Brisbane will face the Western Bulldogs in the AFLW Grand Final after Collingwood upset Adelaide

BRISBANE will face Western Bulldogs in Saturday’s AFLW Grand Final after Collingwood upset an injury ravaged Adelaide. ELIZA SEWELL looks at where it all went wrong for the Crows.

Emma Grant (left) and Meg Hutchins celebrate Collingwood’s win over Adelaide. Picture: AAP Images

BRISBANE will face Western Bulldogs in Saturday’s AFLW grand final after Collingwood upset an injury ravaged Adelaide.

The Crows started strongly at Olympic Park and lead by 11 points at halftime, but when star defender Chelsea Randall was forced out of the game with a head knock for the entire second half, and with Erin Phillips’ quad injury hampering the reigning AFLW MVP, the Magpies pounced.

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Collingwood midfield gun Christina Bernardi put the Magpies in front with a cute snap late in the third term and it started what would be a fourth quarter onslaught and a 21-point win.

Mo Hope looked lively, she set up one of Bernardi’s goals with clever foot work just outside 50m.

Hope’s snap goal from 30m scored Collingwood’s second and soon after her quick hands gifted Jas Garner six points to keep the Magpies in the contest early.

Brittany Bonnici gets a kick away after being tackled on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

It was that trio of Bernardi, Hope and Garner who sparked the Magpies.

Garner started the season as a forward, was moved back and on Sunday had most of her impact across the forward flank with 16 disposals and seven tackles.

Phillips was affected by the quad injury she’s been carrying, shanking several kicks.

Randall was exceptional down back, she took five marks roaming in defence to stifle the Magpies run and had 14 touches to half time.

But she was stranded on the bench after the long break after a head knock, and her absence hurt the Crows.

Phillips started strongly in the centre, the 50m penalty she received after Jess Duffin didn’t return the ball resulted in a goal, but not how you’d think.

Phillips shanked the kick from 40m out, but Ruth Wallace was in front of the pack at top of the goal square and she marked and converted.

Phillips had eight touches in the first before moving forward in the second and somewhat going out of the game.

Jasmine Garner celebrates a key goal for the Magpies. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood netballer Ash Brazill played on Phillips, but it was youngster Chloe Molloy who tried to rough her up, taking every opportunity to push the Crows star when they crossed paths.

Molloy was also super again, at both ends of the ground.

Adelaide had the scoring end in the first and was dominant. The Crows had 10 inside 50s to six but it was the four marks inside the arc that were telling. But they failed to take full advantage ending the term with 2.5.