ADELAIDE only sat on top of the ladder for one week, and it was the one that mattered, finishing as minor premiers. 

But the Crows stumbled at the last hurdle, losing the Grand Final to Brisbane by 18 points as concussed skipper Chelsea Randall watched on from the sidelines.

womens.afl will look at each of the seasons of the 14 AFLW teams in reverse ladder order.

Coach: Matthew Clarke

Leadership group: Chelsea Randall (captain), Sarah Allan, Ange Foley, Eloise Jones

2021 home and away finishing position: First, seven wins and two losses, 208.4 per cent. Lost Grand Final to Brisbane by 18 points.

BEST AND FAIREST WRAP Who was your club champion?

Best team performance: Adelaide 4.7 (31) defeated Collingwood 2.5 (17) in round nine.

The game which sewed up the minor premiership for the Crows. Despite having stumbled against Brisbane a few weeks prior, Collingwood was still one of the sides to beat in round nine. With a home preliminary final berth on the line, Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff dominated proceedings in the middle and helped the Crows to a 14-point win.

Best individual performance: Superstar Erin Phillips gave a reminder as to what her very best footy looks like in round four against Brisbane. Playing primarily forward, she tore the game apart with four goals from 21 disposals, taking five marks and finishing with the three AFLW best and fairest votes.

NAB AFLW Rising Star nominations: Nil

Debutants: Teah Charlton (AFLW debut), Hannah Munyard, Lisa Whiteley, Ashleigh Woodland (club debuts)

Delistings: Renee Forth, Jess Sedunary (inactive, not delisted, for 2022)

LIST CHANGES Retirements, delistings, inactive players

Most improved: Chloe Scheer made the step up to the midfield this year, returning from a number of serious knee injuries and setbacks to show just how good she can be. She averaged 11.3 disposals, using the ball neatly and making smart decisions, while also booting five goals. Nikki Gore also improved considerably this year, but broke her ankle halfway through the season.

Star recruit: Key forward Ashleigh Woodland has come on in leaps and bounds since her last AFLW stint, with Melbourne as a key back in 2019. She impressed on her return to the SANFLW in 2020 and was rewarded with selection in the draft, kicking nine goals across the season.

Unsung hero: Eloise Jones has quietly made a successful transition to the wing over the past few years, where her marking ability has held her in good stead. She averaged 8.9 touches this year – including a career-high 15 against Brisbane in round four – and pushed forward to kick five goals.

What worked:

- After a very disappointing 2020, the Crows bounced back to their high-scoring ways, leading the competition in average goals per game. There aren't too many who can beat Erin Phillips in a one-on-one in attack, while Ash Woodland's presence allowed Danielle Ponter to flourish at times.

- Eyebrows were raised when multiple All-Australian defender Chelsea Randall made her return from a torn ACL in attack, but it proved to be a canny move by Clarke. Having played much of her pre-AFLW footy forward of the footy, Randall's marking ability and footy smarts meant she was a crucial link across half-forward.

- Adelaide shuffled through a few different ruck looks, trying both Rhi Metcalfe and Caitlin Gould as solo rucks at various points, but eventually settled on playing both. The quickly improving Gould's mobility means she isn't a liability when not playing on the ball, while Metcalfe provides a nice counter-balance with her football IQ and experience.

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What needs improvement:

- In their few losses for the year, the Crows struggled once behind on the scoreboard. Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle are high-pressure sides who seemed to rattle Adelaide, particularly if Ebony Marinoff's drive was limited. Inaccuracy in front of goal also hurt the Crows, particularly against the Dockers.

Early call for 2021/22: Adelaide will be desperate for one last push at the flag before Port Adelaide potentially enters in the 2022/23 season, and definitely have the players to do so. One quirky thing to watch for is if the "even year" affects Adelaide, having dropped down the ladder in 2018 and 2020.

Season rating: 9/10