Adelaide faced Port Adelaide in its first competitive hit-out against an opposition for 2026 at Alberton Oval on Friday.
Forward Riley Thilthorpe led the way with five goals in the Crows’ 14.10 (94) to 10.15 (75) win against the Power.
Adelaide changed up its coaching structure for the match with Coaching Director Murray Davis stepping into the role of Senior Coach, allowing Matthew Nicks to take in a different perspective.
Nicks, however, spoke to AFC Media post-game, and provided these five takeaways.
Thilthorpe’s five-goal haul and midfield rotation
Riley Thilthorpe showed no signs of slowing down from his All-Australian year in 2025 with a scintillating performance in the match simulation against the Power.
Thilthorpe provided a strong target inside-50, clunking most marks and was accurate in front of goal, finishing the match with five majors.
Nicks said Thilthorpe’s performance was a reward for effort and the hard work he continued to put in.
“When you see someone work as hard as he does and who is such a competitor, you do expect him to do that,” Nicks said.
“He’s a really hard match-up ahead of the ball, especially in the air.
“There’s a reason he went so early in the draft and we know how important he is for us.
“Today was a really good step for him.”
The 23-year-old also spent a bit of time rotating through the midfield, attending a few centre bounces in the final term.
“Riley went on-ball at times today and when the ball hits the ground, he’s unique because he’s got long arms and he can take a pretty clean-ground ball,” Nicks said.
“For an opposition midfielder, it’s quite a challenge to move 100-odd kilos and when he gets himself set in there he’s so good at ground level and is able to hold his space.
“We want to make the most of it with Riley and we don’t want to leave him in a spot where he’s relying on us to deliver the ball to him, we’d love to get him in and around it every now and then.
“It does help our midfielders as well, giving them a little chop out here and there.”
Ruck line-up
Former Swan Lachlan McAndrew featured with Adelaide’s AFL side for the first time - albeit in a practice game - after honing his craft in the SANFL last year.
Against the Power on Friday, the 210cm ruck not only provided his teammates with first use at stoppages, but also impacted around the ground with his strong marking ability.
Nicks said McAndrew was adapting well to the new rule being introduced this year preventing rucks from crossing the centre line before engaging with their opposition ruck at all centre bounces.
“I love the fact that after a pretty good smack in the sternum he was able to go again, he’s a warrior, he loves the contest and he’s got some real strengths, some real weapons with what he brings,” Nicks said.
“One is his height, and the fact he’s a really good jumper, so he’s working really well with our mids at the moment.
“Even around the ground, I thought Lachie really held his own.”
Toby Murray, who was yet to make his AFL debut, also spent time pinch-hitting in the ruck, splitting his time between the centre bounces and the forward line.
Nicks said Murray, the younger brother of backman Nick Murray, also impressed against the Power.
“When Toby got his opportunity, he did some really nice things for a young kid who has really only just started.”
Cook’s versatility
Much has been made about Brayden Cook’s switch from the forward line to defence this pre-season, but against the Power, the 23-year-old moved between the backline and the wing.
“‘He’s done a lot of work on his defensive actions and been doing a bit of that across half-back for most of the pre-season,” Nicks said.
“He was also a former winger, so we knew today he could play both roles.
“Brayden has a great awareness when he gets the ball in his hands, he’s very damaging.
“He’s been a young player coming through who’s now starting to show some maturity, so I thought today was a great step.”
Coaching structure change-up
Adelaide revealed on Friday that Murray Davis would coach both the side’s practice games, with another to be played against Fremantle next weekend.
Nicks said he had enjoyed watching Davis lead the team and it gave him a chance to focus on different areas of the game.
“Especially pre-game, he just instructed the boys on what we had worked on so well and the fact they should be confident in what they would put out on the field.
“I was able to have a look at a few other areas, which was a bonus because there’s been some rule changes and extra players on the bench, so I was able to spend a little bit more time in that space.
“It was great.”
Managing players
Crows Captain Jordan Dawson took no part in the second half of the match against Port Adelaide, Rory Laird played just over a half, while Jake Soligo came on midway through the third term.
Nicks said it was important to ensure players were carefully managed during the pre-season to have them primed for the start of the year.
“Soli has come back from being managed for a few weeks, so it was about making sure we didn’t push him too hard,” Nicks said.
“Jordan will go all day and every day and play every single minute if you allow him to, so today was a chance to allow him a half and freshen him up.
“Similar with Lairdy, we know what he’s going to bring, and he’s done all the work, so just over a half today for him was a nice workout.”
The Crows will continue their pre-season with an AAMI Community Series game against Fremantle at Rushton Park, Mandurah, Perth, next Saturday.
They will then have a week off with the AFL’s Opening Round getting underway, before a Round One match against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, March 14.
The Crows continue their pre-season with an AAMI Community Series game against Fremantle at Rushton Park, Mandurah, Perth.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 3.7 6.11 10.15 (75)
ADELAIDE 4.2 7.8 11.8 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Lukosius 2, Berry, Byrne-Jones, Evans, Whitlock, Lord, Richards, Burgoyne, Drew.
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 5, Walker, Pedlar 2, Fogarty, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Rachele, Jones.
