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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterWhy King and Cornes are putting a line through Adelaide
SEN • May 22nd, 2026 10:22 am
Can Adelaide genuinely contend in 2026?
That was the question posed by David King in the wake of their nine-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston on Thursday night.
Much was expected of the Crows this year after they finished on top at the end of the home and away season in 2025, but they're stuttering this campaign.
King asked on SEN’s Fireball: “Is last night’s result enough to put a line through the Adelaide Crows as a contender this season?
“Not that they won’t make the finals, or still be a dangerous team, and probably cause an upset or two on the way home.
“But is it enough for you to say at Round 11, ‘I just don’t think they’re there this year’.”
Co-host Kane Cornes just can’t see Matthew Nicks’ 6-5 side seriously contending for the flag.
“I was prepared to do that (rule them out) some weeks ago with their midfield and lack thereof,” Cornes replied.
“It started to turn the corner a little bit with Izak Rankine finding some form.
“I just don't think their midfield is potent enough and with Riley Thilthorpe looking like an absolute shell of himself, as you and I have discussed for the last month, then I think we can officially put a line through the Crows.
“They'll make the finals, they'll be somewhere, but they're not winning the premiership this year.”
The duo questioned why Nicks decided to throw key forward Riley Thilthorpe, who missed last week with a back issue, into the midfield.
King said: “When do you think they'll realise that Riley Thilthorpe isn't Luke Jackson?
“If goes in as an on-baller, as an extra on-baller, it just doesn't work. I know they're down on midfield talent, but there are other options than your gun, key-positioned centre half-forward or full-forward being in the centre bounce.”
Cornes is worried about the form of the 23-year-old who booted 60 goals last season and claimed a maiden All-Australian blazer.
So far this year he has kicked 14 goals in 10 games following a goalless 16-disposal performance against the Hawks.
“We saw this in the pre-season and you go, ‘well, I'm not sure about this’. Unless you're just going to start there and sprint forward and try and do a bit of a trick and get a mismatch forward, that's the only reason he would be in there,” Cornes said.
“They went huge on-ball in the centre bounce at one point there. It was Dan Curtin who went in there and had a nice clearance. I don't mind him going in there, but it was Curtin and it was Thilthorpe. They went massive in the centre bounce.
“Nah, he's not a midfielder, but I guess they're just out of answers with him. I called him timid a fortnight ago and everyone said, ‘it's his back, it's his back’. Well, if he's out there, he's fit.
“He’s just nowhere near the all-Australian 60-goal forward that he was last year.”
The Crows go to the bye now before starting the second part of their season against Geelong at the Adelaide Oval in Round 13.
If they lose that there is a chance they could be out of the top 10, well below where they would have envisaged themselves.
