AFLW Finals 2021: Adelaide win through to Grand Final as Chelsea Randall knocked out in shocking head clash
Adelaide faces an anxious wait on Chelsea Randall’s AFLW Grand Final availability after a sickening head knock in her side’s Prelim win over Melbourne.
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Adelaide could be forced to play the AFLW grand final against Brisbane without their three-time All-Australian captain, Chelsea Randall, after she suffered a heavy head knock in the first quarter of the Crows’ 18-point preliminary final win over Melbourne.
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The Crows’ courageous skipper lay motionless after the sickening clash with Dee’s Eliza McNamara before club medicos rushed to her aid, helping her to her feet.
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In typical Randall style, she was determined to take herself from the ground, and she jogged towards the bench, but looked woozy in her motion.
Both Randall and McNamara were ruled out for the rest of the match.
But the Crows could be forced to wait until Monday morning for a full medical assessment as to whether their 29-year-old skipper suffered concussion in the incident.
If she was concussed, Randall will be automatically ruled out of Saturday’s AFLW grand final under new AFL concussion protocols that demand players rest for a mandatory 12 days after the head injury.
Crows coach Matthew Clarke said the club would need to “wait and see”, but admitted: “It doesn’t look great”.
“To lose her early was obviously challenging for the group, I thought they adapted really well ... and it was a good team effort,” he said.
“It will all play out over the next few days.”
Captain Chelsea Randall will play no further part in today's game after a heavy collision. #crowsaflw#weflyasonepic.twitter.com/RvagN1yUHF
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) April 10, 2021
Clarke said while the potential existed that Randall would be ruled out of the grand final, ultimately he was supportive of the new rule.
“Let’s look after our players ... their well-being, their welfare is the absolute priority,” he said.
Before going down, Randall had been influential in the opening minutes of the prelim and moments earlier had laid a defensive tackle that resulted in a holding the ball infringement against Melbourne.
She remained near the sidelines for the rest of the game as her side went on to beat the Demons by 18 points and advance to the AFLW grand final.
At three-quarter time, Randall was dressed in her tracksuit top, but that didn’t stop her being energetic as the players came towards the coaching huddle, giving each of them quick high-fives.
At the final siren, she rushed onto the ground to sing the theme song.
Crows midfielder Anne Hatchard said Randall was getting around the side in the changerooms after their win.
“She said she’s proud of us and she can’t wait for next week,” Hatchard said.
“She’s such an amazing person and it’s going to be sad if she can’t hit the field next week.
“It’s hard to see any teammate go off the field like that.
“She goes hard at every contest and she was playing like she does and she plays for the team every.”
Randall has been ruled out already once this season under the new protocols after experiencing delayed concussion in Round 2 and was sidelined for the Crows Round 3 loss to Fremantle.
LIONS DASH PIES’ PREMIERSHIP DREAMS
—Marco Monteverde
The Brisbane Lions have earnt another shot at a maiden AFLW premiership with a four-point preliminary final win over a gallant Collingwood at the Gabba on Saturday.
Trailing by two points at three-quarter time in a see-sawing contest, the Lions steadied when it mattered most to win 7-3 (45) to 6-5 (41). Collingwood drew to within a goal of the Lions when Ashleigh Brazill kicked a six-pointer with 21 seconds remaining, but Brisbane held on.
The victory, inspired by a three-goal performance by Dakota Davidson, secured the Lions a third AFL grand final appearance, and they will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky when they meet minor premiers Adelaide in next Saturday’s premiership decider at the Adelaide Oval.
The Crows will be chasing their third premiership, qualifying for the grand final with an 18-point win over Melbourne in Saturday’s early preliminary final.
It’s a fitting grand final, bringing together the season’s best two teams.
But the Magpies weren’t far off the pace, and made the Lions work hard at the Gabba.
Picking up where they left off in last Saturday’s qualifying final comeback win over North Melbourne, Collingwood kicked the first two goals of the game through Jaimee Lambert and Ruby Schieicher to lead by 12 points within the opening six minutes of the contest.
Having had last weekend off courtesy of finishing second on the ladder, the Lions took a while to wake up in front of a stunned crowd.
But a goal from Jessica Wuetschner steadied the hosts, who had reduced the Magpies’ lead to eight points by quarter-time.
Brisbane then took control of the contest, kicking four goals to one in the second quarter to lead by 10 points at half-time.
Centre-half forward Davidson booted two of the Lions’ second-quarter goals as Brisbane began to outmuscle the visitors.
By half-time the physically superior Lions led the tackle count 41 to 23, the inside 50s 19 to 10 and hitouts 18 to 9.
However, the Magpies weren’t above to give up on their grand final dream, with the game again swinging in the third quarter.
The Lions’ failed to kick a goal in the third team, but Sophie Alexander and Sharni Norder converted their opportunities to give the Magpies a two-point lead at the final break.
However, early final-quarter goals to Bodey and Davidson restored Brisbane’s scoreboard advantage, and they held on despite the late scare of Brazill’s goals in the dying stages.
SCOREBOARD
BRISBANE: 1.1 5.1 5.2 7.3 (45)
def
COLLINGWOOD: 2.3 3.3 5.4 6.5 (41)
GOALS
Lions: Dakota Davidson 3, Greta Bodey 2 Jessica Wuetschner, Orla O’Dwyer
Pies: Jaimee Lambert, Ruby Schieicher, Tarni Brown, Sophie Alexander, Sharni Norder, Ashleigh Brazill
MARCO MONTEVERDE’S BEST
Lions: Alexandra Anderson, Dakota Davidson, Greta Bodey
Pies: Brittany Bonnici, Brianna Davey, Ashleigh Brazill
INJURIES
Lions: Nil
Pies: Nil
VENUE: Gabba
CROWS’ GRAND FINAL BERTH MARRED BY MASSIVE BLOW
—Warren Partland
Adelaide is just one win from building on its reputation as the most successful club in the five seasons of AFLW competition.
The Crows will chase a third premiership after an impressive preliminary final victory over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
However, the Crows were dealt a massive blow just eight minutes into the game when captain Chelsea Randall was forced from the ground after a heavy body clash with Demon Eliza McNamara.
It was a typical approach to the contest for Randall, showing no concern for the body. And she refused to be helped by the trainers as she walked to the bench.
Randall spoke with the club doctor at quarter-time, before joining her teammates. However, there was to be no more action for arguably the Crows’ best player.
McNamara was also ruled out following the head knock.
The loss of Randall meant both teams were without their skippers, with Daisy Pearce sidelined due a knee injury.
Clarke said he would ram home the need for a superior start when the Crows contest their third grand final on their home deck next weekend.
He felt the Crows were not quite as sharp as they needed to be early.
“In the last quarter we were hanging on a bit, we lost our shape,” he said.
“But I was really pleased for the girls, they have worked so hard for such a long period of time.
“They worked ridiculously hard during the off-season and for them to get the rewards and make another grand final is pleasing.”
The Crows took their chances in attack and that has been the story for the club in the second half of the season, given a top six spot had been in dispute.
“Results fell our way at the end of the regular season, but we took our opportunities and earned the home final,” Clarke said.
“We had to take our chances down the stretch.”
Clarke said it will be business as usual in preparation for the title decider with training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
A few players were feeling cramp and he said the team had to ensure it got its recovery right.
FAILURE TO CAPITALISE
The Demons were able to get enough trips inside their 50 to do damage, only to register just three behinds for the first half.
In fact, the visitors had 17 visits inside their 50 compared to the Crows’ 12 on the back of the influence of Karen Paxman and Tyla Hanks.
The Crows put two goals on the scoreboard for the first half, while their defence frustrated the Demons’ attacking movement.
Sarah Allan was outstanding for the Crows in defence and the work of the backline prevented the Demons from getting sufficient deep entries to apply scoreboard pressure.
CROWS’ PRESSURE BUILDS
The Crows upped the ante in the third quarter, putting the heat on the Demons with tremendous pressure and a fierce desire to hunt the ball and opposition body.
Ebony Marinoff had amassed 20 disposals for the first half and added six for the third term, while Anne Hatchard continued her brilliant form to have a heavy influence.
The pair are prolific ball winners, and they had tremendous support from diminutive Rachelle Martin, who belied her stature to throw herself into the fray. If not getting her hands on the ball, Martin’s passion for tackling was evident.
ONE GOAL
When the Demons had a comfortable win over the Crows in round 7, they bagged six goals and kept their opponents to only five scoring shots and two goals.
In their first game at Adelaide Oval, the Demons took three minutes into the final quarter to register their first goal.
Small forward Kate Hore nailed three goals in the Demons’ win in Melbourne, and she kicked the side’s only major.
DISAPPOINTED DEES
Demons coach Mick Stinear said he was incredibly disappointed and lamented the failure of his side to capitalise on an early territorial advantage.
He heaped praise on the Crows defence, but claimed the Demons did not bring their best for four quarters.
“Our aim was to win the premiership, we did not do that so it is a cross for the season for what we wanted to achieve,” he said. “We wanted to be in a position to play finals, so we can tick that.
“The key positive for the coaching group is what we have built among this group this season. To win five games at the back end of the season, we have built something which works.
“We fell short today, but I’m confident we can be a consistent team for years to come.”
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 1.0 2.1 4.2 5.3 (33)
def
MELBOURNE 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.9 (15)
GOALS
Crows: Phillips 2, Scheer, Hatchard, Jones
Demons: Hore
WARREN PARTLAND’S BEST
Crows: Marinoff, Hatchard, Allan, Martin, Thompson, Foley, Rajcic, Phillips
Demons: Paxman, Hanks, Hore, Mithen, Pearce.
INJURIES
Crows: Randall (concussion)
Demons: McNamara (concussion)
VENUE: Adelaide Oval
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