Adelaide has named a 23-man team for its Round One match against Collingwood, and debutant lachlan mcandrew is among three players to earn a spot in the side as the club considers a ruck change heading into the season opener.
Lachlan Mcandrew Favoured To Win Club Debut
The club’s selection notes list Lachlan Mcandrew as the likely choice to make his Crows debut, with the former Sydney ruck given first crack at leading the line in the pre-season. McAndrew previously played two games for the Swans in 2023 and is favoured to win a club debut ahead of Reilly O’Brien. The decision reflects the coaching staff’s assessment of centre-bounce matchups under recent rule adjustments.
Adelaide Finalises Round One Team Against Collingwood
Three players will line up in their first AFL game for the Crows: Toby Murray, Callum Ah Chee and lachlan mcandrew. Toby Murray will play his first senior game alongside his older brother Nick. Isaac Cumming and James Peatling have recovered from low-grade hamstring injuries and have been named in the team, while Jake Soligo is included after a managed training workload due to an irregular heartbeat. Riley Thilthorpe is fit to play after overcoming back soreness that kept him out of a recent trial.
Adelaide has named Chayce Jones, James Borlase and Luke Nankervis on the emergency list. The club’s football executive said preparations had been solid and the squad was keen to open its campaign, describing the pre-season work as deliberate and the group as ready for the season’s first match.
Crows Tight-Lipped On Daicos Plans, Ponder Ruck Change
Coach Matthew Nicks kept tactical plans under wraps ahead of the clash, indicating the team would be careful about revealing how it intends to manage Collingwood’s key midfielder, who posted a high-disposal performance in the lead-up match. Nicks acknowledged the challenge of locking down an elite opponent and suggested the team could adapt its approach mid-game.
On the ruck selection, Nicks pointed to a rule change that affected Reilly O’Brien’s traditional grappling style at centre bounces, noting O’Brien had been challenged by the change and had worked to adapt to a different technique. Nicks also highlighted McAndrew’s physical profile, saying the 210-centimetre ruckman has a strong leap, placing him in a favorable position at centre bounces.
The Crows head into the Round One meeting with Collingwood having finalised their 23-man squad and with selection choices that underline a possible shift in ruck structure for the season opener.
