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From Code Sports - How do you think the Crows will go?
Adelaide season 2025 preview:
Adelaide is yet to make finals under Matthew Nicks. With the pressure from fans rising can the Crows finally return to September action?
SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
If you asked Crows fans at the start of 2024 whether they thought Hugh Bond could emerge as their next lockdown small defender they wouldn’t have believed you but in his seven games at AFL level Bond proved many wrong. He was given the task of the oppositions’ most dangerous small forward and performed admirably.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Isaac Cumming (GWS), James Peatling (GWS), Sid Draper (draft), Tyler Welsh (draft)
OUT: Elliott Himmelberg (Gold Coast), Rory Sloane (retired), Lachlan Gollant, Patrick Parnell, Ned McHenry (all delisted) CROWS' 2025 BEST 23
FB: Max Michalanney, Mark Keane, Josh Worrell
HB: Wayne Milera, Nick Murray, Isaac Cumming
C: Lachlan Sholl, Jake Soligo, Mitch Hinge
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Darcy Fogarty, Ben Keays
FF: Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker, Josh Rachele
FOLL: Reilly O’Brien, Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine
INT: Matt Crouch, Rory Laird, James Peatling, Dan Curtin, Sid Draper
It should be a much changed best Crows team with the players they have brought in and those returning from long injury layoffs in 2024. Neal-Bullen should slot straight into a half-forward role, Cumming looks set to provide some class off half-back with a fully fit Wayne Milera, while Peatling is likely to rotate between a midfield and forward role. Draper has shown such promising glimpses in pre-season so far that he should bang down the door to the Crows side pretty quickly, while how Dan Curtin is used will be something to watch.
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Reilly O’Brien might be in the Crows leadership group but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the ruckman. Twice in the last two years he has been dropped to the SANFL and the rumblings are that the Crows are very keen on Essendon’s big man Sam Draper. While he can be extremely effective on the ground O’Brien can split Crows fans about whether he should be the No. 1 ruck at West Lakes. It looks set to be a big year if he can win over his doubters amongst the fans and keep being the top big man at the Crows in 2026.
Matthew Nicks is under the most pressure he has ever been at since he arrived at West Lakes. It is five years and no finals for Nicks and despite still having a contract until the end of 2026 the pressure is mounting from fans who are starting to get disillusioned with not only the results but the messaging coming from Nicks. He would want a good start from the Crows.
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Hugh Bond, Chris Burgess, Brayden Cook, Matt Crouch, Charlie Edwards, Karl Gallagher, Wayne Milera, Nick Murray, Luke Nankervis, Lachlan Murphy, Reilly O’Brien, Oscar Ryan, Harry Schoenberg, Brodie Smith, Kieran Strachan, Zac Taylor, Taylor Walker POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
The Crows have been crying out for some speed and explosiveness in their midfield, something the club itself has conceded. But Adelaide has not sat on its hands and has addressed it by taking Draper with the fourth pick of the draft. Now it might be too early to expect incredible things from the South Adelaide product but he has been impressive in pre-season and if he can hit the ground running and even pinch-hit in the midfield in 2025 it would be massive for the Crows and would ease the reliance on Izak Rankine and perhaps answer the question about how to best use their star.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Crows bounce back and show that they are on the right path? Many expected Nicks’ side to make finals in 2024 but it was an extremely disappointing season in the end by the Crows. The off-season has been a strong one by Adelaide, and the early-season draw is a kind one. So you would expect them to be a much better side than in 2024, but plenty expected them to take the next step in 2024. If there isn’t improvement in 2025 and finals isn’t challenged then a lot of people at West Lakes will be getting nervous.
Adelaide season 2025 preview:
Adelaide is yet to make finals under Matthew Nicks. With the pressure from fans rising can the Crows finally return to September action?
SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
If you asked Crows fans at the start of 2024 whether they thought Hugh Bond could emerge as their next lockdown small defender they wouldn’t have believed you but in his seven games at AFL level Bond proved many wrong. He was given the task of the oppositions’ most dangerous small forward and performed admirably.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Alex Neal-Bullen (Melbourne), Isaac Cumming (GWS), James Peatling (GWS), Sid Draper (draft), Tyler Welsh (draft)
OUT: Elliott Himmelberg (Gold Coast), Rory Sloane (retired), Lachlan Gollant, Patrick Parnell, Ned McHenry (all delisted) CROWS' 2025 BEST 23
FB: Max Michalanney, Mark Keane, Josh Worrell
HB: Wayne Milera, Nick Murray, Isaac Cumming
C: Lachlan Sholl, Jake Soligo, Mitch Hinge
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Darcy Fogarty, Ben Keays
FF: Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker, Josh Rachele
FOLL: Reilly O’Brien, Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine
INT: Matt Crouch, Rory Laird, James Peatling, Dan Curtin, Sid Draper
It should be a much changed best Crows team with the players they have brought in and those returning from long injury layoffs in 2024. Neal-Bullen should slot straight into a half-forward role, Cumming looks set to provide some class off half-back with a fully fit Wayne Milera, while Peatling is likely to rotate between a midfield and forward role. Draper has shown such promising glimpses in pre-season so far that he should bang down the door to the Crows side pretty quickly, while how Dan Curtin is used will be something to watch.
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Reilly O’Brien might be in the Crows leadership group but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the ruckman. Twice in the last two years he has been dropped to the SANFL and the rumblings are that the Crows are very keen on Essendon’s big man Sam Draper. While he can be extremely effective on the ground O’Brien can split Crows fans about whether he should be the No. 1 ruck at West Lakes. It looks set to be a big year if he can win over his doubters amongst the fans and keep being the top big man at the Crows in 2026.
Matthew Nicks is under the most pressure he has ever been at since he arrived at West Lakes. It is five years and no finals for Nicks and despite still having a contract until the end of 2026 the pressure is mounting from fans who are starting to get disillusioned with not only the results but the messaging coming from Nicks. He would want a good start from the Crows.
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Hugh Bond, Chris Burgess, Brayden Cook, Matt Crouch, Charlie Edwards, Karl Gallagher, Wayne Milera, Nick Murray, Luke Nankervis, Lachlan Murphy, Reilly O’Brien, Oscar Ryan, Harry Schoenberg, Brodie Smith, Kieran Strachan, Zac Taylor, Taylor Walker POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
The Crows have been crying out for some speed and explosiveness in their midfield, something the club itself has conceded. But Adelaide has not sat on its hands and has addressed it by taking Draper with the fourth pick of the draft. Now it might be too early to expect incredible things from the South Adelaide product but he has been impressive in pre-season and if he can hit the ground running and even pinch-hit in the midfield in 2025 it would be massive for the Crows and would ease the reliance on Izak Rankine and perhaps answer the question about how to best use their star.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Crows bounce back and show that they are on the right path? Many expected Nicks’ side to make finals in 2024 but it was an extremely disappointing season in the end by the Crows. The off-season has been a strong one by Adelaide, and the early-season draw is a kind one. So you would expect them to be a much better side than in 2024, but plenty expected them to take the next step in 2024. If there isn’t improvement in 2025 and finals isn’t challenged then a lot of people at West Lakes will be getting nervous.
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