Nick Daicos was the most influential player on the MCG in the first half. He started the third quarter on the wing.
By the time he was back in the centre square seven minutes later, Adelaide had made their match-winning run.
Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrates kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images
The sight of Daicos patrolling the Members wing was strange at the time, and by game’s end a genuine head scratcher.
Despite a charge in the final quarter, the Pies, who trailed by 37 points entering time-on in the third term, were unable to reel in Adelaide, who prevailed by 14 points – 13.15 (93) to 11.13 (79).
In what proved to be the pivotal quarter of the game, Daicos was positioned away from where the game was being decided.
He touched the ball just six times. Adelaide slammed on six goals.
The Crows’ takeaways were pure, resulting in deep entries inside 50. Collingwood’s undermanned and undersized defence was powerless to absorb the heavy traffic directed their way.
Riley Thilthorpe of the Crows is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images
Riley Thilthorpe did not have the field day expected of him against a backline missing Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe but was the most dangerous forward on the ground, booting three goals.
Billy Frampton had the job at times on Thilthorpe, but there were periods where he was manned by Isaac Quaynor, a running defender giving up 21 centimetres to the Adelaide behemoth.
For all their battles on the ball, the Pies generated more entries inside 50, but their forward line lacked bite.
Jamie Elliott did not touch the ball in the first half, had just two possessions to three-quarter time but was a key to their late charge with two goals.
Tim Membrey of the Magpies kicks.Credit: Getty Images
Tim Membrey was equally ineffective in the first three quarters before the briefest of cameos in the final term. Dan McStay did not do much.
Membrey and McStay – the Pies’ two key forwards – have kicked just two goals in the first two rounds.
Unless they have midfield dominance, this will not be a forward line that will leave opposition defences quaking in their boots.
They have produced two 11-goal returns in the first two rounds while the perceived premiership fancies are kicking centuries.