The Adelaide Crows won the AFLW premiership amid crazy scenes at Adelaide Oval

There were astonishing scenes inside and out at Adelaide Oval on Sunday after a “bittersweet” shock for one of the stars of the game.

The Adelaide Crows are AFLW champions.

The Adelaide Crows have romped to the club’s second AFLW premiership in three years with a dominant victory over the Carlton Blues.

Injuries may have dampened some of the side’s celebrations but it didn’t get in the way for the Crows running out big winners with a 10.3 (63) to 2.6 (18) victory.

Adelaide’s inspirational co-captain Erin Phillips dominated with 18 disposals and two goals before suffering a serious knee injury in a 45-point win.

Before a record AFLW crowd of 53,034 spectators at Adelaide Oval, the Crows dominated from the opening bounce with.

But disaster struck in the third when Phillips was stretchered from the field in the third quarter.

Erin Phillips was distraught after the injury.

Phillips, clearly best-on ground at the time, crumbled after trying to change direction and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

“It’s an ACL, something I have done before in my other leg,” Phillips said. “This was supposed to be the good leg.”

The 53,000-strong crowd gave the Crows star a standing ovation, while opposition players showed their class and patted her on the back as she departed.

Phillips, who suffered an ACL injury, said it was “bittersweet” after the painful injury.

Incredible respect from both teams and the crowd as Erin Phillips gets taken off the field. 💛#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/ql50X7BabF

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 31, 2019

Despite the injury, Phillips won the medal for the grand final’s best player — as she did in Adelaide’s 2017 premiership.

“It’s pretty emotional,” she said.

“It’s an absolute dream come true, not just for our girls but for Carlton as well. To play in front of this crowd means so much and is incredible for women’s footy.”

Her teammate Chloe Scheer also sustained what appeared a serious knee injury and Stevie Lee-Thompson hurt an ankle as the Crows hammered the Blues.

Erin Phillips is consoled by dad Greg after he injury.

There was chaos before the opening bounce of the AFLW grand final as fans flocked to the Adelaide Oval in droves.

In scenes that brought back memories of the first ever game of the AFLW, when supporters were locked out of Ikon Park because there simply wasn’t enough room to hold the masses, tens of thousands of footy lovers packed the stands in the South Australian capital to get a good seat for the Crows’ clash against Carlton.

Sky News reporter Stacey Lee took to Twitter to explain some of the madness that came with such huge interest in the biggest game of the season.

Bit of chaos at @TheAdelaideOval for the #AFLWGF Not enough gates/sections open for the huge crowd. No one knows where to go to find a seat before kick-off. Good to see such a big crowd but seems like it wasn’t planned for. #AFLWCrowsBlues pic.twitter.com/oYEIYAPA5B

— Stacey Lee (@Staceylee_) March 31, 2019

According to Channel 7 reporter Elspeth Hussey, the AFL was expecting a crowd of 25,000 but in the second quarter it was reported there were upwards of 45,000 packed inside the stadium — a record for a women’s football game in Australia.

The upper decks had to be opened up.

Following the win, dual premiership winner Courtney Cramey said it was incredible.

“It’s just amazing, this competition, this crowd, AFLW is just amazing,” she said. “55,000 people here to watch us today, it’s just unbelievable.”

Extra seating that was meant to be closed off had to be opened up in the top grandstands to accommodate the swell in numbers.

Early crowd estimate for #AFLWGF

38,000!!

The AFL was hoping for 25,000

They’ve had to open level 5 seating in the Eastern Stand. pic.twitter.com/C8b3TQ9rEU

— Elspeth Hussey (@ElspethHussey7) March 31, 2019

46,000! And the fans keep streaming in 🏉🏉😉😉

— sam mostyn (@sammostyn) March 31, 2019

This. Is. Nuts.
Top level just being opened up now #AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/n1dN3DBVkp

— Sarah Black (@_sjblack) March 31, 2019

💙❤️💛 Great turn out for @CrowsAFLW. #aflwgf #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/FGdr2qUOT3

— Mikey Nicholson (@Mikey_Nicholson) March 31, 2019

How about this crowd for the #AFLWGF ! Amazing stuff. #AFLW #AFLWCrowsBlues @CrowsAFLW @CarltonFC @aflwomens @KickLikeAGirlFM pic.twitter.com/mMDqcM6q8F

— Kate O'Halloran (@Kate_ohalloran) March 31, 2019

End of the first quarter, but the crowd continues to stream in. Stadium management at @TheAdelaideOval have now opened up the top tier of the Riverbank Stand. At quarter time Crows lead Carlton by 9 points 3.0 18 to 1.3 9 @TheTiserSport @aflwomens #AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/pmwGngl0d9

— Liz Walsh (@lizwalsh77) March 31, 2019

Carlton scooted to an early lead when it took advantage of a 50m free kick to slot the first goal of the decider. But the Crows bounced back and booted three majors to go ahead 3.0 (18) to 1.3 (9) at the end of the first quarter.

The home team really hit its stride in the second term, running rampant in a six-goal scoring fest and showing why it was the red-hot favourite to wrap up a second premiership. The Crows slammed home the first four goals of the quarter to rack up a 34-point lead and extended the gap to 39 just before halftime.

However, an eerie silence descended over the huge crowd when Crows star Chloe Scheer went down with what looked like a serious knee injury just after taking a sensational mark.

The Crows cracked the half century mark after the halftime buzzer when Eloise Jones nailed a set shot from 45m out near the boundary line to make it 9.2 (56) to 2.4 (16) at the main break.

Danielle Ponter was enjoying a day out.

Danielle Ponter was doing all the damage on the scoreboard for the Crows, slotting three goals while Erin Phillips and Anne Hatchard did the grunt work, both gaining 14 possessions in the first half.

— with AAP

Originally published as The Adelaide Crows won the AFLW premiership amid crazy scenes at Adelaide Oval