameron takes the mark. He's been very, very quiet tonight Charlie Cameron, but he's able to finish off the evening with a good goal from 45 out on a slight angle. ADE - 14.13 (97) COL - 10.8 (68) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
All of the 50,012 fans in attendance this evening received a yellow shirt to commemorate Scott Thompson's 300 games. Interesting to see an AFL club follow a trend more commonly seen during NBA playoff matches. Will be very interesting to see during this year's finals series whether fans start getting t-shirts. ADE - 13.13 (91) COL - 10.8 (68) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL MAGPIES Kyle Hartigan gets pinged for dragging the ball in down back for Adelaide, and that gives Travis Cloke the free kick 25 out on a slight angle. The commentators point out that this is the range that Cloke struggles with, but he leans back and slots it. ADE - 13.13 (91) COL - 10.8 (68) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CROWS Someone wake up the scoreboard attendant! Tom Lynch with a clever handball over the top is cut off, but the Collingwood opponent can only knock it into the hands of Jarryd Lyons instead of taking possession. Lyons unleashes a running shot from 50 out on a slight angle, but it gets a good straight skidding bounce and slides through. ADE - 13.13 (91) COL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Just one goal and one behind a piece in this final quarter thus far. Surely on track for the lowest-scoring quarter of the season. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Brodie Grundy has put in his second strong performance in as many weeks in the ruck for Collingwood. 31 hit-outs to Sam Jacobs' 24, while collecting 21 disposals and five tackles. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND MAGPIES Jack Crips unleashes a quick kick on the run, but it's across the face. That would've made things a bit interesting. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 9.8 (62) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL MAGPIES Long kick to full forward for Collingwood gets in behind the pack, and the superior pace of Levi Greenwood helps him run onto the loose ball and slam through his second from point blank. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 9.7 (61) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
This final quarter is panning out to be a real fizzer. Nobody has put together a particularly exciting passage of play. The sting is well and truly out of this one. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 8.7 (55) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CROWS Brodie Smith cuts off the clearing kick from the Collingwood defence, hands off to Rory Atkins who evades two defenders and just watches his running shot sail through. Adelaide are home. ADE - 12.13 (85) COL - 8.7 (55) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Scott Thompson only up to 19 touches in what has been a low-possession game, but he's collected the eight tackles in a typically bullocking performance of the 300-gamer. ADE - 11.13 (79) COL - 8.7 (55) Q4: 15'
Bill
Guest
The teams may not be able to comment on the quality of umpiring but they are again of the lowest quality. When will they learn that the game is not about them. Their obvious bias against south Australian teams is getting boring.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Very slow start to the quarter. Adelaide maybe just a little off the pedal with the comfortable lead, while Collingwood just aren't able to get inside 50s of sufficient quality to mount a challenge. ADE - 11.13 (79) COL - 8.7 (55) Q4: 16'