AFL LIVE: Inspired Daicos leads Magpie fightback against Crows; Adelaide fans constantly boo Quaynor

There has been plenty of talk about Steele Sidebottom’s future this week but he’s clearly living in the present with the Pies veteran winning the footy and snapping a huge goal.

He loved that goal and was celebrating as it went through the big sticks.

Moments later, the Pies broke out of defence via Josh Daicos and Beau McCreery who found Harvey Harrison for a mark but he missed his shot for goal.

Crows 54, Pies 50 with 12 mins to go in Q3.

Josh Rachele won a free kick in the 50m arc following a smart kick from Walker.

Then he threaded the ball through the middle in a way that Jamie Elliott would have been proud of.

Rachele celebrated the goal and now there is a bit of push and shove between Collingwood’s defenders and the Crows forwards.

Crows 54, Pies 43 with 14 mins to go in Q3.

Collingwood needed desperately to change things up, and when they finally did, they dragged themselves right back into the contest.

The Magpies’ backline couldn’t lay a glove on Adelaide’s tall inside-50 targets, while their rare, desperate forays forward were too easily being swallowed by the Crows’ intercepting defenders.

Adelaide looked in complete control all over the ground as their lead blew out to 27 points before Collingwood employed Plan B.

The Crows will be happy to be ahead but disappointed to concede three late goals, including a stunning strike from the boundary from Daniel McStay with 14 seconds left in the half.

The Crows were the best team for much of this half but pushing Jeremy Howe forward and a lift from Nick Daicos and several other Pies has made a huge difference.

“They are right back in this game,” Jack Riewoldt said on Kayo Sports.

Those watching the footy on Kayo tonight may have noticed commentator Matt Hill mentioning that the Magpies met with mid-season draftee Liam Puncher at a Bunnings in Adelaide.

That story is from the AFL website, where reporter Josh Gabelich explained how Collingwood recruiters flew to Adelaide to meet Puncher before the draft, only to find some Crows recruiters at the venue they had planned to meet the young SANFL defender at.

So they went to the Bunnings near the airport and had a coffee in the “back corner” of the store with their future defender.

Meanwhile, back at the Adelaide Oval tonight, Jeremy Howe has kicked a goal and the Pies are firing again.

Crows 48, Pies 33 with 90 seconds to go in Q2.

Just when the Pies needed a boost, Jordan De Goey and Scott Pendlebury came to the fore.

De Goey won the footy and flicked a handball off to Pendlebury, who snapped truly.

The Pies desperately needed that.

Crows 48, Pies 27 with four mins to go in Q2.

Riley Thilthorpe has pulled in another contested mark and booted his second goal.

That’s five goals already between Taylor Walker and Thilthorpe.

“It’s becoming men versus boys – it really is. That’s six marks inside 50 and they look to have taken total control of the air,” David King said on Kayo Sports.

Crows 46, Pies 21 with 13 mins to go in Q2.