AFLW Round 3: Fremantle claims big win over Adelaide, but where to play Erin Phillips?
After a loss against Fremantle, Adelaide probably wishes it had three Erin Phillips. It only has one, so the Crows need to decide where she’s best deployed.
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Adelaide’s women’s players returned to club headquarters for a recovery session on Monday night, ready to put Sunday’s 30-point loss to Fremantle well and truly behind them.
Coach Matthew Clarke said the side was determined to play finals in 2021 after managing just two wins from six games in 2020.
“We’ve got aspirations to be a part of the pointy end of the season and on (Sunday’s) performance, we won’t be where we need to be,” he said.
“So there’s work to be done and we’ll set about doing that as of (Monday).”
Clarke said the side would look to rebound against Brisbane on the road this Sunday.
“We’ve got lots of learning out of that game, it’s an opportunity for us to get better.”
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Despite the 30-point deficit, the Crows won many of the key areas on the stats sheets: they won the overall disposal count (236 to 192), clearances (26-17), inside-50s (33 to 32), contested possessions (124 to 101) and hit-outs (31 to 20).
The Crows lost the tackle count 74 to 56, but had the same number of scoring shots as the Dockers with eight.
Adelaide’s 1.7 (13) scoreline – to Freo’s 7.1 (43) – was its lowest score on AFLW record.
It could have been worse too: at the beginning of the final term, Adelaide’s score was 0.5.
Then Clarke moved superstar Erin Phillips into the goalsquare in the final quarter.
She kicked her side’s first major at the six-minute mark, and lined up for another set shot not long after, but shanked the shot.
Clarke said he moved Phillips forward because the side was in need of a focal point.
“Ultimately, we were chasing the game at that point, so we decided for her to be almost exclusively forward in that quarter and we were able to get enough ball down that way to give her a chance (to score),” he said.
“Once again, (Fremantle) scored two goals in the last, we had the majority of the play, but when they had their chance they took it, and it was probably reflective of the game.
“Clearly we’ve got to get better. There were lots of numbers in the game that were pretty decent, but ultimately their ability to go the length of the field on us a number of times was pivotal in the contest.”
“They took their opportunities and due to their good pressure and the way that they structured up their defence we weren’t able to make much of our (opportunities).”
He said his side would also take a look at its defensive structure.
“There were probably four or five we had the ball in our front half, we were in good shape, and they were able to take it the length of the ground. We’ll go to work on that and make sure that we get it right.”
CROWS WILT UNDER FEROCIOUS DOCKER HEAT
It might have been Valentine’s Day, but Adelaide had very little to love in a disappointing 30-point loss to Fremantle in perfect conditions at Norwood Oval.
Before the game, Dockers captain Kara Antonio had declared Adelaide premiership favourite, but the X-factor of Freo’s forward line (two goals to star Gemma Houghton), combined with the Dockers’ skilled midfield (23 touches to Kiara Bowers) and measly defence means, surely, they finish Round 3 sending a big Valentines love letter to the rest of the competition: “Come and get us”.
Fremantle held the Crows goalless until the sixth minute of the final quarter, when star Erin Phillips marked after a good run out of full-forward and kicked truly.
While the Dockers were unable to score at all in the first term, they piled on seven goals in the next three quarters to run out easy victors.
FEROCIOUS START
If you needed any proof that a low-scoring game can be enthralling and tense, then this clash dished it up.
The first half in particular was all about the hardball get and an incredible 41 tackles were laid in the first term.
Fremantle created a wall across half-back that the Crows found near impossible to penetrate early. and the Dockers forced the ball inside-50 five times before the Crows forwards were given a sniff.
Nonetheless defenders including Marijana Rajcic, All-Australian Sarah Allan and Nikki Gore worked hard and held the visitors scoreless in the first term despite their eight forays forward.
Down the other end, the Crows managed three inside-50s in the same time, for their two points.
RECORD-MAKING WIN
This was the first time in five seasons that the Dockers have beaten the Crows, and it was comprehensive.
While it may not look it on the stats sheet (Adelaide won clearances, disposal count and, remarkably, the inside-50s), Fremantle made a mess of Adelaide’s forward line, while at other times making it seem like the Crows were shocked by the type of contested footy they were forced to play.
The victory also extends the Dockers’ winning streak to an AFLW-record 10 games.
All in all, Freo coach Trent Cooper will be more than happy, as his team now looks to spend the next three weeks on the road as the AFL battles to keep the season going amid a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
SCHEER EXCITEMENT
The Crows were without their captain Chelsea Randall, who experienced delayed concussions after a head knock the previous week, and her onfield magic was obviously missed.
But her absence left some room in the forward line for the return of the high-flying Chloe Scheer.
The AFLW hasn’t seen her since the second quarter of the 2019 grand final on March 31, 2019. On that day, Scheer thrilled in the air and at ground level, until she tore her anterior cruciate ligament.
It’s been 686 days since then, and finally – after a number of setbacks – she returned.
She finished the game with 16 disposals, and her fight at the contest was hugely important. She’ll only get better.
Fremantle 0.0 2.1 5.1 7.1 (43) d Adelaide 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.7 (13)
GOALS
Dockers: Sharp, Houghton, 2, Haynes, Webb, Duffy, Houghton
Crows: Phillips
BEST:
Dockers: Houghton, Bowers, Sharp, Cain, Miller, K. Antonio
Crows: Marinoff, Rajcic, Hatchard, Phillips, Gore
Injuries:
Crowd: 2717 at Norwood Oval
CROWS COACH RAISES HUB CONCERNS
Adelaide AFLW coach Matthew Clarke is hopeful his players can avoid going into hubs as the competition is again forced to deal with fixture changes due to COVID.
Melbourne’s five-day lockdown has led to the AFLW scrapping crowds in Victoria as of Saturday, two games switched and the West Australian teams set to head to a hub, most likely in Queensland.
Adelaide is preparing to play Fremantle at Norwood Oval on Sunday in front of fans before the Dockers head into the quarantine bubble.
Clarke remained confident the season would be completed in full but believed going into hubs would be very difficult for all teams.
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The Crows have already isolated for three days earlier this month after being in WA and players across the league have full-time jobs.
“Obviously the league’s trying to avoid that if at all possible,” Clarke said of hubs.
“We’ve been through a situation where we’ve had to go into isolation and relocate to Sydney for a brief period.
“If it became a more extended situation, that’d be a real challenge for the players who have got jobs that they need to satisfy their employers – you can’t just walk out on your employer.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Clarke called Friday, when Victoria announced its latest lockdown, prompting the fixture tweaks, “a pretty crazy day”.
“The really pleasing thing about today is the confirmation this round will get away and that’ll get us three rounds into a nine-round season, and we'll just have to see what comes from here,” he said.
“For us to get this home game away is awesome.
“All the way along the AFL’s been really strong on indicating we’ll do everything we can to get the season away in its entirety.
“The players have been amazing to compromise and make sacrifice to make that happen.”
Clarke said his 2-0 side’s past two weeks was a good tune-up for “managing uncertainty and being able to narrow the focus when it comes time to train or play”.
AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the league was “committed to delivering a full season in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts”.
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One AFLW game to host crowd before Victorian lockdown
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson and Liz Walsh
Crowds were allowed into Friday night’s AFLW clash between Geelong and the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium but will be banned from three Melbourne games on Saturday and Sunday as the league prepares to send two interstate teams into hubs to save the season from the latest COVID crisis.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews placed the state into a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm Friday after a cluster of the highly infectious UK mutant strain emerged.
It means St Kilda will take on Carlton at an empty RSEA Park on Saturday, Melbourne will host North Melbourne without a crowd at Casey Fields on the same day and Punt Rd will be vacant on Sunday when Richmond battles Collingwood.
All games outside Victoria will remain ticketed events open to crowds on Saturday and Sunday.
It comes as Fremantle and West Coast are set to enter a hub, most likely in Queensland, after the Dockers take on Adelaide in South Australia and the Eagles play Brisbane Lions.
Players in Western Australia were told to pack for an unspecified time on the road.
AFL Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said the league would continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it worked through fixturing for upcoming rounds.
“These continue to be unprecedented times and the fixture this year will continue to respond to and reflect the situation across the country,” Livingstone said.
“We will continue to remain adaptable as we listen to and work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game.
“While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, the health and welfare of our players and the community remains the priority and we remain committed to delivering a full season in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts.”
TICKETING UPDATE | Ticket sales for Round 3 of the NAB AFL Women’s Competition have momentarily been put on hold.
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 11, 2021
Keep your eyes on our social media channels for further updates. #AFLW pic.twitter.com/t9Yu5iPDea
THE BIG FIXTURE CHANGE
Richmond and Collingwood will meet at Punt Road after the AFLW was forced to make a fixture change because of Victoria’s evolving COVID-19 situation with one game for this weekend still up in the air.
The Tigers were meant to take on West Coast on Sunday in Round 3 of the AFLW season, a match that could have been a big opportunity for Richmond to claim its first ever win in the competition.
But the COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Holiday Inn cluster has meant the Tigers will now take on the Magpies at 3.10pm on Sunday.
West Coast will take on Brisbane with a time and location to be “determined in due course with the AFL working closely with, and being led by, respective government and health officials”.
AFL Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said the league would continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it worked through fixturing for upcoming rounds.
“These continue to be unprecedented times and the fixture this year will continue to respond to and reflect the situation across country,” Ms Livingstone said.
“We will continue to remain adaptable as we listen to and work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game. While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, the health and welfare of our players and the community remains the priority and we remain committed to delivering a full season in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts.
ROUND 3 TIPS
Ellie Blackburn 12
Western Bulldogs
GWS Giants
Carlton
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Collingwood
Richmond
Brisbane Lions
Last Week: 7
Ebony Marinoff 12
Western Bulldogs
Gold Coast
St Kilda
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Collingwood
Brisbane Lions
Last Week: 6
Kate McCarthy 12
Western Bulldogs
Gold Coast
St Kilda
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Collingwood
Brisbane Lions
Last Week: 5
Glenn McFarlane 12
Western Bulldogs 15
GWS Giants 8
Carlton 1
North Melbourne 12
Adelaide 9
Collingwood 18
Brisbane Lions 12
Last Week: 6
Matt Turner 12
Western Bulldogs 11
GWS Giants 12
Carlton 17
North Melbourne 17
Adelaide 22
Collingwood 8
Brisbane Lions 4
Last Week: 7
Rebecca Williams 12
Western Bulldogs 10
GWS Giants 12
Carlton 8
North Melbourne 9
Adelaide 7
Collingwood 14
Brisbane Lions 10
Last Week: 7
Daniel Andrews 11
Western Bulldogs 25
Gold Coast 10
Carlton 15
Melbourne 5
Adelaide 30
Richmond 20
Brisbane Lions 35
Last Week: 5
Chris Cavanagh 11
Western Bulldogs 18
GWS Giants 6
Carlton 1
North Melbourne 12
Adelaide 1
Collingwood 12
Brisbane Lions 12
Last Week: 6
Kate Salemme 11
Western Bulldogs 21
GWS Giants 4
Carlton 18
North Melbourne 17
Adelaide 2
Collingwood 26
Brisbane Lions 30
Last Week: 6
Liz Walsh 11
Western Bulldogs 24
GWS Giants 12
Carlton 7
North Melbourne 25
Adelaide 22
Collingwood 18
Brisbane Lions 40
Last Week: 6
Mark Robinson 10
Western Bulldogs 9
GWS Giants 3
St Kilda 3
North Melbourne 14
Fremantle 4
Collingwood 16
Brisbane Lions 12
Last Week: 6
Michael O’Brien 9
Western Bulldogs 17
GWS Giants 10
Carlton 5
Melbourne 7
Adelaide 11
Collingwood 10
Brisbane Lions 8
Last Week: 6
Sarah Jones 7
Western Bulldogs 18
GWS Giants 5
Carlton 4
North Melbourne 20
Adelaide 9
Collingwood 13
Brisbane Lions 7
Last Week: 6
Darcy Vescio 7
Geelong
GWS Giants
Carlton
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Collingwood
Brisbane Lions
Last Week: 5
Kiss of Death 2
Geelong 13
Gold Coast 13
St Kilda 13
Melbourne 13
Fremantle 13
Richmond 13
West Coast 13
Last Week: 1
GIANT OFFERED ONE MATCH BAN
– Liz Walsh
Greater Western Sydney utility Tarni Evans has been offered a one-match suspension after being charged with rough conduct for a dangerous tackle on Adelaide’s Ailish Considine that left the Crow concussed during their game on Sunday.
The Giant has been offered the one-match ban with an early plea.
Evans, 19, tackled Considine from behind as Adelaide’s Irish recruit was running into her forward-50 during the third quarter of their clash at Blacktown International Sportspark.
While Considine was able to walk unaided from the oval, she didn’t pass a concussion test and was ruled out for the rest of the game, which the Crows went on to win by 47 points.
The Match Review Officer assessed the incident as “careless conduct, medium impact and high contact”, classifying it as a one-match ban as a first offence.
Other matches also came under MRO scrutiny and Carlton’s Madison Prespakis, Richmond’s Iilish Ross and Melbourne’s Lily Mithen were all found guilty of rough conduct (dangerous tackle) in their respective games, and were all offered a reprimand with an early plea.
Richmond’s Sophie Molan, was charged with striking Demon Sinead Goldrick, and was also offered a reprimand with an early plea.
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Originally published as AFLW Round 3: Fremantle claims big win over Adelaide, but where to play Erin Phillips?
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