Adelaide’s dominant win over Carlton sends a warning to AFLW leaders

ADELAIDE has breathed life into its AFLW premiership defence with a dominant win over Carlton that will have the competition leaders feeling uncomfortable.

Ruth Wallace was ecstatic after scoring a goal. Picture: AAP

BEWARE the champ on the ropes — more so now that the AFLW-winning Crows are once again willing to gamble rather than play safe.

Adelaide’s defence of the inaugural national women’s football title stayed alive — and found new credibility — with a strong 35-point win against Carlton at Norwood Oval on Saturday night.

Adelaide’s season count is now square — two wins, two losses and a draw with two games to play.

And the competition leaders — Brisbane, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs — will feel most uncomfortable after seeing how the champion came off the canvas against the Blues.

Rather than play within their shells fearing mistakes could bring an end to their season, the Crows players worked with a remarkable carefree tone filled with high risk — and big returns, particularly in the second term.

First working the opportunism of Ruth Wallace and then the energetic — and adventurous — plays of fellow forward Eloise Jones, the Crows blew apart the contest with a four-goal second term that created a seemingly unbeatable 23-point lead at halftime.

Erin Phillips sat out the second half with a quad injury. Picture: AAP

The task of turning this significant buffer to victory was challenged by Adelaide having to play without co-captain Erin Phillips in the second half when she nursed a right quad injury.

Premiership-winning Crows coach Bec Goddard could not question the spirit of her challenged team that closed its home stand at The Parade with 5970 true believers on the terraces on a weekend when the AFLW had to compete with motor sport and an arts festival in Adelaide.

Adelaide’s tightrope walk to the AFLW grand final on March 24 now demands the Crows win against Fremantle in Darwin on Friday and against Collingwood in Melbourne on Sunday, March 18.

For the first time this season, Goddard had a full list to consider at selection — and for her notable tactical adjustments that emphasised a highly attacking game filled with risk.

Courtney Cramey was the Crows’ best. Picture: AAP

The significant gain on the whiteboard is All-Australian Courtney Cramey with her game-breaking work — particularly with her long kicking — from half-back.

“We wanted to play four quarters — and we got a fantastic effort,” Cramey said.

Goddard’s creative coaching had the Crows start power forward Sarah “Tex” Perkins in the centre square for the opening bounce — and the centre bounces that followed. Usually a “go-to” forward, Perkins continued to develop her role as the goal-assist player by helping Wallace become the new spearhead in the Adelaide attack.

The grand battle within the game was Goddard’s choice of co-captain Chelsea Randall in the must-watch duel with Carlton’s star forward Taylor Harris.

ADELAIDE 2.2 6.3 6.3 8.7 (55)

CARLTON 1.4 2.4 2.7 2.8 (20)

BEST

Crows: Cramey, Marinoff, Randall, Metcalfe, Wallace, Cox.

Blues: Harris, Moody, Hosking, Loynes, Harrington, Gay.

GOALS

Crows: Wallace 3, Jones 2, Hewett, McCormick, Sedunary.

Blues: Harris, Vescio.

INJURIES

Crows: Phillips (right leg).

Crowd: 5970 at Norwood Oval

Originally published as Adelaide’s dominant win over Carlton sends a warning to AFLW leaders