This Sunday at Adelaide Oval, AFL fans will see an exciting and intense match between two of the league’s most promising young players, Riley Thilthorpe and Mac Andrew. The match between Adelaide and Gold Coast is highly significant for both teams’ chances of making it to the finals. The rivalry between Thilthorpe and Andrew is at the centre of it all. These two players’ competitive nature has already provided us some of the most exciting moments of the 2025 season.
This game should be one of the most exciting of the season since Gold Coast wants to stay in the top four and Adelaide wants to make sure it gets to the finals. People won’t just be watching the team battle; the head-to-head between Thilthorpe and Andrew will be the main attraction and could decide who wins the game.
Match Importance – A Battle That Will Decide the Finals
Gold Coast is in a good place in the top four (11-5, 121.8%) and just beat Collingwood, who is at the top of the ladder. The Suns want to keep their dream of playing in the finals alive by assaulting Adelaide, a team that has been a strong contender in the AFL for a long time.
Adelaide (12-5, 136.1%) is on a three-game winning streak and wants to stay in the top four as well. This match is very important for both teams as they get ready for the finals with only a few rounds left in the season.
Gold Coast’s Most Recent Games
The Suns are feeling great after a big win over Collingwood, which helps them get closer to a top-four spot. Gold Coast will be confident going into the next game, even though it will be tough, after their exciting win over a team that was in the running for the flag.
It’s an important blow that star midfielder Touk Miller will miss at least a month because of a hamstring injury. Coach Damien Hardwick, on the other hand, is still hopeful. He knows that the team has a lot of depth in the midfield and that players can step up in Miller’s place.
Adelaide’s Recent Results
Adelaide, led by coach Matthew Nicks, is on a roll with three wins in a row. The Crows want to keep playing well after beating the Western Bulldogs last weekend, which was a big win for them. Adelaide is ready to give Gold Coast a tough fight, especially at home at Adelaide Oval, where they want to finish in the top four.
A Growing Rivalry – Riley Thilthorpe vs. Mac Andrew
One of the most exciting things about this match is that Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe and Gold Coast’s Mac Andrew are still rivals. The two players had a fight earlier this season in Round 4, when Gold Coast beat the Crows by just one point. As the game came to a dramatic end, things got very tense. AFL fans can’t miss this battle because of the intense fights they’ve had on and off the field.
Round Four Recap – A Heated Fight
In Round 4, Adelaide’s Thilthorpe was in charge, kicking five goals, most of which were against Gold Coast’s Sam Collins. Andrew, on the other hand, was in charge of stopping Adelaide’s Taylor Walker and only let him score three goals. But the real action happened in the last few minutes of the game when Thilthorpe and Andrew got into a fight. Andrew rushed in to say how unhappy he was after Thilthorpe gave away a free kick, which led to a heated argument between the two. After the last whistle, the tension stayed high as both players yelled at each other, which brought in players from both teams.
Thilthorpe’s Recent Performance
Thilthorpe has been playing very well lately. He has scored 39 goals, which puts him in a tie for sixth place in the Coleman Medal race. He scored an all-time high of six goals in Adelaide’s win over the Western Bulldogs. Thilthorpe is one of the most dangerous forwards in the league since he can take contested marks and score goals all the time. Gold Coast’s defence will have a hard time with him on the field, especially Andrew, who will have to try to shut him down.
Andrew’s Defensive Growth Mac Andrew has had a great season in 2025, becoming a more dependable key defender for the Suns, especially since Charlie Ballard is hurt. Andrew has been great on defence this year; he has only lost 18.6% of his one-on-one matchups, which puts him in the same league as some of the best defenders in the AFL. One of the main reasons Gold Coast did well in 2025 was that he got better at being a lockdown defender. If the Suns want to keep Thilthorpe from scoring, he will need to keep playing like that.
A Rivalry That Lasts
Thilthorpe and Andrew are both very competitive, and their rivalry is going to be one of the most exciting in the AFL for the next ten years. Fans are already thrilled about the fight between these two players, and it’s a rivalry that will only get stronger and more interesting over time.
Gold Coast’s Challenge – Ending the Drought at Adelaide Oval
Gold Coast has never won at Adelaide Oval; they are 0-11 there, with six of those losses coming against Adelaide. The Suns have a huge problem with this historic drought. They will have to deal with the mental stress of playing at a field where they have always had trouble. Coach Damien Hardwick said that the situation is tough, but he is sure that his team can end the streak if they play their best football. “It’s a tough place to be, but if we do our best, we’ll definitely give the Crows some trouble,” he said.
The Emotional Dynamic – Thilthorpe and Andrew
The competition between Thilthorpe and Andrew will be one of the main subplots of the game, and it makes the already high-stakes contest even more emotional. Both players are very passionate and have already shown that they aren’t afraid to get on each other’s nerves. As this rivalry grows, the AFL world will be paying close attention.
The Big Picture – What the Finals Mean
This game is very important for both teams’ chances of making it to the finals. Adelaide will try to keep moving up the rankings and get into the top four, while Gold Coast will try to hold on to their spot and improve on their all-time record at Adelaide Oval. The outcome could have big effects on both teams as they get closer to the end of the season.
The End – The Fight for the Top Four
Gold Coast and Adelaide will play each other this Sunday, and it should be one of the most exciting games of the season. Fans can look forward to an exciting game at Adelaide Oval as both teams are fighting for a spot in the top four and Thilthorpe and Andrew have a personal rivalry. This is a must-win battle, and the AFL world will be watching to see who wins.
