Already a Force: Up-and-Coming Crows Star Surprises as a Coleman Contender

The Adelaide Crows have maintained their unbeaten streak in the 2025 season, showcasing their dominance against North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon with a convincing 17.12 (114) to 12.6 (78) win.

Despite the Kangaroos putting in a valiant effort to stay competitive throughout the match, they were unable to close the gap, which allowed Adelaide to surge ahead in the final term, surpassing the 100-point mark for the third consecutive game.

The Kangaroos have not claimed victory over the Crows since 2020 and have yet to taste success at Adelaide Oval. However, they will have another opportunity to do so later in the season against the Power.

A significant highlight for Adelaide has been the rise of key forward Riley Thilthorpe, who notched three goals for the third time this season.

With nine goals to his name, he currently sits equal second in the Coleman Medal race, just one behind Gold Coast’s Ben King.

The absence of early-season matches for Coleman favourites Jesse Hogan and Charlie Curnow has opened the door for others in the race.

Since his return from injury in 2024, Thilthorpe has established himself as a formidable presence, with Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy praising his size and power.

“He’s already too strong. With a couple more years of building strength, he’ll hit his peak around 26-27 years old. Defenders will struggle to handle him,” Healy remarked on Fox Footy.

The Crows’ key forward trio of Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker, and Darcy Fogarty continues to excel, combining for a total of nine goals against the Roos.

The only downside for Adelaide was the injury to small forward Josh Rachele, who was substituted after sustaining a rib injury during the match.

Looking ahead, Adelaide is set to face off against Gold Coast in round four, promising an intriguing encounter between two of the league’s top-performing teams.

As for North Melbourne, they will be preparing to host Sydney next Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.