Crows forward Sarah Perkins is confident the season has turned for Adelaide

CROWS forward Sarah Perkins has identified the moment the Crows felt the AFLW season turn.

Erin Phillips will be GWS’ first priority at Blacktown today. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

ADELAIDE forward Sarah Perkins is confident the Crows have found a new level of energy after Erin Phillips showed the way in the team’s first AFLW match last weekend.

Perkins, who was the club’s leading goalkicker last year, said she and the other second-year players had struggled to bring enough leadership in Phillips’ absence to injury but was confident that the momentum would continue from here.

The Crows will also bring back former SA captain Courtney Cramey from injury and Angela Foley from suspension to add to the leadership voices.

Perkins said she could tell as soon as she arrived at Norwood Oval last weekend that the season was about to turn.

The key from here was to maintain the energy.

“Moving forward from the Melbourne game to the Bulldogs game we were pretty confident, having beaten them last year,” Perkins said. “I think it was just our mentality, how we prepared.

“Our warm-up was probably the best we’ve had.

“It was just about the energy we brought from the change rooms before the game and going out there we were more confident.

“And having Erin back, that leadership and professionalism that she brings ... a few of us girls from last year hadn’t brought enough leadership to fill that spot for her.

“Going into the game, it felt different.

“It’s hard to explain but hopefully we can keep bringing that going forward.

“We get ‘CJ’ (Courtney Cramey) back and that gives us more experience.”

Perkins is also hopeful the Crows’ first win in their premiership defence was a turning point for her.

She struggled to have an impact in the two losses that opened the season but a surprise stint in the midfield helped her regain some confidence.

“My first two weeks were pretty poor,” Perkins said. “I think I was struggling a bit mentally; maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself instead of just going out there and having fun like I did last year.

“But that’s an attitude I’ll take into the rest of the season.

“I know that the form I had last year is still floating around in there somewhere, itching to get out.

“I love something a bit different but I didn't think playing in the midfield would be something different for me — maybe centre half forward would be different.

“But I’m happy to play any role for the team and hopefully help get the team over the line.”

Originally published as Crows forward Sarah Perkins is confident the season has turned for Adelaide