Prediction Round 1, 2026 - Best 23

[Pugsley]

Loving the talk of Cook

Before he got concussed last year he had some really underrated games and his kicking is sublime. Half back or wing he could be a real weapon this year.

I think he had a light bulb moment and we are grateful.

 

[Pugsley]

Who do you bank with?

The Cheesecake Shop.

 

[Pugsley]

We were never winning a final with Neil Craig. Just wasn’t going ti happen

This.

 

[1970crow]

We were never winning a final with Neil Craig. Just wasn’t going ti happen

But you would have entered most seasons full of enthusiasm based on previous year’s home and away results.

 

[Golumless]

Imagine how good Fog will be once Tex leaves, am I right?

On a side note - It's a weird thing this Adelaide Big Footy board. This preseason there is real feeling from the usual suspects that we didnt rest our players enough in 2025. We had two best 23 players over the age of 30 and we gave those two time off (Walker two complete games off and Laird one complete game off.) Tex also had 5 games with less than 70% TOG.

Meanwhile - the premiers trotted out 36 year old Dayne Zorko for 27 games straight. Old Fart Ryan Lester played 26 games. 31 year old Charlie Cameron played 25 games.

Same goes for Grand Finalist Geelong. 35 year old Danger played more games than Laird and Walker, as did Blikavs and Stewart.

Its funny how the same idiots with the same negative comments really feed the narrative on this board.

Correct, unless you are dealing with someone who's noticeably declining, the need for rest is pure bullshit. There are plenty of byes.

Reality is finals are won by your elite talents and we were lacking. Big part of that was Curtin hot streak ending (which is not uncommon for a 2nd year player), though that run is why you should feel decently confident that we're on the right track. Well alongside losing Rachele and Rankine is quick succession.

 

[Golumless]

My explanation as to why we lost those 2005/06 finals.

“His defensive style of getting numbers behind the ball to clog up space was found out with the quicker ball movement and his defensive style didn’t allow the team to kick a winning score.”

Ah, yes, how could we forget that the offensive juggernaught that was Sydney won the flag in 05.

 

[Golumless]

do you think there is any chance that cumming is moved to half back or do you think he is just locked into the wing?

None whatsoever, and is locked into a wing role.

 

[1990crow]

Going to be a real challenge to pick the 23 when Rankine, Curtin, Keane are all available. And who knows maybe Draper comes good.

Hopefully end of year we look something like this:

FB: Keane ~ Murray ~ Michalanney
HB: Milera ~ Worrell ~ Cumming
C: Dawson ~ Curtin ~ Ah Chee
R: McAndrew ~ Soligo ~ Rachele
HF: Rankine ~ Thilthorpe ~ Keays
FF: Fogarty ~ Walker ~ Pedlar
B: Peatling ~ ANB ~ Cook ~ Laird ~ Hinge

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Round 1, missing Curtin, Rankine & Keane

B: Michaelanny, Butts, Murray
HB: Cook, Worrell, Milera
C: Cumming, Dawson, Ah Chee
HF: ANB, Fogarty, Keays
F: Pedlar, Thilthorpe, Walker
R: McAndrew, Peatling, Rachele
I: Laird, Soligo, Hinge, Nankervis, Taylor
E: O’Brien, Dowling, Edwards

After last night's game, imo this is close to our round 1 side.

Edwards looks like he may be preferred over Nankervis, though I would personally pick Nank on a decent preseason.

Bond for Hinge if underdone.

Just some positional changes...
Cook to play wing
Ah Chee more forward rotations

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If Briggs can kick 4, Madden 3 & Riccardi 2 against the Pies defence, our 3 tall forwards should have a field day if given enough supply!

Oliver shines as GWS talls overpower Pies... but Giants dealt another big blow in horror pre-season

Recruit shines as Pies ‘concern’ emerges.... but another big blow continues horror pre-season

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Cromulant]

If Briggs can kick 4, Madden 3 & Riccardi 2 against the Pies defence, our 3 tall forwards should have a field day if given enough supply!

Oliver shines as GWS talls overpower Pies... but Giants dealt another big blow in horror pre-season

Recruit shines as Pies ‘concern’ emerges.... but another big blow continues horror pre-season

www.foxsports.com.au

If.....

 

[crows dude]

This.

Craig won a few finals. Made two prelims and you don’t make them without winning a final

 

[adelaidecrows]

If Briggs can kick 4, Madden 3 & Riccardi 2 against the Pies defence, our 3 tall forwards should have a field day if given enough supply!

Oliver shines as GWS talls overpower Pies... but Giants dealt another big blow in horror pre-season

Recruit shines as Pies ‘concern’ emerges.... but another big blow continues horror pre-season

www.foxsports.com.au

really depends on the game plan. Slow methodical perfect team football will work against good forward productivity. Hopefully we try to attack than suffocate

 

[1970crow]

Correct, unless you are dealing with someone who's noticeably declining, the need for rest is pure bullshit. There are plenty of byes.

Reality is finals are won by your elite talents and we were lacking. Big part of that was Curtin hot streak ending (which is not uncommon for a 2nd year player), though that run is why you should feel decently confident that we're on the right track. Well alongside losing Rachele and Rankine is quick succession.

I don’t think our strategic philosophy has moved from believing that a bunch of mediocre but well drilled players will prevail over talent. I hope I’m wrong now that Balme and Davis have arrived though. And I’m genuinely hopeful, our previously embedded philosophies were straight up wrong.

 

[Golumless]

I don’t think our strategic philosophy has moved from believing that a bunch of mediocre but well drilled players will prevail over talent. I hope I’m wrong now that Balme and Davis have arrived though. And I’m genuinely hopeful, our previously embedded philosophies were straight up wrong.

Nothing's changed (or will change) because our strategic philosophy are the exact same that Geelong, Brisbane and effectively everyone else uses when it comes to list management/selection/ethos. This is an area where the innovation is all in how to not play kids and to double down on structures. After all, the easiest way to move the ball quickly is to be predictable, alongside the need for a defense to be bulletproof come finals. This year alone 11 teams averaged >100 games of experience, in 2012-2014 it was between 4-6 teams. Equally, we're seeing that in the draft, where it's been as shallow in ND/RD picks as ever.

Effectively, what you are complaining about at Adelaide is not us, it's the league. Whilst everyone is pushing through their uber talents quickly (and we are no different here), the lesser kids are getting pushed by the wayside for those mediocre senior players.

 

[AFC979810]

If Briggs can kick 4, Madden 3 & Riccardi 2 against the Pies defence, our 3 tall forwards should have a field day if given enough supply!

Oliver shines as GWS talls overpower Pies... but Giants dealt another big blow in horror pre-season

Recruit shines as Pies ‘concern’ emerges.... but another big blow continues horror pre-season

www.foxsports.com.au

Yeah - preseason games are a real indication of what will happen once the real stuff starts!

 

[Cromulant]

Yeah - preseason games are a real indication of what will happen once the real stuff starts!

Its not a new thing with Collingwood though, their bookends are pretty weak.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Yeah - preseason games are a real indication of what will happen once the real stuff starts!

Usually when we have had a poor preseason, we have a poor year.

You can get some indications, all though we know can't take it as an absolute predictor.

Friday night suggests there is no excuse of us missing finals & Port likely to struggle to make it.

If the Pies lack key defenders like they did against GWS, our forwards like Thilthorpe should be able to take full advantage... or do you disagree?

 

[AFC979810]

Usually when we have had a poor preseason, we have a poor year.

You can get some indications, all though we know can't take it as an absolute predictor.

Friday night suggests there is no excuse of us missing finals & Port likely to struggle to make it.

If the Pies lack key defenders like they did against GWS, our forwards like Thilthorpe should be able to take full advantage... or do you disagree?

Thats a lot of bullshit.

Friday night shows absolutely nothing with regards to how Adelaide and Port Adelaide's season will go.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Thats a lot of bullshit.

Friday night shows absolutely nothing with regards to how Adelaide and Port Adelaide's season will go.

Nah, your posting once again is complete BS.

I can't be bothered discussing any further, because it's pointless with someone who is just looking for internet fights to make themselves feel bigger.. & I don’t respect your thoughts on football any way.

Have a nice day...

 

[AFC979810]

Nah, your posting once again is complete BS.

I can't be bothered discussing any further, because it's pointless with someone who is just looking for internet fights to make themselves feel bigger.. & I don’t respect your thoughts on football any way.

Have a nice day...

Thats a fair word salad.

The best part is where you try to take the high road, but can't resist throwing in a few digs.

It's extra comical that those that always complain about people arguing with them (You and George) are so active on the politics forum of a footy website.

I genuinely love the Crows. Thats why I post and interact on this forum. It seems that you nuffies that argue on multiple forums are the ones that just love to argue...

 

[Cromulant]

Another day.....

 

[AFC979810]

Another day.....

Another day..... Another poster who argues a lot and then complains about other posters arguing.

I remember one poster trying to argue that Hipwood had rucked more than Tex at AFL level.

 

[Daniel6]

Jordan Dawson

12

Jordan Dawson

Age

29

Ht

190cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

D

15.7

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

4.9

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

2.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

D

11.8

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.0

5star

CL

0.6

3star

will be the 2026 captain of the Adelaide Crows.

Don’t worry Drugs Are Bad Mackay?, I break all the big news. I can now confirm from my very reliable source, water is now wet.

 

[Cromulant]

Another day..... Another poster who argues a lot and then complains about other posters arguing.

I remember one poster trying to argue that Hipwood had rucked more than Tex at AFL level.

Sigh.... now you're making up stuff.

Maybe online forums arent for you. No one EVER said Hipwood rucks more than Tex Walker.... no one.