AFL grand final will take place in Adelaide for the first time ever after Crows crush Cats in AFLW prelim

History will be made when an AFL grand final is played in Adelaide for the first time next weekend after the Crows thumping victory over the Cats.

• Merciless Crows march into Grand Final

History will be made when an AFL grand final is played in Adelaide for the first time next weekend.

After completely obliterating Geelong by 66 points today, the Adelaide Crows have flown into Sunday’s AFLW grand final which will be played at the Adelaide Oval.

While it ended up being a blowout, such was the polish of the Crows juggernaut against an meek Cats outfit 13,429 spectators — mainly kids and families — took advantage of the free entry for the preliminary final at the Oval yesterday.

Friends Emily Greer, Airlie Birbas and Lily Street all play junior footy together for Blackwood Football Club. Yesterday they got the chance to see their heroes in the flesh.

“It’s great seeing them play,” said Lily, 10.

Bruce Greer, father of Emily, said they could barely contain their excitement at attending the prelim.

“The girls have been talking about it all week,” he said.

The Crows celebrate a goal by Chelsea Randall. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Manocchio sisters, Isabella, Madelyn, Payton and Talia, were also thrilled about seeing the Crows’ guns in action. “I’m really excited to watch them,” said Payton, 6.

Victoria Branson and Ben Mortimer have been to every Crows’ AFLW game in Adelaide this season.

“They really have a good atmosphere,” Victoria said.

For the prelim they brought Ben’s sister Paige and mother Bronwyn along to get a taste of the action.

After a week in which the community rallied around Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris after she was targeted by outrageous online trolls, Bronwyn said it was incredible for the Crows team to be playing a final at the Oval.

“It is just so good to see,” she said. Grange couple Mitch Pharaoh and Dannielle Owen were also fans of the game being at the Oval.

“It’s a very convenient, central location,” Dannielle said.

But not everyone had a great day yesterday.

As a Cats fan Laura Butler’s day could have been better.

However she was able to see the positives.

“We (Geelong) have made a prelim in our first season in the competition, so I’ll take that,” she said.

The grand final will begin at 12.30pm at the Oval next Sunday and entry will be free.

Originally published as AFL grand final will take place in Adelaide for the first time ever after Crows crush Cats in AFLW prelim