AFLW round 10: Geelong vs. Adelaide, result and news

Adelaide could be without young star Danielle Ponter for its opening week of the finals after she rolled an ankle as the Crows locked in fourth place with a four-point, come-from-behind victory over Geelong at Kardinia Park.

Ben Cameron

@BenCameron4

3 min read

November 1, 2024 - 9:58PM

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The Crows put a wasteful opening half behind it to overrun the Cats, who failed to kick a goal after half time and coughed up a slight chance to slide into the eight at the 11th hour.

However, the Crow’s victory could come with a cost with the 24-year-old Territorian escorted from the field in a thrilling final term.

Post-match, Crows coach Matthew Clarke said his medical staff were “optimistic” Ponter would get up for week one.

Crows young gun Danielle Ponter was injured in the win against Geelong. Picture: Getty Images

What a way to kick the opener ðŸ¤©#AFLWCatsCrows pic.twitter.com/c34FkJuKt3
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 1, 2024

“A roll of the ankle, not idea but the medicos are optimistic,” Clarke said.

“She’ll have to do all the right things during the week. Certainly not (ruling her out), they were reasonably positive, we’ll see.

“She’s got a great history, particularly in big games standing up and giving us moments, we’ll certainly hope she’ll be right.

“If not then we’ll have to get it done another way but we certainly give her every chance.”

Danielle Ponter (centre) with ice on her ankle after leaving the game injured. Picture: Getty Images

Coming into the final round of the season, the fourth-placed Crows needed to win to lock up that position.

And they fluffed their lines early, managing just 1.5 to half time despite a dominant inside 50 count (18-10), with its first major coming until the ninth minute of the second term through Caitlin Gould.

Up the other end, Geelong made the most of their rarer entries with Jacqui Parry, Kate Surman and Shelley Scott deadly accurate.

But through Gould’s growing dominance, and Ebony Marinoff picking up a wealth of touches in an important third term, the Crows booted 3.3 to just three behinds after half time.

Anne Hatchard gets a kick away for the Crows.

MARINOFF AMONGST IT

The Crows star would have done her league best and fairest aspirations no harm after a strong performance at Kardinia Park, with team-leading possession and tackle counts.

After a quiet second term, the left footer had 10 touches in the third as the Crows took control after a wasteful opening half.

Along with 50-gamer Nina Morrison, she also laid 10 tackles for the match.

Crows star Ebony Marinoff gets a kick away during the game against the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

MORRISON RAISES THE HALF TON

The inspirational Cat led from the front on Friday night, collecting a game-high 25 touches to rival Marinoff for best on ground in her 50th game in the hoops.

Morrison, the first Cat picked up the club before their inaugural season, could hold her head high after a disappointing end to the season at Kardinia Park.

One of the league’s most natural footballers, the Cats always looked a chance when Morrison had the ball in hand.

Chelsea Randall marks. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

AISHLING MOLONEY NULLIFIED

After kicking a career-high six straight goals last round against West Coast, the Irish product would no doubt have come into Matthew Clarke’s midweek plans.

Guarded by Zoe Prowse, Moloney was kept goalless but still had a few influential moments as the Cats were precise from their set shots early.

In just her second season, Moloney remains in contention for winning the competition’s leading goal kicker award, two majors ahead of Brisbane’s Taylor Smith.

An incredible story if she gets there.

Georgie Prespakis was pumped after kicking an early goal.

Chelsea Randall takes possession for the Crows.

CATS’ FINALS DREAMS OVER

That faint pulse has now flatlined.

To stay alive in 2024, the Cats had to win on Friday night and hope Melbourne and Essendon went down.

However, they failed to complete the first leg of the trifecta, fading after half time just as they did against Fremantle and Hawthorn.

Coach Dan Lowther, who admitted post-match this was his most challenging year in his short career, will need to address the trend when season 10 rolls around.