AFLW 2022: Crows will wait until after the grand final to discuss future of Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall

Will Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall remain at West Lakes? Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke has responded to speculation.

Adelaide is waiting until after Saturday’s AFLW grand final to talk with star veterans Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips about their futures.

Captain Randall is 31, while Phillips, a dual recipient of the best-on-ground medal in flag deciders, will be the oldest player on the ground in the home game against Melbourne at the age of 36 and has been linked with an off-season switch to Port Adelaide.

When asked if he had chatted with the two-time premiership winners about their post-grand final plans, Crows coach Matthew Clarke joked “I reckon we’ll go to the pub”.

“There’s been no conversations with anyone about anything beyond tomorrow,” Clarke said.

“It’s not something we’ve put our minds to.

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Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips with the 2021 premiership cup. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“Why bother? There’s the prospect of a short turnaround between seasons, but even then there’s plenty of time for that.

“We’re very focused on what’s ahead.”

The Crows and Demons enter the grand final having been the two best teams all year.

Both finished the minor round with 10-1 records.

What the Crows have over their opponents is grand final experience as they prepare to play a fourth premiership decider in six seasons, while Melbourne is preparing for its first.

Clarke expected that to help his side in the build-up, rather than on matchday.

He also labelled his club’s 18-point grand final loss to Brisbane last year irrelevant, saying he had moved on and not brought it up to the squad this season.

“It’d be lovely to go back and say ‘we could’ve done this, could’ve done that’, but you can’t do it,” he said.

“This is a new opportunity, it’s a different group, different opponent.

“To get an opportunity in a grand final again is awesome.

“It’s the culmination of a hell of a lot of hard work.”

Adelaide won its minor-round clash with Melbourne in January by 14 points.

Phillips booted three of the Crows’ four majors that day as her side kept the Demons goalless until the final term.

Clarke said his side was confident but realistic ahead of the rematch.

Erin Phillips kicked three goals in her last match against the Demons. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“They’ve got plenty of threats and talent out there,” he said of a Melbourne team boasting four All-Australians - Tayla Harris, Daisy and Lauren Pearce, and Libby Birch.

Clarke, who was at the helm for the 2019 triumph and last year’s defeat, said the 24 hours leading into a grand final were stress-free.

“We’ve done all the work so it’s making sure the group is in that good (head) space, which I’m pretty sure they will be.

“Then feet on the desk and sit back and enjoy the ride.”

A massive crowd of 53,000 attended the Crows’ 2019 grand final success at Adelaide Oval but Clarke would be surprised if the midday match approached that figure on Saturday.

“With the Covid environment, people are a bit skittish on coming to the footy or getting in crowded situations and also the timing of the game is not ideal for families that have got kids’ sport,” he said.

“Last time out all those factors played in our favour.

“The ability to play home grand finals is something that’s really positive about AFLW and so for our fans to get that opportunity, hopefully they take it up.”

Crows stars in the running for top player award

— Liz Walsh

Crows’ star midfielders Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard are looking forward to swapping their footy jumpers for evening wear on Tuesday night as the AFLW crowns its best and fairest player for the 2022 season.

Marinoff and Hatchard are among the favourites to take out the prestigious W-Award, alongside Brisbane’s Emily Bates and North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell.

With Adelaide preparing to take on Melbourne in Saturday’s AFLW grand final at Adelaide Oval, the Crows won’t travel to Victoria to attend the main ceremony at Crown Palladium.

Instead they’ll walk the red carpet at a special ceremony at Adelaide Oval to watch the event via a live stream.

Both prolific ball-winners have had excellent seasons, helping propel the Crows into their fourth grand final in six seasons of the league.

Between them, Marinoff (the Crows’ reigning club champion) and Hatchard, (the 2020 club champion), have averaged 50 touches combined a game and teammate Marijana Rajcic said it would be an honour to see a Crow take out the W-Award for the first time since Erin Phillips won her second in 2019.

“I’d love to see one of our girls win it … we have so many players in our team who could take it out,” she said.

Crows Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard in West Lakes, ahead of the W-Awards. Picture: Matt Loxton

While Marinoff was flattered by the W-Award talk, said the medal she really wanted was the premiership medallion on Saturday.

“On an individual level, I’m certainly proud, I love playing the game and to be playing the way I am, makes me proud because I’ve put a lot of hard work in,” she said.

Last year’s W-Award ended in a thrilling tie between Fremantle’s Kiara Bowers and Collingwood’s co-captain Briana Davey.

Neither of those players will be able to win back-to-back crowns, however, with Davey going down to an ACL injury in round 1 this year, and Bowers ineligible through suspension.

Hatchard said the season had been a lot of fun.

“We’ve been really consistent as a team with some really strong individual performances from a lot of the girls,” she said.

“The W-Awards will be a fun, exciting night.”