Preview Changes vs. Collingwood (Qualifying Final) Thursday night

[brucetiki]

Check out our board hub for all the deets about our Finals matches - including a one stop shop for those offering/wanting barcodes or tickets over the coming days.

Please put all requests for barcodes/tickets in our Hub thread only.

Tickets for the game have currently been exhausted. There won't be a public sale of tickets today. Keep an eye on the club's socials for any ticket releases closer to the game.

Resource - Adelaide Board Finals Hub

Welcome to the Adelaide Board's Finals Hub. All you need to know about our upcoming Finals matches can be found here! Qualifying Final: Adelaide v Collingwood, Thursday 4 September, 7:10pm Adelaide Oval Ticketing Info: https://www.afc.com.au/club/finalshub2025 Members pre-sale: 10:00am...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[CrowBloke]

Thank you. Some Adelaide fans have lost the plot.

... and your co-fans and players are squeaky-clean and innocent, yeah?
It's not like Houston, Sidebottom and Qaynor harassed and taunted, scragged and intimidated Rankine for most of the game, right?
I'm pretty sure Daicos chest-punched Smith, to which Smith retaliated and Daicos flopped down with agony on his babyface before he got a free, but was Daicos fined for the hit and flop? No.

May the best team on the day win. If that is Adelaide so be it you will have deserved it.

Take your fake-innocence back to your own Board and see what your mates have to say about that.
Seriously --- quote that verbatim in your own Thread and brace yourself for an avalanche of hate.

But some of the threats on this board are beyond the pale.

No such threats or aggro on your Board, right?
Piss off, you disingenuous mug.

 

[AFC979810]

That aged like milk.

Yeah his 11 disposals really put egg on my face.

Easily a top 19 player for the Crows this week.

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

Seeing Darcy struggle last night had me wondering about Nick Daicos.

There's some pressure that comes with being the Great White Hope Of Victorian Football.

Do we hard tag? Try to take down their No 1 weapon? Is this something we held back in Round 21?

We haven’t put a hard tag in Nick Daicos in the two games against Collingwood this year. I have a sneaky feeling that it will be Nick rather than Josh who cops the tag this time.

 

[AFC979810]

Jeez - I thought he played well.

In truth I am probably a little harsher than many. I saw what he was capable of at GWS. Then I saw his price tag.

He is best 22 here. Yes he uses the ball pretty nicely.

But the fact remains he has coaches votes in 1 of his 22 games. He averages under 15 disposals. He would be about 16th - 20th in our B&F this year,


Maybe I am just fighting against the sentiment. For me - Jones was better for us in 23 (and I dont rate Jones). Mackay better than Cumming - Yet Mackay and Jones were blasted on here, whilst Cumming is defended.

He is the shiny new toy.

 

[GameofSloanes]

In truth I am probably a little harsher than many. I saw what he was capable of at GWS. Then I saw his price tag.

He is best 22 here. Yes he uses the ball pretty nicely.

But the fact remains he has coaches votes in 1 of his 22 games. He averages under 15 disposals. He would be about 16th - 20th in our B&F this year,


Maybe I am just fighting against the sentiment. For me - Jones was better for us in 23 (and I dont rate Jones). Mackay better than Cumming - Yet Mackay and Jones were blasted on here, whilst Cumming is defended.

He is the shiny new toy.

Cumming has quite a defensive role for us, a role I would not have picked for him and is different to his role at GWS. The few times we've played him on a wing he's done really well, his kicking going forward is excellent. The role in defence does limit his number of possessions unfortunately, but our defensive structure is amazing so I cant complain.
In no way are Jones or Mackay better than him. Ever.

 

[hugecannon]

That 2009 one still hurts.

I was ready to get a Kurt Tippett tattoo after his almost match winning heroics.

2008 was just flat out embarrassing.

Did you know that Scott Stevens kicked 6 goals in that game!!

I’m sure Neil Craig remembers.

 

[FR0GGY]

Seeing Darcy struggle last night had me wondering about Nick Daicos.

There's some pressure that comes with being the Great White Hope Of Victorian Football.

Do we hard tag? Try to take down their No 1 weapon? Is this something we held back in Round 21?

Interesting the pies were flying early in the year when Nick wasn’t, now it’s turned around for both.

 

[jimvic]

In truth I am probably a little harsher than many. I saw what he was capable of at GWS. Then I saw his price tag.

He is best 22 here. Yes he uses the ball pretty nicely.

But the fact remains he has coaches votes in 1 of his 22 games. He averages under 15 disposals. He would be about 16th - 20th in our B&F this year,


Maybe I am just fighting against the sentiment. For me - Jones was better for us in 23 (and I dont rate Jones). Mackay better than Cumming - Yet Mackay and Jones were blasted on here, whilst Cumming is defended.

He is the shiny new toy.

nope - sorry Jones doesn't do it for me

 

[AFC979810]

Cumming has quite a defensive role for us, a role I would not have picked for him and is different to his role at GWS. The few times we've played him on a wing he's done really well, his kicking going forward is excellent. The role in defence does limit his number of possessions unfortunately, but our defensive structure is amazing so I cant complain.
In no way are Jones or Mackay better than him. Ever.

Is this the same invisible role that validates Nicks picking Murphy?

The 'few' times he has been played on a wing? He has been exclusively on a wing in 2025.

 

[davos44]

Likewise.

<Murphy stuff, probably bad>

If Murphy is selected, I'll be one of them.

I will not have this mans name dragged through the mud

We will let his performances do that for him.

 

[Cranky Bear]

Did you know that Scott Stevens kicked 6 goals in that game!!

I’m sure Neil Craig remembers.

 

[buttons91]

I live in Adelaide so follow the crows although a Carlton supporter. I'm just so surprised at the love for Nankervis. I just don't see it. Watch a lot of SANFL and seen him in the AFL. Looks like handy depth but hardly think he should be talked about as an inclusion. Thought the same at the start of year when people didn't want Milera in. Anyway I think it will be tight and comes down to goal kicking and think you boys get it done by 5. best of luck.

 

[Brenton Davy]

I am not a Murphy fan. I have however been curious about when and how he has been selected in the AFL.

Murphy has been selected in the 22 on three occasions (Gold Coast, Hawks away and Collingwood home). On all three occasions he has played a “run with” role on the oppositions most dangerous exit defender. These players have very high uncontested possessions due to handball receives and players short kicking to them. Josh Daicos has averaged 18 uncontested possessions per match this year. Against Murphy he had 8 uncontested possessions and 4 of those were kick outs. Melbourne didn’t seem to worry about Josh Daicos on Friday night and consequently he had 11 uncontested possessions in the first half.

Is it worthwhile effectively playing with one less forward in order to stop the ball going through Josh Daicos hands? I am not convinced that it is but it depends what the small forward he is replacing offers. The other question is whether Murphy is the best man for this role, I’m not convinced that he is.

Zac Taylor has been playing the old Murphy role. He doesn’t take a specific player and his primary role is to put pressure on the ball exiting the D50. It is hard to quantify how successful he has been but he is a lot better hurting the opposition when he has the ball.

I agree with you Bigman, selection melts are a distinct possibility next week.

Bring Max in to play that role on J Daicos. Quieten him but also make him accountable because at least Nax can hit the scoreboard.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

I live in Adelaide so follow the crows although a Carlton supporter. I'm just so surprised at the love for Nankervis. I just don't see it. Watch a lot of SANFL and seen him in the AFL. Looks like handy depth but hardly think he should be talked about as an inclusion. Thought the same at the start of year when people didn't want Milera in. Anyway I think it will be tight and comes down to goal kicking and think you boys get it done by 5. best of luck.

Thanks for coming by. Good to have an outsiders perspective.

I’m a big fan of Nank simply because he is a 6’3” coordinated wing, hbf, HFF. Having height and versatility is what does it for me. If he was short then it’d be a no. But he can contest aerially which is a big plus.

 

[Footypie32]

Thoughts on Rachele as the super Sub?

 

[BRL121]

Cumming has quite a defensive role for us, a role I would not have picked for him and is different to his role at GWS. The few times we've played him on a wing he's done really well, his kicking going forward is excellent. The role in defence does limit his number of possessions unfortunately, but our defensive structure is amazing so I cant complain.
In no way are Jones or Mackay better than him. Ever.

I agree with the general sentiment, but he has been playing mostly on the wing!

 

[Footypie32]

I live in Adelaide so follow the crows although a Carlton supporter. I'm just so surprised at the love for Nankervis. I just don't see it. Watch a lot of SANFL and seen him in the AFL. Looks like handy depth but hardly think he should be talked about as an inclusion. Thought the same at the start of year when people didn't want Milera in. Anyway I think it will be tight and comes down to goal kicking and think you boys get it done by 5. best of luck.

Last year, when we were shit, he played well and really played with spirit, even when we were no chance of winning.

Having said that, he's no longer best 22/23. But I'm not writing him off.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Thoughts on Rachele as the super Sub?

Would be a massive backfire if we get an early injury

 

[Footypie32]

Would be a massive backfire if we get an early injury

I guess it depends how ready he is. If he's 95% it might be worth the risk.

Any lower and you might be right.

 

[Slippery Pete]

IN: the most hostile Adelaide Oval crowd in the history of footy

 

[hugecannon]

Bring Max in to play that role on J Daicos. Quieten him but also make him accountable because at least Nax can hit the scoreboard.

I’d be curious to see how Bond might fare as a defensive forward who can role up into the midfield, especially if Max is fit to play.

 

[Cyclonus]

I’d be curious to see how Bond might fare as a defensive forward who can role up into the midfield, especially if Max is fit to play.

Max likely the better forward. Didn't Bond play well against Collingwood?

 

[1990crow]

I live in Adelaide so follow the crows although a Carlton supporter. I'm just so surprised at the love for Nankervis. I just don't see it. Watch a lot of SANFL and seen him in the AFL. Looks like handy depth but hardly think he should be talked about as an inclusion. Thought the same at the start of year when people didn't want Milera in. Anyway I think it will be tight and comes down to goal kicking and think you boys get it done by 5. best of luck.

I think he needs a big preseason, and to determine whether he wants to play with intensity required.

 

[Golumless]

Likewise.
I was a fan of Murphy when he started; I thought he was a tough nugget, courageous, a trier, then I gradually saw that (like McHenry) his huffing and puffing didn't blow any houses down .

Yup, being tough and courageous will only get you so far, and will get you no love from supporters.

It's why he keeps being selected, seeing he's a guy who you can trust will put his body on the line when the going gets tough, and you need that in the positions that you don't have a lot of options in (and in part it's why he's ended a few careers at Adelaide).

Imo selecting Murphy makes us at least half a forward short on the night, anyway, regardless of any role he's given.
That sounds unfair but Murphy's career stats do not lie.
He averages 0.63G/ 0.85 1%ers/ and 0.53GA per game.
After 120 games one would have to say he is not AFL standard, sadly .

There are many paths for a player to make it as small forward. After all, it's really difficult to find/retain 4-5 options that are genuinely good footballers (especially as you really need the good footballers elsewhere). Some are going to do it via goal scoring, others via defense being their number one asset and some are going to do it via transition. Poor Alex Neal-Bullen wouldn't have a career either if goals/goal assists/one percenters were as important as you are claiming

120 games says the exact opposite, Murphy is/was AFL standard. He just hit a challenge this year that finally undid him, which happens to a lot of role players. Where the career was made was the 12+ disposals/4+ ground ball gets/3 tackles/14 pressure acts which is enough to have a career in a side that hasn't found big time transition options which Murph hit in 2022-2023 and came close to (in disposal count, rest was a-ok) in 2021,2024.

Alex Neal-Bullen really just made Murphy redundant in this setup just by putting up 16.4 disp/5.2 ground balls/4 tackles/18.4 pressure acts for the year. All top 10% for small forwards, and really set up the nighmare scenario for any role player, when the club recruits one of the best in the league at your role.

 

[Fuddnuddler]

Talk of playing Max forward, to me, is nonsense. Our best shutdown defender must play on Cwd's best forward and the one who could kick a bag - Elliott.