Adelaide will be hoping to keep its 2026 season alive as it travels to Brisbane to face the Lions in a Semi-Final at The Gabba. 

The Crows come into the clash full of confidence after securing a memorable Elimination Final victory against the Western Bulldogs last week, and will bring a strong side up to Queensland with just three players currently on their injury list. 

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks spoke to the media in the lead-up to the big match, and touched on the following points. 

Elimination Final win a big confidence boost

Saturday night’s Elimination Final win against the Bulldogs instilled into the Crows side according to Nicks. 

After losing consecutive matches in its finals campaign 12 months ago, last week’s victory was a breakthrough result for the group, and something it would use to help propel itself further this September. 

“I think first and foremost being able to respond when we needed to in a key moment in a game where our opposition had momentum - we were able to turn that around in a big final,” Nicks said. 

“That is where we'd sort of been asked questions of in the past, so I think just the belief that instills in the group is huge, because there's been belief there, but sometimes you've actually got to experience it.

“Last year was an experience that maybe we needed to have, and a painful one, a painful one for everyone that's involved because we love footy.

“A big part of it is the young men developing, finding their way, and I think we've taken a big step on the weekend, and now we'll go and have to take an even bigger one.

“So, coming off the ground and sitting around the rooms afterwards, there was a real sense of pride in what they were able to do, and that'll lead to even more belief in where we can get to.”

Zac Taylor putting his hand up for a return 

Classy forward Zac Taylor will put his hand up for a return to the Crows’ side, after recovering from a hamstring strain suffered in Round 24. 

Taylor took part in the Club’s main training session on Wednesday night, and would force the coaches into making a decision as to bring him straight back into the side to take on the Lions. 

“Zac’s had a really solid season, he’s been an important part of our squad and really added some polish to the group,” Nicks said. 

“In saying that, it's his first soft tissue, first hamstring and it'll end up being two weeks (from when he did it), which isn't a long time, so it's not a given (he comes back in). 

“We'll see how he goes tonight, and if he fills us with confidence and he feels great, then you know he's more than likely going to come in if we can get it done.”

Taking lessons from the Swans' Qualifying Final performance

Adelaide will be looking to channel what Sydney was able to produce in its game last week, as it toppled the Lions with frenetic pressure and intensity.

Nicks said the group had looked closely at what the Swans were able to achieve, and were hoping to emulate part of that style into their own game this Saturday. 

“I mean, that was some performance (from Sydney), that was as good as you've seen from an intensity and energy point of view, the way they pressured Brisbane,” Nicks said.

“They were extremely direct with the footy and they changed their game from what we'd seen throughout the year. 

“That is finals football, that's what we know, if you bring that intensity and energy, then you're giving yourself a chance right from the start. 

“That's what we're going to try and bring this weekend, and we expect Brisbane will do the same.”

Managing outside noise

Nicks has dealt with his share of outside noise throughout the past fortnight, and gone about managing it by backing in his people and the system they had built across his time at the Club. 

“Noise is noise, if anything, you probably trust your group and you trust your people, that we know where it is we sit,” Nicks said.

“We know where we're at in our story or in our journey. So we’ve just got to be confident in that and back it in and keep belief.

“Sometimes that's tough, you can have games where you don't perform at your best, and that brings doubts. 

“But in the long run, we are back in the trend and what it is we're building, so we were really confident coming into this game that last year set us up well, the year prior to that was part of it as well, you can go back six or seven years. 

“There's things that we were putting in place so that we'd be stronger in this moment.”

Respect for Chris Fagan

Nicks revealed Lions mentor Chris Fagan had a big impact on his coaching journey, especially in his early years at the Crows. 

He said he would often check in with the two-time premiership coach for advice, and had nothing but respect for what he had achieved in the game.

“That's the respect I have for Fages, he is the master,” Nicks said. 

“I remember when I first took the job just through different connections, I was able to chat to Fages throughout my first couple of years, just about how he went about it, and he shared some of his experiences without giving too much away. 

“He is a professional, he knows how to win, but we talked about a lot of things when it comes to coaching and opposition, and we shared different thoughts and ideas. 

“We don't do it as much anymore, unfortunately, but there's a lot of respect there. I have a huge amount of respect for him, and what he's been able to do.”

Responding from the last to trip to Brisbane

Adelaide will be looking to flip the script on the Lions, after a poor showing in their most recent meeting at The Gabba in Round Seven. 

Sporting a younger side, the Crows were outclassed by the reigning premiers, and ultimately fell by 52 points. 

“You learn from a lot of those games as we've just talked through when it comes to finals footy,” Nicks said.

“We played them during the year up there, and this week we go to the same venue.

“We took a pretty young side into that game (in Round Seven), and they touched us up, there's no doubt about that.

“We're taking a different side with this this time round, and we've got a little bit of momentum, a little bit more than we did at that point earlier in the season.  

“It's an experienced side that we'll take up there, that has got momentum, got belief in what it is we're doing, but we also understand and respect the huge challenge that it is to win in Brisbane.”

Adelaide takes on Brisbane in a Semi-Final at the Gabba this Saturday night, with the match to start at 7.05pm (ACST). 

Fans who can’t make it up to Brisbane can show their support for the Club by backing our AFLW team in a blockbuster clash against the Cats at Unley Oval on Saturday afternoon, with the match to begin at 2.35pm. 

Get your tickets here.