Big day of footy with some big results. The Bulldogs looked sensational early in the arvo, and that Geelong fight back and win over Freo was pretty special. The Swans are a force again in 2026, while the Crows don't look like they've lost anything after finishing top of the ladder last year.

Still three games to come tomorrow! The blog will be back for those ones, and I hope you can join us then. Until then, goodnight.

Adelaide has held off a Collingwood fightback to claim a gritty 14-point victory at the MCG and kick off its fresh AFL premiership tilt in winning fashion.

Last year's minor premiers, who exited the finals in straight sets — including suffering a qualifying final loss to Collingwood — entered 2026 with a point to prove.

The Magpies were in it up to their eyeballs, with Nick Daicos starring, in the first half before a six-goal third quarter from Adelaide set up a 13.15 (93) to 11.13 (79) win in front of 62,482 fans on Saturday night.

Collingwood was left to rue giving away two 50-metre penalties, for breaching the altered 'stand' rule, that led to Adelaide goals and allowed the Crows to steady.

Thilthorpe finished with three goals, while Fogarty and Isaac Cumming kicked two apiece.

With Izak Rankine suspended, Wayne Milera (34 disposals), Josh Worrell (27 disposals) and Alex Neal-Bullen (27 disposals) had plenty of the ball while Josh Rachele (24 disposals, one goal) impressed.

Nick Daicos still finished with 33 disposals, two goals and 725 metres gained while Dan Houston (32 disposals, 11 marks) was sublime out of defence early and among Collingwood's best along with Isaac Quaynor.

Lachie Schultz, Roan Steele and Jamie Elliott kicked two goals apiece but Tim Membrey kicked just one.

Collingwood ramped up their pressure late in the third term, snagged the final goal of the quarter and trailed by 30 at the last change.

The Magpies snagged the first three goals of the last quarter to cut the deficit to just 12.

But Walker won a 50-metre penalty and teed up Fogarty to steady the ship, before an off-balance Ben Keays nudge the lead back out to 23.

Collingwood didn't have enough time to come back, despite late efforts from Jamie Elliott and Nick Daicos.

AAP

Joel Amartey has bagged five goals as Sydney blitzed Brisbane early and claimed a convincing 44-point win over the understrength AFL premiers at the SCG.

Sydney kicked the first seven goals of Saturday's game on its way to a second home victory, winning 15.14 (104) to 8.12 (60).

Brisbane, without the suspended Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner and the injured Hugh McCluggage, dropped to 0-2 in its season start.

A downside for the Swans was a potential injury for star Errol Gulden who left the field in the final quarter.

The Lions trailed by 34 and 48 at the first two breaks and didn't kick successive goals until the third quarter, which they won by seven points.

They got within 29 in the final quarter, before successive goals to Justin McInerney and Brodie Grundy and Amartey blew the margin back to 47.

Star recruit Charlie Curnow was well contained by Richard Lester, kicking 0.2, but Sydney had plenty of other weapons.

Amartey kicked and marked with authority and Isaac Heeney and Logan McDonald each booted two goals.

Tom McCartin racked up a career-high 27 possessions for Sydney.

Brisbane won 22 more clearances but lacked the polish going forward.

Dayne Zorko tallied a match-high 30 touches for Brisbane and Lachie Neale 28 and Cameron and Bruce Reville both kicked two goals.

AAP

An Adelaide third-quarter surge was the difference, the only spell in the game where either side really imprinted their preferred style of play on the game. The Crows' run and gun through the middle broke the Magpies, and that six-goal term was enough to sit on in the last.

Just as impressive for the Crows was the ability to weather a late Collingwood storm, when it looked like momentum was only going one way. There were some scores to settle for the Crows tonight and they rose to the occasion.

The Magpies won't panic and will be looking forward to getting some key defensive pillars back in the coming weeks, but they won't be pleased to have dropped an MCG game, especially having been below their best.

Look, maybe?

It's 18 points and there are three minutes to play. They've got to go straight out of the middle a couple of times here, might as well roll the dice.

Another 50 metre penalty took the Crows from defence to attack there. Collingwood's inability to adhere to the stand rule might have cost them this game.

But once it was down there, there were two special moments. Firstly big MacAndrew, at 211cm, getting down for the slickest pick up and handball over his shoulder. And then the Keays checkside from deep in the pocket was spectacular.

This has been a fine response from Adelaide, who looked cooked 10 minutes ago.

It took a 50 metre penalty, but the Crows won't care how it came. None of the Pies players stood the mark at half-back so Walker was marched up the field, and he found Fogarty in a bit of space.

Back to 18 points, nine minutes to play. Crows might believe again.

How do you stop the Magpies from here?! They are running downhill and it feels like the Crows are powerless to stop them.

Case in point: Membrey was in a one-on-three marking contest there and beat a trio of Crows. He slots his set shot and the MCG can feel it.

Here they come! The Crows might be running out of gas, and an 18-point lead doesn't feel like much right now!

So much time left in this last quarter, Collingwood all the momentum right now.

The game was won in the first quarter really, and the Swans just held the Lions at arm's length for the rest of the game after that. Only real concerns for Sydney are potential injuries to Errol Gulden and Isaac Heeney. Any time out for either of those would be a disaster.

The Lions were probably expecting a bit of a down night given the players they were missing, but will be disappointed to have been beaten at their own game. Sydney's run completely overcame the Lions' clearance dominance, and it's not often Brisbane is beaten on the outside.

Brisbane is 0-2 and Sydney is 2-0. Both sides will be big stories in 2026.