Thursday Fallout: Pies make Crows their bunnies in "win of the year"

For Collingwood, it was a performance and a result better than hoped.

Craig McRae said it himself after the 108-74 win: “It's probably beyond my expectations.”

The Magpies overcame momentum swings in the first half, fell behind by 27 points, kicked ahead in the third term, and then blew the Crows out of the water in the fourth.

It wasn’t entirely a surprise to see them beat the Crows in Adelaide - they’ve done it a bunch of times in recent seasons. They love beating them at the Adelaide Oval. They also did it in last year’s Qualifying Final.

But the way in which they turned it on late was something to behold. To do it in this fashion with so much outside doubt around them is commendable.

Kane Cornes loved what he saw from the Pies, suggesting they are firmly in the finals mix in 2026, but he does have a warning.

“Collingwood are in this thing. At some point it’s going to be difficult for them because they’re going to get overwhelmed by genuine talent and quality,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“But that was one of the home and away wins of the year. You could tell what it meant to them. They hadn’t beaten a side in the top nine.

“Adelaide are their bunnies, really.”

McRae’s Magpies are now sitting two points outside the top four when some were expecting them to drop out of the wildcard 10.

Can they make some noise in September?

David King asked: “What can they do?”

Cornes: “Can they win a final?”

King: “Of course they can win a final.”

Cornes: “That’s my limit. But if there was no wildcard I reckon they would have given up on the season after Queen’s Birthday.”

King: “No, not a chance. What a defeatist attitude.”

Internally they’ll give themselves a chance of doing some damage at the business end. It’s what makes them so hard to write off.

Geelong at the ‘G in a Thursday night blockbuster next week is mouth-watering. Then it’s the Eagles before Hawthorn and Brisbane. Tough run.

Just when you thought it was time to trust the Crows, they melt on the big stage again.

Cornes reckons it will be a disaster for Matthew Nicks if they can’t salute in a final this year following their straight sets exit as minor premiers in 2025.

Cornes: “What’s the fallout for Adelaide if they don’t win a final this year?”

King: “They have to win a final. If they don’t you’ve got to question everything.”

Cornes: “There’s going to be some serious questions. Seven years, no finals wins - if they don’t win one this year it’s catastrophic.”

They remain fifth for the time being. They’ll definitely play finals.

Essendon next to get them back on the winners’ list (most likely) before Richmond, so they should rally swiftly.

Then some decent tests with Fremantle and GWS as finals lead ins.

Andrew Slevison