4 minute read
Crows to prevail
THE BIG DANCE
IS HERE
FULL HOUSE: A record crowd of more than 53,000 fans rocked Adelaide Oval as the Crows claimed the 2019 premiership.
The AFLW Grand Final is here, with Adelaide hosting Brisbane at Adelaide Oval, a rematch of the inaugural season’s Grand Final.
The top two teams have made it through and home ground advantage played a big role in the preliminary finals.
It will be the second Grand Final at Adelaide Oval, following a record crowd of 53,034 in 2019 when the Crows downed Carlton by 45 points.
While COVID-19 restrictions might mean a smaller crowd this time, it should still be an incredible atmosphere.
An Adelaide win would be historic, with multiple players having the chance to become three-time premiership players.
As for the Lions, they’ll be looking to avenge their two Grand Final losses from 2017 and 2018.
NIC NEGREPONTIS
GRAND FINAL – SAT, APRIL 17
ADELAIDE OVAL, 1.30PM ACST
u In a rematch of the inaugural AFLW Grand Final, the Adelaide Crows will take on the Brisbane Lions again
on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows will be looking to claim their third premiership from four tries, if you discount the cancelled 2020 season, and cement their legacy as the dominant team of the first era of AFLW.
A lot has changed since 2017, but Adelaide still has 12 members of the Grand Final side that triumphed over the Lions.
Brisbane has only seven players left from that 2017 line-up, with the majority of its side picked off by expansion teams.
Ten members of the Lions’ inaugural AFLW side are still in the league and playing elsewhere.
EXCITEMENT PLUS:
Dynamic forward Dakota Davidson looms as a potential match-winner for the Lions.
Being able to rebuild the list on the fly and make it back to the Grand Final so quickly is a testament to Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich and his club’s list management.
Adelaide made its way through after winning a final of sorts in round nine over Collingwood to earn top spot and control the home field throughout the finals.
The Crows took full advantage of that against Melbourne in the preliminary final, winning comfortably and booking their Grand Final spot.
The Lions also finished the year with wins over the Magpies and Roos to earn second spot and a much-needed bye in the first week of finals.
That home ground advantage proved crucial against Collingwood in their preliminary final, outlasting the Magpies in the blistering Queensland heat.
The biggest storyline heading into this game is Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall, who will miss with concussion.
Some have asked whether the AFL’s new 12-day concussion protocols would hold firm if it meant a star player missed a Grand Final – and at the first possible instance of testing them, they have.
The Crows have struggled historically without Randall and will need to work things differently minus their courageous barometer.
The game has clean air following the AFL’s decision to move the game between the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast to a twilight start to free up the Saturday afternoon slot.
The Crows and the Lions have built arguably the AFLW’s best rivalry and fans can expect a ferocious contest.
PREDICTION:
Adelaide Crows by 11 points
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT:
Crows superstar Erin Phillips already has two Grand Final Best on Ground medals to her name.
KEY MATCH-UPS ERIN PHILLIPS v BREANNA KOENEN
u When Phillips pushes forward, Koenen is a likely match-up for the superstar. Koenen shut down Collingwood’s Chloe Molloy in the preliminary final, helped by the Lions’ pressure through the midfield. Can she stop Phillips from winning a third Grand Final Best on Ground medal?
SARAH ALLEN v DAKOTA DAVIDSON
u Davidson was the difference for Brisbane in the preliminary final, kicking three big goals. Allen is the likely match-up for Davidson as one of the game’s best young key defenders. Shutting down the star Lion will be a key to Adelaide’s chances.
EBONY MARINOFF v CATHY SVARC
u Svarc is the AFLW’s No. 1 tagger and has quelled the likes of Brianna Davey and Kiara Bowers. While she may
go to Phillips when she’s on-ball, Marinoff’s dominance in the preliminary final might have the Lions second guessing. Quelling Marinoff’s influence around the contests would help the Lions win the clearances.
SUPER STOPPER:
Cathy Svarc will have the job of trying to quell Crow star Ebony Marinoff’s influence.
