The Adelaide Crows have called upon their two longest-serving players, Taylor Walker and Brodie Smith, as they prepare to face Collingwood in a highly anticipated match on Saturday night. This encounter at Adelaide Oval marks a critical opportunity for the Crows to overcome a nearly decade-long losing streak against the Pies, having not defeated them since 2016.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks confirmed that Smith, who has played 269 AFL games, will step in for Rory Laird, who received a one-game suspension for rough conduct. Nicks expressed disappointment over Laird’s absence but highlighted Smith’s readiness to contribute.
“Brodie has put his hand up right throughout the year,” Nicks remarked during a press conference. “He probably plays in a lot of other backlines across the league at the moment. It has been a tough year for him to sit one-back, but he deserves his opportunity again.”
Smith has participated in seven games this season, while Walker, a veteran with 297 games under his belt, will replace Chris Burgess following a previous week of rest. The Crows narrowly secured a victory against West Coast, winning by just nine points after a performance that Nicks hopes was an anomaly.
“We hope that we can get straight back on the horse,” Nicks said. “If you go back through the history of the game, there’s been teams that have had success off the back of a little drop away here and there.”
Breaking the Streak Against Collingwood
The Crows are aiming to break a ten-game losing streak against Collingwood, a run that includes a draw in their previous encounter. The Pies have consistently edged past Adelaide in close matches, winning the last five clashes by margins of ten points or fewer.
“This is a great lead-in to finals,” Nicks stated. “To be able to come up against a team that has been the benchmark, on our home deck as well, it’s really exciting for us.”
Collingwood’s experience could play a pivotal role in this match. Nicks acknowledged that knowing how to secure a win is crucial, especially in tightly contested games. “They do have a lot of experience in amongst their group, and experience goes a long way when it comes to close games,” he added.
Despite past struggles, Nicks believes the Crows are on an upward trajectory. “We’re getting better and better every time we play. We’ll just continue to build our confidence and know that at the right time, the result will go our way.”
As the Crows prepare for this significant showdown, the team will look to leverage their home advantage and the veteran presence of Walker and Smith to secure a vital win. The clash promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for supremacy in the lead-up to the finals.
