Collingwood Surges Past Adelaide in Fiery Finals Clash
What a night of finals footy it’s been in Adelaide, with Collingwood storming past the Crows in a qualifying final full of drama, milestones, and more than a little controversy. The atmosphere at Adelaide Oval was electric from the first bounce, but things turned hostile quickly, with every touch from Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor met by boos from the home crowd. That response was tied to the previous clash between these two sides, when Adelaide’s Izak Rankine was suspended for using a homophobic slur directed at Quaynor. It added an ugly edge to what was already shaping up as a high-stakes battle.
From the outset, both teams threw everything at each other. Adelaide had plenty to celebrate with Taylor Walker playing his 300th game and Alex Neal-Bullen reaching 200, while Collingwood’s Josh Daicos marked his 150th. But milestones were quickly overshadowed by the intensity of the contest. Early on, the sides traded goals, and by quarter-time the Magpies held a narrow two-point lead. At the main break, Collingwood was still in front by six, but the real story was the spite that spilled over into a half-time scuffle, with jumpers torn and tempers flaring as both teams refused to back down.
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Adelaide had their chances. Luke Pedlar was lively, booting goals to keep the Crows in it, while Josh Worrell led all players in disposals. But for every spark Adelaide managed to ignite, Collingwood’s experience and structure stamped it out. Captain Darcy Moore dominated in the air with a huge tally of intercepts, and Steele Sidebottom rolled back the years with a stunning burst of goals. Jordan De Goey, too, was back to his destructive best, snapping truly to extend the lead.
Then came the avalanche. After halftime, Collingwood shifted gears and simply overwhelmed Adelaide. Their clearance work was relentless, their pressure suffocating, and suddenly the scoreboard blew open. Pat Lipinski, Jamie Elliott, and Lachie Schultz all joined the scoring spree, with the Magpies piling on seven unanswered goals in a blistering passage. Adelaide looked stunned, unable to break through Collingwood’s wall of defenders or keep up with their swift ball movement.
The booing of Quaynor added another layer of controversy, with many in the football community calling out the Adelaide crowd for poor behaviour. Even neutral supporters found themselves siding with Collingwood on the night, applauding the resilience of a player who handled the hostility with composure.
By the final stages, the contest had been decided. Collingwood had not only secured the win but also sent a strong message to the rest of the finals contenders. Their stars stood tall, their system held firm, and their big-game players delivered when it mattered most. Adelaide, meanwhile, were left licking their wounds and facing a sudden-death clash next week.
It was a game that had everything — milestones, brilliance, controversy, and a genuine finals edge. Collingwood walked away triumphant, while Adelaide will be left asking what went wrong after such a promising start.
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