Collingwood's coach-in-waiting Nathan Buckley enjoyed an auspicious dress rehearsal on Friday night as the Magpies beat Adelaide and horrendous weather in the AFL practice match at Alice Springs.

Buckley had been handed the reins by Mick Malthouse and his players summoned plenty of drive to beat the Crows by 22 points, 11.8 (74) to 8.4 (52) in front of a paltry crowd.

As much as a third of the playing surface was under water at times.

The clean handling of Harry O'Brien was a key for the Magpies, while Alan Didak and Steele Sidebottom were strong contributors and youngsters Ben Sinclair and Jarryd Blair offered impressive composure.

Adelaide were uneven by comparison, though Richard Douglas offered most up forward by kicking four goals - three in the final term - and senior debutant Jack Gunston slotted two of his own.

The Crows lost ruckman Ivan Maric and centreman Bernie Vince on match morning, but still fielded a more recognisable line-up than Collingwood, who omitted the likes of Luke Ball, Darren Jolly, Nick Maxwell, Paul Medhurst, Sharrod Wellingham, Tarkyn Lockyer and Travis Cloke.

Adelaide were seeking greater urgency and fierceness than had been shown in a poor pre-season cup exit at the hands of Port Adelaide.

But in the early exchanges the Magpies were able to win more contests in horrid conditions and their reward was a five-point quartertime lead.

The Crows sought the shelter of the changerooms at the break and were caught out at the re-start as Steele Sidebottom fired through a goal inside 30 seconds.

Adelaide were able to find their sea legs as the term developed and notched goals to Kurt Tippett, Jared Petrenko, Gunston and Douglas to be only two points back at the main break.

Kicking with the breeze at their backs, the Magpies crashed through Adelaide's defence in the third to accumulate a 28-point advantage at the final change, with O'Brien particularly prominent.

Douglas's sharpshooting had the Crows within three goals early in the last before Jaxon Barham and Fraser ensured a win for the Magpies.

Buckley was enthusiastic about his players and also about the experience of senior coaching.

"It was enjoyable and good fun the whole week," he said.

"It has been a different feeling to be running meetings and calling the shots like a senior coach, but one thing you do realise is how much of a team effort it is."

Adelaide football operations manager Phil Harper said the Crows had at least shown a greater level of application than they had against the Power.

"They had a go, we had a poor first quarter but for the rest of the game we were right in it," he said.

"Richard Douglas played very well and to kick four goals in those conditions was a terrific effort."

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