‘Craziest weather I’ve ever played in’: Star’s big call as Crows outclass Blues in Gather Round opener

Thanks so much for joining us for the opening game of Gather Round.

Join us tomorrow for our coverage of Collingwood v Fremantle from Adelaide Oval.

Thanks and have a lovely night.

Michael Voss admitted the first 10 minutes of Carlton’s second quarter – in which Adelaide smashed through a slew of unanswered goals – was disappointing.

However, the senior coach said he thought the Blues’ final quarter effort was strong.

“The second quarter ... we weren’t touching the ball a hell of a lot, losing territory from stoppage, and when they [Adelaide] went in there they just scored, so we couldn’t turn it off for that period of time,” Voss said.

“So it will be something to go back to look at because that’s where the game was lost in the end.”

Josh Rachele – who contributed massively to Adelaide’s scoreboard tonight with four goals – said tonight’s rain-soaked clash was “some of craziest weather I’ve ever played in”.

In a post-match interview with Fox Footy, Rachele said Adelaide knew “Carlton start games really well” and noted the Blues smashed them in stoppages.

“If we could match them [Carlton] we thought we could get in done in the end,” he said.

Carlton’s all-too-familiar pattern – a blistering opening giving way to a slow, inevitable fade – resurfaced again as Michael Voss’ side fell to a high-powered Adelaide outfit to open the fourth iteration of Gather Round.

In a fixture increasingly positioned by the AFL as a showcase moment early in the season, the Blues initially played their part. They slammed on seven first-quarter goals — their most prolific opening term since midway through 2024 – and briefly suggested a statement performance was brewing.

Instead, it became another case study of Carlton’s inconsistency.

That’s the siren.

The Crows have soared in front of their roaring home crowd and defeated Carlton by 28 points. After a blistering first-quarter effort from the Blues, Adelaide fought back in the second half with a six-goal blitz that went relatively unanswered.

The heavens opened after half-time to transform Adelaide Oval in to a slip ’n slide, but the Crows maintained their pressure to storm home.

Tonight’s result marks Carlton’s third consecutive loss, however the Blues still showed promise. As David King noted on Fox Footy after the game, “Blues fans can’t be disappointed with Carlton’s effort, intent or attitude.”

Final score: Adelaide 17.12 (114) def Carlton 12.14 (86)

Finbar Maley made the unusual decision to elect for a torpedo in that shot on goal, despite the fact he was only around 40 metres out.

He hit the post, but it doesn’t matter because his teammate Jake Soligo slotted a goal moments later.

And then there’s Izak Rankine, who boots another. That one likely sealed the win for Adelaide. The Blues have played solidly, but were let down by their second-quarter efforts.

Suddenly, it’s not mission impossible. Carlton have just kicked another goal. If you’re watching this one unfold you could tell because there was a chorus of boos from the Adelaide crowd as Elijah Hollands slotted one.

Riley Thilthorpe had an opportunity to counter for Adelaide but misses, managing just a behind.

Score: Adelaide lead 15.11 (101) to 12.10 (82)

Harry McKay is giving Blues fans some hope. The forward was perfectly positioned to take a mark near the goal square to boot one through.

The margin is back to 24 points. Could we see a remarkable comeback from the Blues?

That third term was a very even quarter.

The Blues are just hanging on, but you can’t question their commitment.

The rain hit hard midway through the quarter and has made the conditions particularly difficult for scoring. Having said that, the Crows have managed to kick 15 already.

It’s been nine goals to three after quarter time.

This last quarter signifies a very important half an hour for Michael Voss.