Collingwood coach Craig McRae admits his forward line has some issues to fix, but he thinks work can be done in the next 12 days before their next match.
The Magpies’ key forwards aren’t in great goal-kicking form, and they only kicked 11 goals in tonight’s loss to Adelaide.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae.AFL Photos
“That’s the reality. We are not getting much out of our keys [key forwards] – that’s real, and I’m not going to shy away from that,” McRae said.
“We’ve got work to do on that. There is a connection breakdown at times. In the second and fourth quarter we kicked nine of our 11 goals. So you say no then – in the last quarter you would say the connection is pretty good.
“We’ve got some work to do forward of the ball.”
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11.46pm on Mar 14, 2026
That’s all for tonight
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Thanks so much for joining us today and tonight.
That’s all we have for now, but we will have plenty more AFL coverage tomorrow and throughout the week as we head towards round two.
Please have a lovely evening and bye for now.
11.31pm on Mar 14, 2026
McRae sees plenty of “blue sky” for Magpies despite loss
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The Magpies paid dearly for some costly turnovers in the third term and coach Craig McRae noted this during his post game presser.
“That third quarter really shifted momentum. In the end, that was the margin wasn’t it? It was 14 points and they’ve kicked three or four quick goals and here we are,” McRae said.
Darcy Cameron of the Magpies kicks the ball.AFL Photos via Getty Images
“We played the team that finished top of the ladder last year and lost by 14 points. I think there is a lot of blue sky in that and we had had our chances.”
McRae said his side was “average” on the night but had plenty of improvement to come.
“I said to the players I feel like we were pretty average tonight and parts of the game got away from us,” McRae said.
“It’s an interesting time. It’s round one but we’ve played two games. There are things we’ve done well and things we haven’t done well.
“I think there is a lot of blue sky in that. We had our chances and here we are.”
Pinned post from 11.21pm on Mar 14, 2026
‘We aren’t getting much from our keys’: McRae
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Collingwood coach Craig McRae admits his forward line has some issues to fix, but he thinks work can be done in the next 12 days before their next match.
The Magpies’ key forwards aren’t in great goal-kicking form, and they only kicked 11 goals in tonight’s loss to Adelaide.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae.AFL Photos
“That’s the reality. We are not getting much out of our keys [key forwards] – that’s real, and I’m not going to shy away from that,” McRae said.
“We’ve got work to do on that. There is a connection breakdown at times. In the second and fourth quarter we kicked nine of our 11 goals. So you say no then – in the last quarter you would say the connection is pretty good.
“We’ve got some work to do forward of the ball.”
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10.53pm on Mar 14, 2026
Your view: Should all sides start in the same round
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10.29pm on Mar 14, 2026
Nicks said Rankine is ready to return
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Crows coach Matthew Nicks didn’t guarantee star playmaker Izak Rankine would be playing next round, but he made it clear where he wouldn’t be playing.
“I can guarantee you he won’t be playing in the SANFL – I hope he is watching,” Nicks told Fox Footy.
“He’s good to go. We are holding him back. He’s been that keen to play since September last year. He’s done everything but hasn’t missed a beat.”
10.26pm on Mar 14, 2026
With Daicos away, the Crows started to play
By Andrew Wu
Nick Daicos was the most influential player on the MCG in the first half. He started the third quarter on the wing.
By the time he was back in the centre square seven minutes later, Adelaide had made their match-winning run.
Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrates kicking a goal.Getty Images
The sight of Daicos patrolling the Members wing was strange at the time, and by game’s end a genuine head scratcher.
Despite a charge in the final quarter, the Pies, who trailed by 37 points entering time-on in the third term, were unable to reel in Adelaide, who prevailed by 14 points – 13.15 (93) to 11.13 (79).
In what proved to be the pivotal quarter of the game, Daicos was positioned away from where the game was being decided.
He touched the ball just six times. Adelaide slammed on six goals.
The Crows’ takeaways were pure, resulting in deep entries inside 50. Collingwood’s undermanned and undersized defence was powerless to absorb the heavy traffic directed their way.
Riley Thilthorpe of the Crows is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal.Getty Images
Riley Thilthorpe did not have the field day expected of him against a backline missing Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe but was the most dangerous forward on the ground, booting three goals.
Billy Frampton had the job at times on Thilthorpe, but there were periods where he was manned by Isaac Quaynor, a running defender giving up 21 centimetres to the Adelaide behemoth.
For all their battles on the ball, the Pies generated more entries inside 50, but their forward line lacked bite.
Jamie Elliott did not touch the ball in the first half, had just two possessions to three-quarter time but was a key to their late charge with two goals.
Tim Membrey of the Magpies kicks.Getty Images
Tim Membrey was equally ineffective in the first three quarters before the briefest of cameos in the final term. Dan McStay did not do much.
Membrey and McStay – the Pies’ two key forwards – have kicked just two goals in the first two rounds.
Unless they have midfield dominance, this will not be a forward line that will leave opposition defences quaking in their boots.
They have produced two 11-goal returns in the first two rounds while the perceived premiership fancies are kicking centuries.
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10.16pm on Mar 14, 2026
Full-time stats - Pies v Crows
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10.14pm on Mar 14, 2026
‘It’s huge’: Crows proud to score an early MCG win
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Crows star Riley Thilthorpe isn’t hiding how important this win was for his club as they chase a premiership in 2026.
“It’s huge to start off like that with a great team win,” Thilthorpe told Fox Footy.
“It will lift all the boys and get us ready for round two.”
Thilthorpe also joked that debutant ruckman Lachlan McAndrew had moved into his house two years ago and hadn’t left.
“He wasn’t signed and was going to play SANFL. He meant to stay for two weeks, and he’s been with me for two years. I can’t get rid of him,” Thilthorpe said with a laugh.
10.06pm on Mar 14, 2026
FT: Adelaide 13.15 (93) to Collingwood 10.13 (73)
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The Crows have scored a statement win over Collingwood at the MCG.
It’s a big win for the Crows’ top-four hopes and for their premiership aspirations.
Riley Thilthorpe is congratulated by teammates after kicking a goal.Getty Images
The Crows had a late scare with Jordan Dawson landing awkwardly on his back. He appears to be sore but OK.
Time will tell, but his club has the four points at a ground they haven’t had too much success at in recent times.
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10.02pm on Mar 14, 2026
Elliott keeps the Pies interested
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Jamie Elliott has booted another goal.
It might be too little, too late but the Pies will swing for the fences and see if they can conjure a miracle from here.