Can Adelaide’s Forwards Break Through an Undermanned Collingwood Wall?
You’ve got to love when the AFL season throws up a clash like this—Collingwood versus Adelaide at the MCG, and there’s a lot more riding on it than just four points. We’re talking about reputations, finals hopes, and a test of character for both sides. What makes this matchup particularly juicy is how vulnerable Collingwood’s defence looks right now—and how perfectly set up Adelaide’s tall forwards are to exploit that weakness.
Kane Cornes didn’t hold back during his appearance on SEN, calling out the Crows’ forward line and challenging them to make a statement. And he’s right to spotlight it. Adelaide’s trio of Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe, and Darcy Fogarty have been in solid form, combining for 61 goals already this season. That’s some serious firepower. But Cornes made the case clear: if they can’t kick a dozen goals between them against a Collingwood defence missing its leader Darcy Moore, then what are we even doing?
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And it’s hard to argue with that logic. Without Moore marshalling the backline, the Pies are left plugging gaps with undersized and out-of-position players like Billy Frampton. Brayden Maynard might try to muscle up on Walker, and Quaynor could be forced into unfamiliar territory too. But these matchups heavily favour the Crows. This is supposed to be their moment to capitalise. Anything less than dominance will raise eyebrows.
Still, you can’t count Collingwood out. There’s something about the Pies that always keeps them in the fight, even when the odds say otherwise. They move the ball quickly, they back their system, and they’re not afraid of playing from behind. Nathan Buckley, speaking about Collingwood’s resurgence this season after missing finals in 2024, hinted that the club has rediscovered its edge—and that’s not just tactical, it’s cultural. That fight, that grit—that’s what makes them dangerous.
But let’s not pretend this isn't a litmus test for Adelaide either. They’ve had a great season so far, sitting second in offence, but that has to translate into big performances against serious opposition, especially at the MCG. If the Crows want to be taken seriously as a top-four contender, then they need their big men to dominate when the opportunity is this clear.
All eyes will be on that forward 50 this Saturday afternoon. Can Adelaide’s tall trio truly "dine out" like Cornes says they should, or will Collingwood’s makeshift defence rise to the occasion and steal the headlines? Either way, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch contest—one of those matches where you just know something dramatic is going to happen. And in typical Collingwood-Adelaide fashion, it probably won’t go how we expect.
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