ADELAIDE has booked its place in the 2021 AFLW Grand Final with an impressive 18-point victory over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Ebony Marinoff (35 disposals and 13 tackles) and Anne Hatchard (27 disposals and one goal) starred for the Crows in the 5.3 (33) to 1.9 (15) win, which sets up an Adelaide Oval Grand Final against either Brisbane or Collingwood.  

CROWS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

But it seems the Crows will have to enter the decider without captain Chelsea Randall, who copped a heavy knock in the first quarter and was ruled out of the rest of the match with concussion. 

It was a frenetic start to the game with good pressure from both sides early making it difficult for either team to score.

Despite leading the inside-50 count 11 to five at quarter-time, Melbourne was unable to penetrate Adelaide’s strong defensive setup and went into the first break goalless.

Adelaide’s strong midfield took control in the second term, with Marinoff (20 disposals) and Hatchard (18) both racking up mountains of possession in the first half.

Meanwhile, up forward Erin Phillips proved difficult to contain, with the superstar kicking the only two goals to half-time.        

The Crows started to overwhelm the Demons in the second half, with a lively Rachelle Martin helping drive repeated inside 50s, which led to impressive third-term goals to Hatchard and Chloe Scheer.    

Melbourne finally kicked their first goal in the final term through Kate Hore, but by then it was far too late.

Injury carnage early
The ferociousness of the contest became apparent early on, with Demon Eliza McNamara and Crows skipper Chelsea Randall involved in a big collision in the first quarter. It left both players unable to finish out the game and will potentially have huge ramifications for next week’s Grand Final. Given the league’s minimum 12-day return to play protocol for concussion, it looks as if Randall will be forced to miss the decider and a chance to win a third AFLW premiership.

The first blow
With Adelaide and Melbourne struggling to hit the scoreboard in the first term, both sides were desperate for a goal to settle the nerves. Enter Erin Phillips. The veteran won a free kick inside 50 and duly converted to give the Crows the early advantage. With a wasteful Melbourne finishing the game with 1.9, Phillips’ two first half goals were pivotal to Adelaide’s victory.

It was over when…
While they led by 21 points at three quarter time, the Crows would have been wary of a last term fightback from the Demons. But Eloise Jones put the game beyond reach with a classy goal in the opening minutes of the final term. The youngster crumbed the ball in the forward pocket, tapped it forward and soccered it through from a tight angle for an impressive goal that crushed any remaining hope for the Demons. 

What’s next?
The Crows are heading to the Grand Final and have secured hosting rights, meaning they will play the winner of Brisbane and Collingwood at Adelaide Oval next Saturday. For the Demons, their season is now over.

ADELAIDE        1.0    2.1    4.2    5.3 (33)
MELBOURNE   0.2    0.3    0.5    1.9 (15)

GOALS
Adelaide: Phillips 2, Scheer, Hatchard, Jones
Melbourne: Hore

BEST 
Adelaide: Hatchard, Marinoff, Phillips, Martin, Thompson
Melbourne: Paxman, Hanks, Hore, Gay, Scott

INJURIES  
Adelaide: Randall (concussion)
Melbourne: McNamara (concussion)

Crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval

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