“Won’t dwell on it”: Why Crows’ “maturity” will shape 2026’s redemption campaign

The Adelaide Crows are aiming to take their finals collapse in stride, using the disappointing straight sets exit as a motivator to gain redemption in 2026.

The club is recognising the lessons from the two losses as experience that will benefit the club, according to key forward Darcy Fogarty, who noted those pressurised games are experiences the playing list lacked last season.

“The straight sets exit obviously hurts,” Fogarty told SEN on Friday.

“That's something that we obviously are driven by, and that's something that we don't want to happen again.

“But then again, we got to experience finals as well, and something like 90 per cent of the list hadn't played finals.

“So, we all have [played finals] now, and we all recognised that's what you do all your training for. I think that's a big driving force as well."

Many questions have been asked of Adelaide's list since the minor premiers sensationally lost back-to-back clashes at Adelaide Oval to Victorian rivals, including whether the three-pronged tall forward approach would stick in 2026.

Star veteran Taylor Walker, emerging Coleman Medal contender Riley Thilthorpe and Fogarty combined for 140 goals last season.

However, Fogarty is adamant senior coach Matthew Nicks won't overreact, stating the gameplan is unlikely to undergo significant change.

"I think [the forward line structure] will be pretty similar," Fogarty said.

"It all happens organically at the moment. We don't really talk about what each other are doing... we know each others roles and know where each other is going to be. I can't imagine that changing a lot going into this year.

“We want to redeem ourselves from the straight sets, we know we're better than that, and we want to play at that end of the year.

"We've recognised that we did a lot right to get ourselves in the position we did, and unfortunately, we just didn't execute in the final two games.