AFL Round 20 kicks off on Thursday night with a blockbuster between Adelaide and Collingwood at Adelaide Oval. These are two of the form teams of the competition with the Crows winning nine of their last 11, while the Magpies are riding a five-game winning streak. Strap yourselves in!
We bring you our full preview and expert tips for the Crows vs Magpies below, with odds thanks to Dabble!
Adelaide vs Collingwood Prediction & Betting Tips: AFL 2026 Round 20
Crows Chasing the Double Chance
The Crows return to Adelaide Oval this Thursday night firmly entrenched in the finals race, currently sitting fifth on the ladder following a brilliant away win. Matthew Nicks' men reaffirmed their premiership credentials in Round 19, travelling to the SCG and securing a vital 16-point victory over the high-flying Swans. They will be forced to make at least one change at the selection table, with Darcy Fogarty missing through suspension. It is an unfortunate blow considering he has been in tremendous form, booting 15 goals over the past four weeks. However, veteran Taylor Walker will return to the lineup after being managed last week and is currently stranded on 699 career goals. The Adelaide Oval crowd will undoubtedly erupt if he manages to slot his milestone 700th early in the contest.
Magpies Surging at the Right Time
The Magpies head across the border carrying plenty of momentum, having found their best form right at the business end of the 2026 season. Sitting seventh on the ladder, the Magpies enter this blockbuster riding a five-game winning streak after a gritty 21-point win over arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG last Saturday night. Nick Daicos was outstanding once again, collecting 36 disposals and completely driving the midfield to slice through the Blues' defensive setup. With the finals race tightly packed and the new wildcard spots in play, this Thursday night clash serves as a massive litmus test for Collingwood's road form against a genuine contender.
Recent Head-to-Head History
Collingwood completely dominated this matchup for years, stringing together a 10-game winning streak over Adelaide between 2018 and early 2025. However, the tide has finally started to turn in favour of the South Australians who have taken two of the last three encounters, including a 14-point victory over the Magpies at the MCG back in Round 1 this year.
Can Fly's Magnet Magic Bridge the Gap?
When you line these two teams up on paper, Adelaide holds a clear advantage across every line in terms of raw class, and that gap is only amplified by the hostile Adelaide Oval crowd. Collingwood's major point of difference sits in the coaches box, where Craig McRae has repeatedly pulled off tactical miracles over the years. It is going to take an absolute masterclass from Fly to engineer an upset here, especially considering the sheer talent discrepancy across the park.
The Magpies simply haven't shown they can beat the competition's pace-setters this year, carrying an alarming 0-1-7 record against teams currently sitting in the top half of the ladder. While McRae will keep his side competitive enough to avoid a complete blowout, Adelaide's overall class and firepower should see them pull away in a tight finish.
Adelaide 1-39
$2.12 (1.5 Units)
Adelaide vs Collingwood Prop Bet
Taylor Walker is coming off a bag of five against the Suns before being rested against the Swans last week. He'll also have a favourable matchup with the undermanned Magpies defence being stretched and their #1 key defender going to Thilthorpe. And perhaps most importantly, Tex comes into this game stranded on 699 career goals, so you can guarantee his teammates will be trying to get him some looks early on to generate some buzz.
Taylor Walker 2+ Goals
$1.93
Adelaide vs Collingwood Same Game Multi
Adelaide to Win: They just have the class advantage all over the ground, and it would take a real coaching masterclass from Craig McRae for the Pies to cause the upset.
Taylor Walker 2+ Goals: For the reasons highlighted above in our prop bet.
Angus Anderson Anytime Goal Scorer: He’s kicked at least one goal in nine of his 11 career matches to date and remains great value.
Adelaide vs Collingwood Match Info & Betting Odds
Date: Thursday 23rd July
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Location: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Odds: Adelaide $1.43 vs Collingwood $2.83
Line: -14.5
Points: 164.5
Where to Watch Adelaide vs Collingwood
You can watch the Crows vs Magpies live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
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