AFL

'Have a real crack': underdog Crows coach on Cats scrap

Mar 26, 2026

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks and forward Taylor Walker, who has been rested for the trip to Geelong. -AAP Image

Matthew Nicks is imploring injury-hit Adelaide to "have a real crack" at ending the Crows' long-standing hoodoo in Geelong.

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Captain Jordan Dawson, all-time leading goalkicker Taylor Walker and triple club champion Rory Laird will all miss the trip to face the Cats.

Dawson and Laird are suffering calf ailments, 35-year-old forward Walker has been managed, plus prized recruit Callum Ah Chee (hamstring) is looking at two months on the sidelines.

The unavailability of the experienced quartet further lengthen Adelaide's odds of winning in Geelong on Thursday night for the first time in 13 years.

But Crows coach Nicks is taking a glass half-full approach, saying a batch of players starved for opportunity now get their chance.

Adelaide, winners only three times in 24 trips to Geelong, gave a club debut to former North Melbourne tall Finnbar Maley while summoning Hugh Bond, Luke Nankervis and Zac Taylor.

"We'll take over a really young, enthusiastic team to play a really experienced quality side, that's exciting in itself," Nicks said.

"We're going to go over and have a real crack.

"But it's one of those things, we're in a tough stretch - three six-day breaks in four weeks, so work our way through that.

"And there's a little bit of you don't want to blow it up completely this early in the season."

The Cats have adopted a similar stance with captain Patrick Dangerfield (calf) and forward Brad Close, who was sent to the state league to build match fitness.

Coach Chris Scott selected Oliver Wiltshire for his third AFL game and recalled Oliver Henry, while describing the start of the year as "unsual" given his club (one win, one loss) was coming off a 12-day break.

"The fixtures come out in October, so March is not the time to turn around and say: 'This is really awkward'," Scott said.

"Because we had enough time to plan for it and the fixture tends to be a process of swings and roundabouts anyway.

"When you have these long breaks, there comes a reckoning at some point where you get some shorter ones in quick succession. We have been thoughtful about that."