Adelaide have held off a Collingwood fightback to claim a gritty 14-point victory at the MCG and kick off their fresh AFL premiership tilt in winning fashion.
Last year’s minor premiers, who exited the finals in straight sets – including suffering a qualifying final loss to Collingwood – entered 2026 with a point to prove.
The Magpies were in it up to their eyeballs, with Nick Daicos starring, in the first half before a six-goal third quarter from Adelaide set up a 13.15 (93) to 11.13 (79) win in front of 62,482 fans on Saturday night.
Seven of the previous eight matches between the Crows and Magpies had been decided by 10 points or less and Collingwood threatened when they surged at the start of the fourth term.
But Collingwood were left to rue giving away two 50-metre penalties, for breaching the altered ‘stand’ rule, that led to Adelaide goals and allowed the Crows to steady.
Without skipper Darcy Moore (hamstring) an undersized Collingwood defence on paper had its work cut out against Adelaide big men Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker.
Thilthorpe finished with three goals, while Fogarty and Isaac Cumming kicked two apiece.
With Izak Rankine suspended, Wayne Milera (34 disposals), Josh Worrell (27 disposals) and Alex Neal-Bullen (27 disposals) had plenty of the ball while Josh Rachele (24 disposals, one goal) impressed.
Nick Daicos still finished with 33 disposals, two goals and 725 metres gained while Dan Houston (32 disposals, 11 marks) was sublime out of defence early and among Collingwood’s best along with Isaac Quaynor.
Lachie Schultz, Roan Steele and Jamie Elliott kicked two goals apiece but Tim Membrey kicked just one.
Adelaide led by 14 at quarter-time before a Daicos second-quarter masterclass gave Collingwood momentum.
Daicos racked up 15 disposals, six inside-50s, five score involvements, 387 metres gained and kicked 1.2 as Collingwood snatched the lead – before Fogarty put Adelaide up by three at half-time.
Surprisingly, Daicos started the third term on the wing and he went quiet while Adelaide kicked five of the next six goals, taking advantage of far better ball movement and disposal, to get out to a 37-point lead.
Collingwood ramped up their pressure late in the third term, snagged the final goal of the quarter and trailed by 30 at the last change.
The Magpies snagged the first three goals of the last quarter to cut the deficit to just 12.
But Walker won a 50-metre penalty and teed up Fogarty to steady the ship, before an off-balance Ben Keays nudge the lead back out to 23.
Collingwood didn’t have enough time to come back, despite late efforts from Jamie Elliott and Nick Daicos.
Adelaide host the red-hot Western Bulldogs next Friday while Collingwood (1-1) have the bye.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/crows-hold-off-magpies-to-start-afl-season-with-win-c-21943658
