Adelaide Crows skipper Chelsea Randall says loss will push club as it waits on star Erin Phillips

The Adelaide Crows will obviously use Saturday’s AFLW Grand Final defeat as a spur next season, but the future of their superstar Erin Phillips will be the hottest topic in the off-season.

Matthew Clarke says he isn’t expecting a major overhaul of players ahead of next season.

Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall says her side will use Saturday’s AFLW Grand Final loss to Brisbane as fuel for going one better in 2022.

Randall, who was sidelined for the match after being concussed in the preliminary final a week earlier, said she was immensely proud of what the team had achieved this year.

“For any team to work and remain focused throughout a whole season to end up in a grand final and give yourselves the opportunity to win it all, is damn hard,” she said. “During a season you have dips and lulls and to try and keep every person — staff and players — at the level it’s very difficult to do.

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“So I’m immensely proud of how they’ve been able to conduct themselves throughout the season.

“We’ll go away from this with fire in our belly and enjoy each other’s company for now, but we’ll get to work and see you in 2022.”

The players, along with their family and friends, gathered at the SkyCity Ballroom after the game to commiserate their loss.

They were also joined at the post-match function by a raft of former premiership-winning teammates, including Sarah Perkins and Sally Riley.

Erin Phillips was well beaten in the decider. Picture: AFL Photos

The current players now head into their off-season break while list managers determine what changes are needed for next season.

AFL rules state that at the end of each season, AFLW clubs must cut their list sizes from 30 to 27, to make room for draft picks.

Other AFLW clubs, including St Kilda, Carlton and Gold Coast have already started delisting players ahead of the AFLW’s sign and trade period, which is expected to start at the end of May.

Matthew Clarke speaks to his team after their loss to the Brisbane Lions.

Crows coach Matthew Clarke said he wasn’t expecting a major overhaul of players ahead of next season.

“Every year, there’s an evolution … I wouldn’t see a radical shift in the list profile,” he said.

“We played some pretty good footy this year. Ultimately we fall a little bit short (in the Grand Final) today.

Erin Phillips only had seven touches in the Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

“It’s a long way back (again), clearly, but in terms of what needs to improve to get over the line in a big game like this, it’s not huge shifts.

“It’s just the unfortunate reality of 12 months of really hard work, and in a competition that’s getting better and better. When you’re aware of that scenario to not be able to take the opportunity when it presents, that’s why it hurts.”

Clarke said he wasn’t yet aware of any retirements that would come from his team and he certainly hoped superstar Erin Phillips would continue playing on.

“That’s a decision for her to make, she’s experienced enough to weigh up what’s required to be at the level and then make that call in due course, but there’s no urgency, there’s no rush,” he said.