Crows AFLW victory marks dawn of a new era at West Lakes
With three premiership trophies, the Crows’ AFLW team has created a new era for the women’s comp. Get your souvenir poster here.
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It’s a new era at the West Lakes headquarters of the Adelaide Football Club: an era where there are more premiership cups on display in the club’s foyer won by the women, than those won by the men.
In an epic grand final clash against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, the Crows won their third AFLW premiership in six seasons by 13 points cementing themselves as a dynasty in the early era of the AFLW competition.
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In a tough, gritty game where Adelaide were pushed to the final siren, the Crows scored the first goal of the goal match, holding the Demons – who were playing in their first decider – scoreless for the first term.
In a game billed as a showdown of the greats between Crow Erin Phillips and Demon Daisy Pearce, the Crows led at every change, with Danielle Ponter, kicking the sealer with six minutes to go in the final term.
Having lost the 2021 grand final to Brisbane, you got the sense from the first bounce that Adelaide was not going to let another premiership medal slip away.
As the autumn sun streamed down, Adelaide won the game thanks to a full team effort, from best-on-ground medal winner Anne Hatchard (26 touches, six tackles and nine marks) making her presence felt at every stoppage, to All-Australian fullback Sarah Allan being a pillar in defence with three intercept marks, to Ponter who kicked two crucial goals and captain Chelsea Randall who shook off a hamstring injury that hampered much of her 2022 season to record 10 touches, three marks and a tackle on the stats sheet.
Throughout the four quarters Adelaide – the 2022 minor premier – proved itself the most skilled, fit and fierce team in the competition.
This team has been creating history since its inception ahead of the inaugural 2017 AFLW season – from winning the first premiership on offer, to now winning three grand finals, remaining the only team in the league to win multiple cups (The only other teams to win the premiership in six seasons of the AFLW are the Western Bulldogs, 2018, and Brisbane, 2021).
It places the side well and truly as the best women’s side the AFLW has witnessed.
And surely it could be argued that this win entrenches them as a dynasty team up there with Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond from the last two decades of the men’s game.
As captain Chelsea Randall said in the moments after the game: “We’ve had five grand finals in six seasons and our girls have been a part of four of them and we’ve won three, it’s unbelievable.”
Crows board member – and 1997 Adelaide premiership player – Rod Jameson said the club was hugely proud of what the AFLW side had achieved.
“(Bringing in a women’s team) is one of the best things we’ve done as a club,” he said.
“As of today, what they’ve set is an enormous benchmark for work and effort and for what a team is able to achieve.
“It’s incredible, really.”
While a third premiership cup is headed to the trophy cabinet at Crows headquarters (to sit alongside those won in 2017 and 2019 and then the 1997 and 1998 cups won the men), the win also signalled the beginning of a new for women’s football in South Australia: an era where the Crows are no longer the only AFLW club in town.
And as Port Adelaide now looms large on the horizon – the possibility they could take up to eight contracted Crows, including star Erin Phillips who grew up supporting Port – Jameson said the Crows women’s team had created a culture at West Lakes that would be difficult to leave.
“You go in every season knowing it’s never going to be the same as the year before, but hopefully we’ve created an environment that will be difficult to leave,” he said.
Once the stands had been emptied of the 16,712 people who came to watch, the Crows players and staff gathered under the Adelaide Oval’s historic scoreboard – which still displayed the 4.5 (29) to 2.4 (16) scoreline for a commemorative photo, and the cheers they let out as the photos were taken, echoed through the stands and across the ground where this side has experienced so much success.
Crows legend and now three-time AFLW premiership player Erin Phillips said: “I’m honestly speechless, it’s amazing,” she told ABC Sport.
“We fell short last year and we knew it was a mountain to climb to get back here and I’m just so proud of this team and the effort every week, every training, going through this crazy Covid time and always showing up with a positive attitude, wanting to go to work, wanting to get better, I’ve just been so inspired by them and this is unreal, three premierships is unreal.”
The team will be honoured with a public celebration in Rundle Mall on Monday under the canopy from 5pm.
The celebration will be co-hosted by the South Australian Government and the City of Adelaide, with Premier Peter Malinauskas congratulating the Crows with their history-making win.
“All South Australians – regardless of their team allegiance – should be immensely proud of the AFLW Crows’ inspiring victory and I look forward to seeing as many South Australians as possible at the premiership celebration,” he said.
Sunshine and song for fans
By Monique Van Der Heyden
THERE were some heart-in-mouth moments in the last quarter for Crows fans as the Demons made their last-gasp push, but that only made the explosion of joy all the greater at the final siren of Saturday’s pulsating AFLW Grand Final.
The crowd of 16,712 supporters belted the club song at the top of their lungs after the home side’s 13-point win at Adelaide Oval.
Throughout the game, played in perfect sunny conditions, Adelaide supporters were left mesmerised by every goal, mark and crunching tackle as the Crows showed off their class to claim the premiership cup for the third time in six years.
Fan Mahala Gainer, 22, of Torrensville, said: “It was amazing to see the girls get the win after last year where they just missed out. They really deserved it.
“They have had such a great season. This was really the icing on the cake.
“Very few football teams can say they have had this much success in such a short period of time.”
The game had fans on the edge of their seats right up to the last couple of minutes, with Melbourne not ready to accept defeat until the bitter end.
“I was so nervous all the way through the fourth quarter,” said fan Jennifer Glasson, 42. “Melbourne played so well, I really thought they could beat us.
“Thankfully the girls pushed through in the end with those last few goals. I’m so happy for them.”
The army of red, blue and gold may not have been anywhere near the AFLW attendance record of 53,034, set at 2019 decider in which the Crows belted Carlton, but they were loud enough to make up for the difference.
Loudest of all may have been little Axel Woodward as the six-year-old watched his very first football game at Adelaide Oval.
“I am very excited. I have never been to the oval before, it is very big inside,” he said.
“I tried to be as loud as I can.”
Nic and Kelsea Bannan journeyed to Adelaide to watch their sister, Melbourne key forward Alyssa Bannan, battle against the Crows.
While the Demons didn’t walk away with the premiership glory, the siblings were still very proud at what their sibling has achieved.
“I am very proud of her. She puts in that effort and positive attitude as every player does,” Nic said.
Kelsea said: “I used to play with her growing up, so watching her play today was very surreal, and I was so thrilled when she got that goal,”
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