FREMANTLE'S irresistible NAB AFL Women's run extended to 10 straight wins on Sunday after completely dismantling Adelaide at Norwood Oval.
The Dockers' exhilarating speed proved too much for the Crows, who were consigned to their lowest score in five years of competition in the 7.1 (43) to 1.7 (13) result.
CROWS v DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats
The Crows had to wait until the sixth-minute mark of the last quarter to boot their first goal through Erin Phillips after the Dockers scored the opening seven majors of the game.
Sabreena Duffy and Ashley Sharp did the damage for the Dockers before half-time, while gun Gemma Houghton put the cherry on top with two final-term goals.
Dockers gun Kiara Bowers (23 disposals, 13 tackles) was again prolific in the midfield, while Crows onballer Ebony Marinoff (23 disposals) did the heavy lifting for her side.
With both sides entering unbeaten, the Crows could manage just two behinds in a frenetic opening term in which Bowers laid a heavy tackle that could come under Match Review scrutiny.
The Crows could've broken their deadlock earlier if not for the resolute Dockers defence which repelled a host of entries in the first half.
The Dockers' speedsters opened the match up in the third term, kicking three goals to three behinds to maintain their winning streak which includes last year's 7-0 record before the season was called off due to COVID-19.
Docker to come under scrutiny?
Kiara Bowers will have a nervous wait before the Match Review Officer's findings are released after laying a crunching tackle on Crow Anne Hatchard in the opening term. Bowers won a free kick after Hatchard tried to weave through traffic, but the Dockers midfielder appeared to pin her opponent's left arm as she was driven into the turf. The MRO has clamped down on dangerous tackles in recent seasons and this will be closely assessed on Monday.
Where to play Erin?
It's a question that isn't getting any easier for Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke. Phillips played higher up the ground to start the match and looked to provide a contest for the Crows against the speedy Dockers. Then chasing the game, Phillips was thrown deep forward and kicked a goal and could have had a second in the dying stages before missing a set shot. She finished with 1.2 from 14 disposals.
Five minutes of madness
Dockers jet Gemma Houghton was double-teamed on occasions in the first half as the Crows went to work on her explosive power in attack. While still contributing, Houghton left the damage on the scoreboard to others before she nailed two goals of her own in the first five minutes of the final term.
Say what?
"We've been doing it for a while, but we haven't maybe got the respect sometimes we thought the girls deserve. It's a big statement against a really good side." – Fremantle coach Trent Cooper
"Their ability to go the length of the field a number of times on us was pivotal. They took their opportunities and due to their pressure and the way they structured up their defence, we weren't able to make much of ours (opportunities)." – Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke
What's next?
After packing their bags in anticipation of a long road trip, the Dockers will fly immediately back home and take on Gold Coast at 2.10pm AWST on Saturday at Fremantle Oval. The Crows will be hoping to regain captain Chelsea Randall from concussion when they travel to Hickey Park and tackle Brisbane at 12.10pm AEST on Sunday.
ADELAIDE 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.7 (13)
FREMANTLE 0.0 2.1 5.1 7.1 (43)
GOALS
Adelaide: Phillips
Fremantle: Sharp 2, Houghton 2, Haynes, Webb, Duffy
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Martin, Phillips, Hatchard, Button
Fremantle: Bowers, Haynes, Duffy, Sharp, Cain, Houghton
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2717 at Norwood Oval
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