IT ALL comes down to this.

Adelaide will run out onto Adelaide Oval on Saturday for its fourth Grand Final, the most of any team in competition history.

Melbourne is on quite the opposite end of the spectrum, securing its first ever Grand Final berth after coming so close year after year.   

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Bri Davey joins Nat Edwards and Sarah Black to preview the 2022 NAB AFLW Grand Final and more

AFLW GRAND FINAL Get your tickets here

Last time they met 

In round four this season Melbourne travelled to Norwood Oval for a battle between two undefeated teams. On the narrow wings of Norwood the Demons succumbed to Adelaide's wall-to-wall pressure for the first three quarters and were held goalless until three-quarter-time. The final quarter did end up breaking open and both Daisy Pearce and Tayla Harris were able to hit the scoreboard, eventually only losing by 14 points. 

Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff combined for 55 disposals and 803 metres gained, wreaking havoc on Melbourne's midfield group, while Karen Paxman had just 13 touches, the second-lowest count in her 50-game career. 

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AFLW Match Replay: Adelaide v Melbourne

The Crows and Demons clash in round four of the NAB AFL Women's Competition

Game plans 

Interestingly, while this season Adelaide has been willing to concede centre clearances, in its preliminary final against Fremantle the side got on top at centre stoppages, winning the count 6-5. What wasn't new, however, was how expertly the Crows' defenders set up behind the ball, intercepting at will. 

In Melbourne's preliminary final against Brisbane, the side looked most dangerous when emptying out its forward line and backing in the speed of players like Alyssa Bannan and Eliza McNamara running toward goal after getting the ball over the back. 

Melbourne's Alyssa Bannan evades Brisbane's Breanna Koenen during the preliminary final on April 2, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Head to head 

As two inaugural sides, Adelaide and Melbourne have played off six times in competition history with both coming away with the points three times. Adelaide has the edge in terms of score, averaging 34.5 points against the Demons, while the latter averages 29.5 points against the Crows. 

The two have played off in just one final, last year's preliminary final which ultimately Adelaide won despite having fewer scoring shots than the Demons. 

Adelaide's Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard celebrate winning the preliminary final against Melbourne on April 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

Players to watch 

Eloise Jones 

Returning from suspension Jones will be looking to have a big impact in the Grand Final. Her work out on the wing this season has seen her included in the All Australian squad while averaging 14.8 disposals at 76.7 per cent efficiency and 3.1 score involvements. Jones gives the Crows plenty of strength at the contest, and outside run to boot. 

Alyssa Bannan 

All season discussions around Melbourne's forward line have largely focused on the valuable Daisy Pearce/Tayla Harris combination, but in the past few games it has in fact been second-year player Alyssa Bannan who has been the most dangerous forward in the red and blue. Her footy smarts, composure and pure speed in attack has allowed Melbourne reprieve when trapped in defence, which will be vital when up against the Crows' territory-controlled game style. 

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Bannan makes history with special finish at the 'G

Melbourne's Alyssa Bannan kicks a classy goal to become the first AFLW goal-scorer at the MCG

Dream matchups 

Ebony Marinoff v Tyla Hanks 

Let's face it, the best midfielder for each side going up against one another is a dream scenario. Marinoff has somehow managed to go to yet another level this season, averaging 24.6 disposals, 7.3 tackles and 4.6 inside 50s, and her ability to turn her ball winning into attack has been a real feather in Adelaide's cap. Meanwhile Hanks has been a little quieter in her impact but has been an important contributor around the contest each week for the Demons. If Hanks can help to quell Marinoff's impact like she has done against strong midfielders throughout the season, that will help her Demons immensely. 

Rachelle Martin v Shelley Heath 

Both are small, unassuming but absolutely relentless players and if they go head-to-head, would produce some hard nosed footy. Martin brings the pressure, averaging 5.4 tackles per game this season, 1.2 of which are inside 50 for the Crows, while also averaging 2.2 score involvements and kicking three of her own goals. Martin's efforts are very important to Adelaide's scoring efforts. For Melbourne, Heath's competitive nature and unwillingness to be beaten has seen her generate quite the highlight reel this season, full of run down tackles and ground level intercepts. Heath averages 4.5 tackles, 4.7 intercepts and 1.8 one percenters this season. 

Crow Rachelle Martin is tackled by Demon Tyla Hanks. Picture: AFL Photos

Finals record 

Adelaide 

The most prolific finals team the AFLW has seen, Adelaide has reached five finals series in six seasons, bagging two premierships from three Grand Finals in the process. On its active list eight players were involved in both flags, while another five earned a medallion in 2019. The Crows have lost just one final in their history - last year's Grand Final - and average 44 points in finals. 

Melbourne 

In comparison to Adelaide, Melbourne has been the almost team when it comes to finals. Reaching its first Grand Final after coming agonisingly close in almost every season of AFLW - missing on percentage, on the unfortunate end of the short lived conference structure, bailing out in a prelim last season - the side has in fact won the second-most games in competition history, just one behind the Crows. The Demons average 29.3 points in finals and have lost just one - last year's prelim against Adelaide. 

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