There is just something about an Adelaide versus Collingwood game. Over the last few years, things have… escalated, quite a bit.
The Crows were getting close and falling over, with late-game decisions, and key moments not going their way.
And in Round 23, the worm finally turned.
Despite a stat-line that read like a Collingwood win, it was the Crows dropping their nemeses, and cementing themselves as premiership contenders. It was clear the Pies had some howework to do.
And they did exactly that, as we turned to finals.
If you needed any proof that finals are a different ball game, all you had to do was watch and listen as the teams ran out onto the field.
Electricity in the air. As the late, great Gorilla Monsoon would say, you could cut it with a knife.
We were set for the next instalment of the Crows-Pies rivalry. Adelaide’s big three inside fifty against a Collingwood defence that had struggled at points. The workmanlike Crows midfield up against the superstar wearing number 35. And the multifaceted Collingwood forward setup against an Adelaide defence that has grown together over the past 12 month.
The stage was set. A classic beckoned. Finals are here.
Welcome to September footy.
Jumping forward, ten minutes of powerful footy buried the Crows. The scoreline may appear as though Adelaide had a chance to pinch it, but the third quarter, or part of the third quarter, tore the hearts out of the Adelaide chests.
Jordan de Goey, Steele Sidebottom, and this bloke named Billy Frampton raised their game, adding their names alongside Darcy Moore, Nick Daicos, and Isaac Quaynor as the Magpies dominating proceedings.
Five goals in 15 minutes. The contest was over.
On the home deck of the Crows, the Pies made it 11 of the past 12 against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, and booked themselves a spot in the 2025 Preliminary Final.
People worried about the Pies’ old legs. What they should have worried about was their battle-hardened bodies, as they were too tough, and too hard for an Adelaide team who got a finals education. Maybe they’ll learn in time to salvage their season next week?
Time to jump into The Mongrel’s Big Statements from the Qualifying Final.
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