Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich has a blunt message for one of the loudest voices pushing for AFLW expansion. Recap the thrilling Grand Final decider.
Third time lucky is the catch cry for Brisbane after conquering Adelaide to be crowned AFLW champion.
The Lions, contesting their third grand final, made a gutsy stand in defence to triumph by 18 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday and live up to the words on their banner which had read ‘Time To Level The Score’.
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The Crows completely dominated territory with twice as many trips inside their 50m, only to waste opportunity after opportunity in their pursuit of a third flag, the first of those after beating the Lions in the 2017 grand final.
However, the Lions' ability to pounce on their chances proved decisive.
‘BACK OFF’: COACH’S MESSAGE FOR KENNETT
Triumphant Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich has a blunt message for Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, back off with the Hawks’ bid for a team in the league.
Starcevich, now a premiership coach after the Lions conquered Adelaide in the grand final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, said the 14 team competition needed consolidating and there was no room for an immediate expansion.
He added the Lions had lost 16 players to other clubs and was not ready to revisit that pain just yet.
“If Jeff is banging the door down to give us a team, I’d say back off,” Starcevich said. “Where were you four years ago when we had to put in the initial application?
“Hold off, we need to get the competition strong and going really well.
“We have 16 players go to other clubs so we have done our bit to grow the competition. It is painful when it happens, now calm the farm for a little while and wait for a few years.”
The Lions were successful in subduing Crows superstar Erin Phillips, twice a grand final most valuable player.
However, Starcevich wants the medal for the best player in the grand final, won by Lions’ defender Kate Lutkins, to be named after Phillips in recognition of her impact on the league in its five years existence.
“Erin has had a massive input and her legacy should be acknowledged,” he said.
Starcevich also believes premiership glory will inspire young females to take up AFL in a city where the competition among sports was unrivalled in Australia.
As for the stunning defensive effort, the backbone of the Lions’ title victory, the intent to defend is ingrained in Queensland’s AFL players, according to Starcevich.
Lions captain Emma Zielke and Lauren Arnell announced their retirement after the win.
LIONS SETTLE EARLY
Brisbane was first to settle amid the intense pressure of a premiership decider and they had the Crows under the pump early.
Harassing, tackling and attacking the body and ball with tremendous intent, the Lions seemingly caught the Crows by surprise and rattled opponents with their ferocious attack.
The Lions had a massive territorial advantage in the first term and they set up nicely, preventing the home side from escaping from its defensive zone.
When the Crows did go forward and looked dangerous, they too often picked out a lone Lions defender and wasted opportunities. The Crows had just one scoring attempt from 10 visits inside their 50m in the opening quarter.
WASTED OPPORTUNITIES
The Crows were able to arrest the early onslaught from the Lions and, after winning the inside 50 count 10-6 in the first quarter, dominated that statistic for the second.
Such was their control of the territory, the Crows had 12 visits inside their 50 for the second term compared to just four for the Lions.
Yet that supremacy failed to be reflected on the scoreboard, adding 1.1 while the Lions made the most of their chances to bag two goals for the quarter.
The first of those goals was a stunning effort from Courtney Hodder. After the ball was banged deep into attack by the Lions, Hodder lashed out with her foot and made perfect connection to soccer the ball through for a major.
LIONS POUNCE
There was no more evidence of the trend of the game than six minutes into the third quarter when Jessica Wuetschner nailed her second goal.
The Crows had been camped in attack, but could not capitalise.
The Lions rushed the ball forward for a rare foray into attack and Wuetschner kicked the ball from 50 into a vacant goal square. The ball kept bouncing and eventually through for a goal to put the Lions 10 points clear.
THEY WERE TOO GOOD: CROWS COACH
In response to his side’s domination of the inside 50 count, Crows coach Matthew Clarke heaped praise on the Lions defence, describing it as brilliant, and claimed the visitors commanded the air.
“They were clearly well deserving victors,” Clarke said. “We were beaten by the better team, they were very, very good.
“It’s disappointing, but it’s impossible not to be proud of the girls for what they put in to get into this position. But to not be able to take the opportunity you create is devastating for the players.
“To not take the opportunity when it presents is what hurts.”
Clarke admitted Phillips had been managing her body and issues with her knees since round 4, having continually pushed her body beyond its limits.
“She is such a competitor it is impossible to persuade her to stop doing that,” he said.
Crows acting captain Angela Foley, who left the game in the third quarter because of a knee problem, is to have scans.
SKIPPERS SIDELINED
Both teams lost their captains in the third quarter because of injuries.
Just seconds after Emma Zielke left the game due to a hamstring issue, her Crows counterpart Angela Foley limped from the field after collapsing to the ground holding her knee.
Foley led the Crows onto the ground after regular skipper Chelsea Randall was ruled out of the game after being concussed in the preliminary final win.
Randall spoke to the Crows at three-quarter time while standing outside the boundary line, hoping to inspire the comeback.
BRISBANE 1.0 3.0 5.0 6.2 (38)
ADELAIDE 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.2 (20)
BEST Lions: Lutkins, Bates, Koenen, Anderson, Hodder, Conway, Wuetschner. Crows: Thompson, Hatchard, Varnhagen, Marinoff.
GOALS Lions: Hodder, Wuetschner 2, Arnell, Dawes. Crows: Thompson, Ponter, Jones.
INJURIES Lions: Zielke (hamstring). Crows: Foley (knee)
VENUE at Adelaide Oval
BEST ON GROUND MEDAL: Kate Lutkins (Lions)
The 2021 NAB AFLW premiers, @lionsaflw 🦁#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/9smt4dpOEO
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
And that concludes our live rolling coverage of the 2021 AFLW grand final between Adelaide and Brisbane.
What a ripping contest between two fierce rivals, with the Lions finally securing that elusive flag after years of heartbreak.
Thanks for tuning in – soak it up, Lions fans!
Best On Ground, Kate Lutkins 🥇#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/7B4sOOKLlA
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Brisbane defender Kate Lutkins has been named best afield for her crucial efforts down back in the Lions' breakthrough grand final victory.
Lutkins finished the match with 18 touches – 16 of them by foot – to give her side plenty of drive from half-back.
She was a popular pick among her teammates, and let them know how much she appreciated their support in her acceptance speech.
"Craig (Starcevich), coaches, Lions, you're absolutely amazing, I love you," Lutkins said.
"This is the whole team's award today, and we finally did it after five years.
"And lastly I'd just like to give a shout out to all the Brisbane fans who flew over from all over the place to be here today, you guys are unreal, I love you!"
FT: @lionsaflw 6.2 (38) defeat @CrowsAFLW 3.2 (20).
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
The Lions are your 2021 NAB AFLW premiers! 🦁#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/BM2CPHyuk6
LIONS WIN!
What an unbelievable performance from Brisbane.
If you were giving out the coaches' votes, a bulk of them would have to go to the team's backline.
Adelaide won the inside 50 count a whopping 44-24, but it was the Lions' defenders who denied the Crows time and time again.
At the other end, Lions sharpshooters Jessica Wuetschner and Courtney Hodder were simply sensational with two goals each despite their team not registering a mark inside 50.
Remarkably, Brisbane hit the scoreboard once from every three entries into its forward line. Talk about taking your chances!
Alexandra Anderson, who post-game said this was her first grand final victory from 10 failed attempts, had a massive 23 touches for the Lions, as did Emily Bates.
The Crows struggled to get their hands on the footy, Anne Hatchard leading the team's disposals with 20 (and the overall count 206-245 in favour of Brisbane).
In the end, it was heartbreak for Adelaide in front of its home fans, who will leave the ground for a long walk across the River Torrens footbridge contemplating what could have been.
ADELAIDE 20 lost to BRISBANE 38
We needed that! Jones boots our first in the final term 🙌#AFLWGF #crowsaflw #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/2IUgB83slB
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) April 17, 2021
Jeez, did the Crows need that!
Eloise Jones receives a 25 metre penalty to kick the first goal of the final term and cut the deficit to 16 points.
Adelaide has had a mountain of inside 50s and is putting Brisbane's defence under enormous pressure, but needs to start seeing some rewards on the scoreboard.
ADELAIDE 20 trailed BRISBANE 36
Lauren Arnell toe-pokes one through in her final #AFLW game 🙌#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/SiWeLV7F0g
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Hopes of a third AFLW premiership are fading fast for Adelaide after a frenetic finish to the third term.
After both teams lost their captains to injury, it was Brisbane who composed itself better and rammed home two late goals through to take an imposing 22-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Crows would need to almost triple their entire score to this point to pinch victory over the Lions.
The team took the huddle to the bench to try and draw some inspiration from injured skipper Chelsea Randall who gave her Adelaide teammates an almighty rev-up.
Will it work?
Strap yourself in for a big finish!
Stand-in @CrowsAFLW captain Ange Foley has come from the ground following this incident.
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Wishing Ange all the best 🙏#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/YBVeaC8dFF
Heartbreaking scenes for both teams as Adelaide and Brisbane lost their captains to injury in the space of minutes.
First it was Lion Emma Zielke who was seen in tears on the bench after suffering a right hamstring injury, before stand-in Crows skipper Angela Foley – who took the reins in the absence of Chelsea Randall – was felled by a nasty knee injury after landing awkwardly during a marking contest.
Neither players will return to the field.
ADELAIDE 12 trailed BRISBANE 24
Jess Wuetschner dribbles through her second 👏#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/s1Swxf82hR
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Never has a bounce hurt Adelaide fans more since Port Adelaide's Angus Monfries got the ball to turn at right angles to win the Showdown in 2013.
This time, it was Jessica Wuetschner who again delivered the blow.
Her tumbling torpedo pitched around 20 metres out from goal before dribbling through for her second of the match.
Things seem to be falling the way of the Lions.
ADELAIDE 14 trails BRISBANE 24
Ruby Svarc from @lionsaflw takes out the @Colgate AFLW Grand Final Sprint 💨#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/nDxrd340If
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Ruby Svarc raced to victory in the first-ever AFLW grand final sprint in what could be an early omen for the Lions.
Brisbane fans will be hoping it's not the only win they'll see today.
The race preceded a solo performance from Aussie rocker Sarah McLeod who, donning a 'Radelaide' t-shirt in front of the iconic Adelaide Oval hill, sang the well-known Superjesus tune 'Gravity'.
She's definitely still got it! That's some solid pipes.
It was well-received by the local crowd, and so was her finishing remark of 'Women's footy rule … Go Adelaide!'.
Second half, coming right up.
The half-time siren couldn't have come quicker for Adelaide as Brisbane peppered its forward 50 in the dying stages of the second term to nab a late goal.
Despite the inside 50 count 22-10 in favour of the Crows, the Lions certainly upped their pressure in the back end of that quarter.
Jessica Wuetschner bent one around on her left foot to see the Lions take a slim five-point lead and the momentum heading into the main break.
Jess Wuetschner puts the Lions in front just before half-time 🦁#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/GYbA5FcPqG
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
KEY CROWS MISSING
Adelaide will need to get more out of superstars Ebony Marinoff and Erin Phillips if it's to get the jump on the Lions when the second half resumes.
Marinoff was held to just seven disposals under a tight tag from Lion Cathy Svarc (also seven disposals), while Phillips got her hands on the sherrin just four times.
ADELAIDE 13 trails BRISBANE 18
Ponter put the Crows in front with a beautiful kick from the pocket! #AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/caJAdnwzrS
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
Two incredible goals in the space of two minutes!
First, it was Adelaide's Danielle Ponter who put her side in front with a precision set shot from the pocket that would make Eddie Betts proud.
COURTNEY. HODDER.
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021
How has she kicked this one?!#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/BOursproHm
But the reply from the Lions was immediate, and it was Courtney Hodder again in the thick of it.
Her kick out of mid-air from a seemingly impossible angle dribbled through to level the scores yet again.
What a contest this is shaping up to be!
ADELAIDE 12 tied with BRISBANE 12
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