AFL great’s subtle swipe at media rivals as trend sweeps footy

A footy legend has given some advice for some his “bold” colleagues in the media as an unfashionable trend takes over the AFL.

Footy players have long used the old adage of “let’s take it one week at a time”, and now commentators are being urged to do the same and pull back on the outlandishly bold calls after one game.

It’s still very early days in the AFL season and apart from Hawthorn looking like the real deal and Carlton being in a bit of strife, storylines are still emerging as all 18 teams settle into form and get players back from injury.

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But that hasn’t stopped some pundits making some bold calls, such as Kane Cornes suggesting the Adelaide Crows are “capable of playing in a prelim final” following their dominant 63-point win over St Kilda in round 1.

“They’re the real deal. Adelaide are the real deal,” Cornes said on his AFL.com.au program.

“Not to overreact to what we saw today because you expect other teams to beat up on the Saints. They do have their game plan in good order. There’s a bit more flair in the line-up personnel wise.”

Cornes also said veteran key forward Taylor Walker “is not in their best 22” after he was substituted out of the game.

“There’s a hard conversation to be had with Taylor Walker,” Cornes said.

“He’s a good depth player for them now. But it’s (Riley) Thilthorpe and (Darcy) Fogarty’s forward line now.”

Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“I think you learn the hard way by making big statements,” Crows legend and Fox Footy commentator Mark Ricciuto told news.com.au.

“While it’s very easy to make big bold statements and it looks great when they come off, they can look just as stupid when they don’t.

“I think some very wise men who have been in football a very long time say you shouldn’t make a comment until at least round 4, I’ll try live up to that.

“That doesn’t fit in with what a lot of the media wants these days. They want the big bold statements, you’re certainly getting plenty of those from people in the media at the moment.”

Mark Ricciuto wants the Crows to keep a lid on expectations. Photo: Fox Footy.

Kane Cornes says the Crows can make a prelim final. Photo: AFL/Facebook.

The Crows face a tougher test in Round 2 against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday — one of three games exclusive to Fox Footy, with fans treated to live Super Saturday coverage from midday to midnight.

Adelaide haven’t won a game at the MCG since way back in round 15 in 2017 — also the last year they made finals.

“I’m pretty sure you’ll find them narrowing their focus to the week ahead, you’ll hear Adelaide talk about ‘this week’ continually,” Ricciuto said.

“That’s a good plan for a young side to do. I think any side that looks too far ahead — if you look five games down the track you generally trip over the next week.

“They haven’t had a win at the MCG for a long time, so just look at knocking off Essendon.

“I’m optimistic if the Crows play like they did last week they’ll be around the mark. I’m hoping the Crows win in a tight one

“Essendon were fantastic last week against Hawthorn. One thing that really impressed me about Essendon was how tough they were. I thought the contest was brilliant.

“They’ve got a good quality midfield in Zach Merrett, Jhye Caldwell and Sam Durham, they’ll really take it up the Crows.”

The Crows look like a much improved team in 2025. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Breaking an eight-year finals drought is the obvious goal for Adelaide, but Ricciuto said the club is steering clear of the F-word.

“They haven’t talked finals or anything like that the whole summer,” the eight-time All Australian said.

“St Kilda were undermanned, let’s not forget that. To have a big win, they’d be very happy and it’d give them confidence.

“I’m not saying by any stretch Adelaide are a good side yet, but one thing consistent good sides do is execute in the first quarter and put the game beyond doubt. I liked the way they jumped out and did that early.

“I liked that it was a pretty even performance across the ground.”

Injury free and with improved depth after recruiting Alex Neal-Bullen, Isaac Cumming and James Peatling, Ricciuto is quietly hopeful the Crows are on the improve.

“I think every Crows fan wants Adelaide to come good,” he said.

“No one likes being out of the finals. Everyone wants their side to be as good as they can be and I’m certainly one of those.

“I think last year they probably averaged five to nine players of their best 22 being out most weeks, so it tested their depth.

“They’ve got a healthy list, which is rare in the AFL, and the three mature age recruits, plus draft pick Sid Draper. Hopefully for Crows fans they can keep enjoying that this season.”

Keeping a lid on expectations is a theme across many AFL clubs. His side may be 3-0, but Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell wasn’t getting ahead of himself on Thursday night following the win over the Carlton.

“I am not disappointed but what I do know is it’s round 2,” Mitchell said.

“It’s a good position to be in, of course, and we feel fortunate we’re here, we’ve worked really hard to get to this point.

“But it will mean nothing depending on what happens next, I think Bill Belichick always says ‘we’ve won one in a row’.

“So three times we’ve won one in a row – it doesn’t get any easier with GWS next, that will be another big game for us.”

‘Big issue’ Port Adelaide must fix

Also on Saturday, Port Adelaide will take on Richmond at home and the Power will be looking to respond to a 91-point shellacking at the hands of Collingwood in their first game of the season.

“I think Port should win. They’re a much better side than what they dished up last week and you’ll see a response,” Ricciuto said.

Port Adelaide were thrashed in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

“They can definitely turn it around. I’m certainly not writing them off, but the big issue Port need to sort out is the difference between their good and bad games. There’s just too much of a gap between their best footy and their worst footy.

“Ken Hinkley would be saying in their review, ‘Guys when things are going wrong, we need to get behind each other and limit the damage and goals the opposition can score’.

“I think they’d be having a few honest conversations at Port Adelaide and at least this week they can turn it around.”

Super Saturday on Fox Footy (all times AEDT)

Essendon vs Adelaide 1.20pm at MCG

Port Adelaide vs Richmond, 4.15pm at Adelaide Oval

St Kilda vs Geelong, 7.35pm at Marvel Stadium

“If you want to watch all the footy on Saturday, you can only get that on Kayo and Fox on Super Saturday,” Ricciuto said.

“Get your subscriptions and watch the footy on Kayo and Fox.”

Originally published as AFL great’s subtle swipe at media rivals as trend sweeps footy