7.22pm‘I hope Chris is not watching’: Nicks reveals matchupsBy The Crows will also look to restrict Cats defensive ace Tom Stewart whose intercept marks and rebounding can be very damaging.Nicks said Callum Ah Chee would get first go at trying to take on Stewart.Callum Ah Chee (left) and Josh Rachele of the Crows celebrate a goal earlier this season.AFL Photos via Getty Images“We’ll put some time into him (Tom Stewart) because he hurts us, and unfortunately he’s hurt us when we’ve put some time into him previously,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks told Kayo Sports.“We have quite an experienced player that’s going to do that in Callum Ah Chee tonight, so hopefully Chris (Scott) is not watching this broadcast, but the reality of it is, he probably knows we’re doing it.“Cal’s got a real good balance of how to be relevant, how to be dangerous to try and hurt him when we have the footy, but also show him a lot of respect, because he’sone of the best players in the competition.7.18pmStewart looms large in Crows’ planning for CatsBy Adelaide know better than most that it pays to avoid five-time AFL All-Australian defender Tom Stewart when kicking into attack.It’s also easier said than done and Stewart is a major focus for the Crows ahead of hosting Geelong on Thursday night.Tom Stewart of the Cats leads his team out.Getty ImagesWhen the two teams clashed in round three, Stewart had nine intercept possessions as the Cats held off Adelaide by eight points.Stewart is elite at picking off opposition kicks inside 50m and he also kicked a goal in the March 26 clash.7.03pmNo fear for Hugo as Nicks throws mid-season draftee into the fireBy Roy WardMid-season draftee Hugo Hall-Fahan will make his Adelaide debut and coach Matthew Nicks have told him to play free.Nicks beamed about the former VFL player who was pick 10 in this year’s mid-season draft and is best friends with Crows defender Josh Worrell.Hugo Hall-Kahan being presented his jumper by Bruce Linder.AFL Photos via Getty Images“First you look at your culture and he’s made an impact in such a short period of time,” Nicks told Kayo Sports.“He doesn’t know our game plan all that well, so we will just look to him to go out and play.6.43pmCats could throw Henry forward again but not for longBy Roy WardCats coach Chris Scott may still start defender Jack Henry in the forward line tonight but with rain falling in Adelaide, the worldly big man could return to defence.Henry has kicked four goals so far this season and has recently spent time up forward.Jack Henry kicks the ball.AFL Photos via Getty Images“I suspect we will still start him forward but that may change [as the game goes on],” Scott told Kayo Sports.Scott said the Cats were ready to bounce back from last week’s loss to Carlton and he expected a big challenge from Adelaide tonight.6.31pm‘With confidence’: Crows recruit named for AFL debutBy The stars have aligned for Adelaide’s mid-season recruit Hugo Hall-Kahan, who will finally make his AFL debut on Thursday night against Geelong.The Crows picked Hall-Kahan in last week’s rookie draft. The 22-year-old defender had previously been on Sydney’s list, also recruited by them in the 2026 mid-season draft.Adelaide debutant Hugo Hall-Kahan being presented his jumper by Bruce Linder.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesAdelaide did not expect Hall-Kahan to play in the AFL so soon, but Isaac Cumming’s hamstring injury at training on Monday night has paved the way.Crows football boss Adam Kelly said Hall-Kahan had made an immediate impression at the club and deserved his selection for the Adelaide Oval clash.6.25pmInteractive: Your side’s path in 2026By 6.19pmGood eveningBy G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog this evening as the Cats and Crows face off in Adelaide.It should be a cracking match between two sides with high hopes in 2026, first bounce is set for 7.30pm AEST.Enjoy the hours to come.1 of 1