Adelaide Crows track watch: Riley Thilthorpe, James Peatling dominate match sim as Nicks reveals likely round 1 side

If what we saw from Adelaide’s forward line on Friday is a sign of things to come, opposition defenders are officially on notice. Get all the intel as the Crows reveal more about their best side.

Adelaide has dropped some major hints about its Round 1 side to take on St Kilda as a pair of young gun talls dominated Crows match simulation on Friday.

With only Lachie Sholl on the sidelines after his corkie suffered earlier this week, the Crows displayed what looks to be its Round 1 side – at this stage – as they played four quarters of action at West Lakes.

Talisman Taylor Walker was back in match sim after being managed with a back injury in recent weeks, while young gun Riley Thilthorpe was involved despite a rolled ankle on Wednesday.

They were part of a four-tall forward line for the blue side, which looked to be the A’s contingent.

Darcy Fogarty and Dan Curtin were the other two, although Curtin started on the interchange.

Filling out the starting forward line was Ben Keays, Alex Neal-Bullen and Josh Rachele, while Luke Pedlar also started on the blue side.

Riley Thilthorpe was dominant during Adelaide's match sim on Friday. Picture: Keryn Stevens

With Sholl not involved, Chayce Jones joined Isaac Cumming on the wings.

That left Izak Rankine, captain Jordan Dawson and James Peatling for the first centre bounce, along with Reilly O’Brien.

Young gun Jake Soligo was soon injected into the midfield when the rotations began.

Veteran Matt Crouch and Sam Berry started in the midfield for the yellow side but Crouch did later swap sides.

He suffered a foot injury late on in the session with the extent of it unknown.

Mark Keane and Nick Murray anchored the defence for the blues, with Josh Worrell, Wayne Milera, Rory Laird and Max Michalanney starting along them.

After being in the B’s at times in recent weeks, to match-up on Rankine, Mitch Hinge was back in the stronger side.

But when the teams were switched up at half-time and the Crows strongest attack and defence faced off, Hinge was not a part of this.

Rankine, Dawson and Peatling were predominantly on ball, with Dawson spending some time forward during the second term.

Rachele got some centre bounces at times as the Crows rolled players through.

There was a bit of a scare for Keane after he hurt his elbow in a contest with Walker but he was fine.

Worrell took a fine high-flying mark early on but this was surpassed by an absolute hanger by Luke Nankervis later in the session.

PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED

Riley Thilthorpe

The man mountain was dominant, not just as a key forward.

Thilthorpe kicked three goals as he dominated his match-ups but was taking marks all over the ground with the young gun going into the ruck to give O’Brien a chop out.

The Crows were supremely confident Thilthorpe was going to have a breakout year in 2024 before his long-term knee injury in the final moments of their pre-season game against West Coast.

If he remains fit then watch out defenders in 2025.

Dan Curtin booted three goals. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Dan Curtin

The second-year player was another to kick three goals and after just the seven games in 2024 the former No. 8 draft pick looks like he could find a consistent spot in the Crows side.

While there still might be some question marks around whether the Crows can go with him, Walker, Fogarty and Thilthorpe, Curtin was dominant on Friday.

His first goal came after he got Jordon Butts in a tackle and he also spent some time on the wing.

His kicking and hand skills were also impressive but perhaps most importantly he played with plenty of aggression.

Izak Rankine

At times Rankine did things that made his opposition look silly on Friday.

He sat Keane down after bamboozling him on one of his many mazy runs with the ball, while there were a couple of other times where did stuff that was a class above the rest.

He only spent a small amount of time forward with the majority of match sim played as a damaging midfielder.

Lock James Peatling into the Crows’ midfield. Picture: Ben Clark

James Peatling

The recruit from GWS started on the ball and was electric in the midfield throughout the session.

He looks like he will add something to the Crows midfield mix in 2025 with the only thing stopping him on Friday was when his boots failed him and he had to go and get some new ones.

Ben Keays

Continued to play his invaluable role in the forward line and was rewarded with multiple goals on Friday.

He then went into the midfield when the Crows further switched up the teams and had plenty of good moments there, in a nod to when he was in the thick of the Crows engine room.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows track watch: Riley Thilthorpe, James Peatling dominate match sim as Nicks reveals likely round 1 side