AFL ultimate Showdown team: Simeon Thomas-Wilson picks his best combined Crows-Power side for 2025

Nicks or Hinkley? Farrell or Cumming? Burgoyne or Neal-Bullen? Simeon Thomas-Wilson picks his ultimate Showdown side ahead of the first clash between the Crows and Power for 2025.

Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson remarked during the Showdown captains’ media conference that Port Adelaide star Zak Butters is always one player to give a bit of lip when the two fierce rivals clash.

But while he isn’t one of the sole captains for the Crows or the Power, Port’s vice-captain would be an ideal leader of this combined team for those featuring in Showdown 57.

In this exercise we are able to look past Butters potentially moving back to Victoria at the end of 2026 as a free agent and install who we would like to see as the leader of this Showdown side – that looks like it would be able to give the competition a real shake.

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The side was based on current form and injury to play this weekend, meaning players such as Jack Lukosius and Nick Murray were not in contention.

It’s almost an even split between the two, with some tough decisions to leave out players such as Josh Rachele, especially after his game against Carlton last week, Jase Burgoyne and Kane Farrell.

Connor Rozee’s move to halfback provided some more flexibility, while in this Izak Rankine does start as a half-forward but would rotate between there and the midfield to cause plenty of damage.

BACKS

WE SAY: Nick Murray is out for the next four to six weeks, while Brandon Zerk-Thatcher didn’t have a pre-season because of his back injury. Aliir is locked in as the rock of this backline and Keane seems safer than Ratugolea. Michalanney is the player you use to clamp down on the oppositions most damaging small forward.

HALFBACKS

WE SAY: An exciting halfback line here. Rozee has been sensational after being shifted to defence, while Worrell very well could be leading the Crows’ best and fairest. Bergman is the hybrid defender you want. Kane Farrell is the one to miss out here and probably would have a spot if Rozee was still in the midfield.

CENTRES

WE SAY: Dawson has been a bit down on form of late but is still doing enough especially defensively to still be picked in the centre. Cumming has had a solid start to his career as a Crow, while Drew can go on the wing for the Power. Jase Burgoyne was a contender.

HALF-FORWARDS

WE SAY: Rankine is almost a full-time mid for the Crows now, so this one is slightly cheating but along with Rioli it would be an extremely damaging half-forward line. Thilthorpe could roam nicely in this forward line.

FORWARDS

WE SAY: Keays is on a heater so he is rewarded for form here. Georgiades has become the man of the Power’s forward line while Walker continues to defy father time and perform for the Crows.

RUCKS

WE SAY: Neither club’s ruck is setting the competition alight at the moment but Sweet is leading the league in hit-outs this year and because of that he just edges Reilly O’Brien. Butters is one of the first name on the teamsheet at the moment while Horne-Francis forms a dominant centre bounce trio along with Dawson.

INTERCHANGE

WE SAY: While he has cooled slightly Soligo is rewarded for his strong season so far, while Powell-Pepper and Neal-Bullen have also played important small forward roles for the respective teams. The Crows are rolling with a four-tall attack and so have the Power in the past so Fogarty gets a spot. Might be a bit short on defenders though.

SUB

WE SAY: Maybe a bit rough on the Brownlow Medallist but there are just too many midfielders in this team. But Wines could come on and we move Horne-Francis forward or Dawson to defence, and even give Sweet and Thilthorpe a chop out in the ruck.

CAPTAIN

WE SAY: Yes I know that Dawson and Rozee are the sole captains of either team but Butters would be the spiritual leader of this team and it doesn’t have to worry about him going back to Victoria.

COACH

WE SAY: Hasn’t had the ultimate success but has made plenty of finals, while Matthew Nicks is yet to finish in the top eight.

MISSED OUT: Kane Farrell, Jase Burgoyne, Josh Rachele, Reilly O’Brien, Travis Boak, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Nick Murray (injured), Esava Ratugolea, Jack Lukosius (injured), Ollie Lord, Mitch Hinge

THE BREAKDOWN

ADELAIDE: 12

PORT ADELAIDE: 11