Despite an inconsistent season to date, Collingwood's Andrew Krakouer showed fans exactly why he is one of the game's best small forwards in the second quarter, kicking three opportunistic goals in a 10-minute burst. The ever-dangerous Krakouer and defender-turned-forward Ben Reid combined for five goals in the term to turn a 25-point quarter-time deficit to a four-point half-time lead.
2. Midfield maestros
The toughest decision for pundits post-match was to decide who was best on ground, Dane Swan or Scott Pendlebury? Both Collingwood midfielders kicked crucial final-quarter goals in a match where they combined for 73 possessions, Pendlebury racking up a career-best 42. It was the 36th time the pair had amassed 30-plus touches in the same game, with the Pies winning 32 of those matches.
Nominate for Collingwood's best three players against Adelaide in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award now.
3. Lyons inspired by Agar
Unbeknown to many, Adelaide youngster Jarryd Lyons played junior cricket with the man on every Australian's lips – Ashton Agar. According to Adelaide's Twitter account, Lyons and the boom Ashes debutant played together as kids, most likely in the suburb of Bentleigh in Melbourne's inner-east, where both grew up. Every sports-loving Australian knows what Agar did on Thursday, and Lyons had his own career-best moment in the big time less than 24 hours later, booting four goals after coming into the match with a solitary major to his name in his fledgling AFL career.
4. Dangerfield scare
The Crows' gun came off second-best from a Sam Dwyer bump midway through the first quarter, sending a huge scare through the Adelaide camp. Dangerfield, ranked second in the Official AFL Player Ratings, went low into the contest ala Jobe Watson last week, injuring his right shoulder. He returned late in the quarter and played on, not before some unwanted attention from Pies' skipper Nick Maxwell, which the umpires quickly snuffled out. He finished with 15 touches in what was a brave effort.
5. Beaming return
It took 12 minutes, but Dayne Beams' first touch signalled that he was back, setting up Scott Pendlebury by hand for an easy shot at goal – which Pendlebury uncharacteristically sprayed. From there, the 2012 Copeland Trophy winner settled back into the midfield with Pendlebury, Swan and Luke Ball (playing his 200th game), the first time the quartet had played together since round two last season. Last time Beams played against Adelaide, he received three Brownlow votes for a 36-disposal effort. While he didn't quite replicate that elite form on Friday night, he showed glimpses of why the Pies need him in full flight come September, finishing with 25 disposals.
