The AFLW’s 2019 leading goal-kicker, Crow Stevie-Lee Thompson, says there are no words for what it feels like to be playing in the grand final at Adelaide Oval

The AFLW’s season 2019 leading goalkicker Stevie-Lee Thompson reveals what co-captain Chelsea Randall told the team in the moments after they made Sunday’s grand final.

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In the moments after the Crows’ merciless 11-goal preliminary final win over Geelong on Sunday, co-captain Chelsea Randall gathered the players around her before they left Adelaide Oval and gave a stirring speech.

Leading goalkicker Stevie-Lee Thompson has revealed what Randall told them.

“Just to stay humble,” Thompson said. “(Randall said) ‘We’ve got a big game this weekend and to enjoy the moment that we’ve won our first ever preliminary final and just enjoy this moment that we’ve got … and to bring that into the grand final’.”

I love this team: Stevie-Lee Thompson celebrate a goal with Eloise Jones during the Crows demolition of Geelong by 11 goals in Sunday’s preliminary final. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Now, the hard-tackling, well-drilled Crows — who are being called the best women’s football team the AFLW has seen by some commentators — go into Sunday’s grand final against Carlton at home as favourites and on a seven-game winning streak.

Sunday will see the Crows’ second grand-final appearance in three years and Thompson, who was part of the 2017 premiership win, said the feeling was indescribable.

“We prepared ourselves this year with ‘Doc’ (coach Matthew Clarke) and all the other coaches’ support, preparing us for this game and literally it’s indescribable … just can’t wait to get out there again,” she said.

“For a lot of the girls, it’s a dream to play on Adelaide Oval.

“My background’s not really AFL (it’s touch football), but it was a big, big thing for me to step out on that field and play with the amazing team that I’ve got.”

Thompson said she was looking forward to facing Carlton again, after the sides had a close encounter when they met in round two.

In that game, the Crows came from three goals down midway through the third quarter to beat the Blues by 13 points. That was a breakout game for Thompson, who was moved from defence into attack and ended up kicking four goals. And in something of an ominous warning for Carlton, Thompson said despite Sunday’s 66-point prelim final win, there was still improvement for the Crows.

Stevie-Lee Thompson prepares to pounce on the ball ahead of Geelong’s Richelle Cranston. Picture: AAP Image/David Mauriz

“We’ve got more in the tank, and we all know it,” she said. “If we can show that in the grand final then hopefully we’ll get the win.”

Thompson, who kicked 13 goals in the minor rounds to be crowned the AFLW’s leading goal-kicker, said she loved playing in this team.

“We all obviously have full-time jobs and sometimes you have days when you don’t want to go to training and then you get to the girls and it’s like: ‘This is why I’m here’.

“I love hanging out with the girls. It’s the best group of girls.”

Thompson’s week will be rather standard despite the grand final on Sunday. She’ll do her usual study routine today and then work full-time until Friday.

“All the girls are probably the same as me,” she said.

“I like being busy (though), if I sit at home too long, I think about football too much.

“I do enjoy full-time work, but it does take a toll on you sleeping wise and just trying to prepare ourselves … but that’s OK, we’ve got that Saturday to sleep.”

Originally published as The AFLW’s 2019 leading goal-kicker, Crow Stevie-Lee Thompson, says there are no words for what it feels like to be playing in the grand final at Adelaide Oval