Efficient Western Bulldogs claim one-point AFLW win against Adelaide Crows

Adelaide kicked 1.11 in its AFLW season opener as a brilliant smother and two-goal cameo by Katie Brennan got the Western Bulldogs premiership defence off to the perfect start.

Erin Phillips walks off after the Crows lost their first match of the season.

Western Bulldogs prevailed by one point in the battle of AFLW’s champions - a season opener that Adelaide arguably let slip at Norwood Oval.

The combatants couldn’t break the deadlock in the third term, failing to register a goal to set up a nailbiting finish. A behind from Bulldog Kirsten McLeod proved the difference in a 2.6 (18) to 1.11 (17) win.

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Bulldogs superstar Katie Brennan’s decisive second term goals contrasted with the Crows’ inaccuracy.

DESPERATE STAKES

Adelaide’s Jenna McCormick exploded forward and was poised to boot the winning goal with 15 seconds on the clock before a desperate smother from Dogs defender Tiana Ernst. McCormick rush a second, off-target shot that reduced the margin to one point.

Adelaide won the clearances 25-9 and had 34 more disposals, but the Bulldogs’ efficiency was rewarded.

Adelaide was consistently repelled by defender Lauren Spark (14 touches, 11 marks) while Hannah Scott and Ellie Blackburn shelled 36 touches.

Ebony Marinoff, with 24 touches, was Adelaide’s best, backed by comeback midfielder Erin Phillips.

Erin Phillips tries to get a kick away under pressure from Bulldog Lauren Spark.

YOUNG GUNS

Chloe Scheer was one of seven club debutants for Adelaide, having booted two trial match goals. Scheer then kicked Adelaide’s first goal of its third season opener in the first quarter.

The Dogs hadn’t capitalised on their early dominance, with Monique Conti and Aisling Utri missing shots before Scheer hit the scoreboard.

Scheer banged her chest in elation at her first AFLW goal, showing all the emotion of a hard road to a Crows start. A knee injury in 2017 delayed Scheer’s AFLW arrival atWest Lakes.

Chloe Scheer (right) celebrates her goal with teammate Ebony Marinoff.

STAR POWER

Adelaide has been accused of relying on its stars, and struggled when co-captain Phillips was injured last season.

Marinoff was white-hot in the first half with 14 touches, excelling in a reunion with gun Phillips. In a massive build-up to her comeback game, Phillips revealed before the first bounce that wife Tracy Gahan was expecting their third child.

Brennan, in her comeback from a serious ankle injury, wasn’t to be outshone by her Crows rivals. The Dogs co-captain used her athleticism to find space, boot two second-quarter goals and turn the game on its head.

Co-captain Ellie Blackburn was a ball magnet with 16 touches up to three-quarter time including the line-breaking run and pass for Brennan’s first.

The Bulldogs celebrate their win with a selfie.

DOC CLARKE’S WAY

Adelaide would rush forward without caution in its premiership season but this appeared crazy brave in missing the finals last year.

New coach Matthew Clarke is super experienced football mind and Adelaide unveiled a structured, considered approach with exceptional defensive pressure.

Anne Hatchyard was a standout with 10 first-half possessions, however Adelaide was undermined by poor execution inside 50.

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Clarke was forced to work through his inaugural game in charge without first-choice rucks Rhiannon Metcalfe (knee) and Jasmyn Hewett (ankle). Debutant and former Adelaide Lightning captain Jess Foley stood up in fine fashion with 26 hitouts.