Crows are a chance, premiership player Matthew Robran predicts

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The mighty Adelaide Crows could be headed for big things this September, one of their 1990s premiership heroes has said at a business event in Murray Bridge.

Ex-AFL player Matthew Robran was among the special guests at a lunch at Murray Bridge Racing Club last Thursday, alongside Fox Footy and Racing.com commentator Matt Hill and businessman Darren Thomas.

Robran, a flag-winner with the Crows in 1997 and 1998, said the club had given itself a shot at success this year.

“I think they’ve improved in a couple of particular areas,” he said.

“The recruiting of the three fellas from interstate have been terrific – (James) Peatling, (Isaac) Cumming and (Alex) Neal-Bullen; a couple of those players, second and third years, have really stepped up; obviously (Riley) Thilthorpe playing a full season has been really, really important; and (Jordan) Dawson’s taken his captaincy to the next level.

“Then you look at the back line: we’ve got almost unheralded players who’ve … almost become impenetrable.”

If there remained one question mark around the team, it was in the midfield, he said.

Still, he hoped the Crows would make the most of a rare opportunity after finishing on top of the ladder.

Commentator, meat works magnate make an appearance

Robran made the remarks at a spring racing business lunch hosted by Murray Bridge Racing Club, one which raised thousands of dollars for children’s charity Novita, for which he is an ambassador.

Racing was the main topic of the day: Hill spoke about the “amazing thrill” of calling the Melbourne Cup for an audience of millions, his origins in Melbourne’s western suburbs, his first call at Pooncarie in country New South Wales, and the weight of responsibility he felt to his listeners.

He also recounted a near-death experience he had at the Beijing Olympics, where he was struck down by a rare and often-fatal disease.

The event also featured an appearance by Thomas Foods International CEO Darren Thomas, who spoke about his family’s journey in business, his love of horse racing and his own experiences with the Crows.

TFI has been a premier partner of the Adelaide Football Club since 2016.

Thomas mentioned having mentored players including Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane and Darcy Fogarty, despite admitting he had traditionally barracked for the West Coast Eagles.

Carn the Crows

The Crows will face Collingwood in a qualifying final this Thursday night, September 4.

The winner will go straight into a preliminary final in a fortnight’s time, while the loser will play either Greater Western Sydney or Hawthorn in week two of the AFL finals.

It will be the Crows’ first appearance in a finals game since 2017.

• See more photos: Spring racing business lunch 2025