Matthew Lloyd, Essendon’s goal-kicking legend, asserts that Collingwood’s upcoming encounter against Adelaide presents a pivotal moment for their quest for the premiership. A defeat would mark Collingwood’s fifth loss in six matches, jeopardising their position in the top four, a significant drop from their earlier 10-point lead at the top of the ladder.
Historically, Collingwood has dominated Adelaide, winning their previous ten match-ups, albeit the last few victories have been tightly contested, often decided by just a few points. Lloyd suggests this trend could change, especially as Collingwood’s recent form has been shaky, with four losses out of the last five games shaking their confidence and system.
Lloyd commented on the match’s timing, emphasizing that if Adelaide were to seize this opportunity—at home and against a slumping Collingwood—now would be the ideal moment. He pointed out the necessity for Collingwood to secure a victory to retain any meaningful hopes of championship success; historically, teams with such a losing streak heading into finals have struggled.
With the potential return of forward Beau McCreery from injury and the absence of Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill, Collingwood’s squad is facing challenges. However, the stakes are equally high for Adelaide, whose victory could secure them the minor premiership, a monumental achievement given their prior season’s struggles.
In the lead-up to the match, notable predictions from Nine’s experts indicate that Collingwood could indeed pull off a surprise against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. The current situation raises the stakes for both teams, making this clash one to closely watch as the finals approach.