AFL Round 4 Gold Coast v Adelaide: What Riley Thilthorpe, Jed Walter domination means for the competition

They’ve teased us before the Gold Coast, but Saturday’s win over the Crows showed a new wrinkle that might be the key to unlocking a first finals berth for Damien Hardwick’s Suns.

If you are a list manager in the AFL you might be casting an eye over your key forward stocks after Saturday’s one-point thriller between Gold Coast and Adelaide at People First Stadium.

The two teams to go all-in on the three-tall setup provided the blueprint to the rest of the competition in a game dominated by the big men inside 50.

The Crows’ key trio of Riley Thilthorpe (five goals), Taylor Walker (four goals) and Darcy Fogarty (three) added a further 12 goals to their combined season tally, taking them to 36 from four games.

And that against a Suns defence that had conceded an average of just 55 points per game to start the season.

They might just be the best position group in the competition.

Riley Thilthorpe was huge for the Crows in Saturday’s loss. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

The young Crow finished with five goals. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sections of the football world guffawed at the Champion Data figures released this week that suggested Thilthorpe was the No.1 player in the AFL since round 21 last year.

To any naysayers, just point to his manhandling of Sam Collins – one of the pound-for-pound strongest key defenders in the game – as a case in point.

His “are you not entertained” pose to the crowd after his fifth goal may have struck a nerve with some but football is about putting bums on seats and he will do just that in years to come.

Thilthorpe is the real deal and so are the Crows.

And – so are the Gold Coast Suns.

Jed Walter impressed at the other end for Gold Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Adelaide’s triumvirate is the gold standard that Hardwick’s young Suns are aspiring to become and on Saturday, they took their own small step forward.

Jed Walter’s contested grab in the goal square to open the final term with his third major of the afternoon was a defining moment in a match that went right down to the wire.

He was lucky not to be called play-on after replays showed his eyes light up while he thought the Crows defenders were napping – but the important work was done moments before.

Another clutch contested mark late in the quarter produced the pivotal final point that proved the difference in the end.

It was arguably the best game of his fledgling career and a powerful statement to his coach that he is ready to take the next step as a genuine tall target alongside spearhead Ben King.

For his part King added two goals and Ethan Read one of his own to make it six on the afternoon from Gold Coast’s emerging key forward trio.

It was a big win for Noah Anderson’s side. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Beyond the bookends at either end, what quickly became obvious on Saturday was that both Adelaide and Gold Coast are genuine finals aspirants.

The Crows spread from the contest like no other team in the AFL and their transition from defence to attack is frighteningly fast.

With each passing week Izak Rankine is moving further up the league’s midfield pecking order while James Peatling might be the underrated off-season pick-up of 2025.

For large portions of Saturday’s contest the Suns looked to be on the back foot. The Crows dominated possession and had large periods of controlling the ball at stoppage.

And yet Hardwick’s side, until late in the fourth quarter when it went into survival mode, owned the territory battle.

There were some familiar wrinkles from last season that the coach will want to iron out – chief among them the delivery inside 50, which found the chest of a Crows defender as often as it did a Suns forward.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was a poignant statement that this year really might be different.

These Suns are not just flat track bullies. And even without a star turn from their superstars, the hosts still got the job done against the in-form team in the AFL.

With North Melbourne and Richmond to come over the next fortnight, Hardwick’s side has a genuine chance at starting the season 5-0.

Originally published as AFL Round 4 Gold Coast v Adelaide: What Riley Thilthorpe, Jed Walter domination means for the competition