Adelaide blows open AFLW flag race after inflicting first loss on North Melbourne
Adelaide’s stunning upset win over AFLW premiership favourites North Melbourne has thrown Conference A wide open with the Crows taking over top spot.
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Adelaide has moved to the top of Conference A after a stunning upset win over premiership favourites North Melbourne at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
The Crows kicked 10 goals to two after the opening six minutes to run away with a dominant 10.5 (65) to 4.5 (29) victory.
The result throws Conference A wide open, with Fremantle also on 16 points and Melbourne sitting on 12 points — behind the Crows and Kangaroos who occupy the top two spots with two rounds to play.
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The loss was North Melbourne’s first of the season.
“I think we got a really good wake-up call,” Kangaroos coach Scott Gowans said.
“It’s not one you want but to Adelaide’s credit I thought they were terrific.
“In a way you watch games like that and try and keep the emotions in check and take the learnings out of the game and what we learnt today was we’ve got a bit of work to do. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what we get out of it.”
Gowans rejected suggestions the loss was one his side had to have after such a dominant opening month.
“Not necessarily,” he said.
“I reckon in longer seasons, maybe when there’s 16 or 18 rounds potentially there’s that but not in such a short season.
“You train the players right from day one to have that mindset that every game is important.
“It’s funny because immediately now you turn to the fixture and try and check who’s winning and who’s losing because we’re back in the pack now.
“It doesn’t change anything. We’ll review it, take the learnings, train hard this week and try and beat Collingwood next week.”
BATTLE ROYALE
The two best players of the first two AFLW seasons went head-to-head in Werribee and they didn’t disappoint.
Kangaroo Emma Kearney got off to a flyer, collecting six disposals in the opening 10 minutes.
But not to be outdone, Crows star Erin Phillips kicked a goal and set up another to go along with six disposals to start.
Kearney was North Melbourne’s best, finishing with a season-high 31 disposals and 10 clearances, while Phillips was dominant as she spent time both in the midfield and up forward, finishing with 23 disposals and two goals.
A STAR IS BORN
Danielle Ponter, the cousin of Hawthorn champion Cyril Rioli, arrived as an AFLW star.
She was clearly born to play the game given her family connections with Rioli and Essendon great Michael Long, who is her uncle.
Ponter looks comfortable on the field and she’s got the skills to match.
When she pounced on a turnover and fired out a slick handball to Stevie-Lee Thompson to set up a goal in the second quarter it made you take notice.
Then there was a clean pick-up and smooth sidestep in the middle that would make cousin Cyril proud.
She had seven disposals, two goals and a goal assist to halftime before a quieter second half, finishing with 10 disposals and 2.1.
CROWS WIN MIDFIELD
North Melbourne has been lauded for its dynamic midfield led by Kearney, alongside Jenna Bruton, Jamie Stanton and Emma King, but they were comprehensively beaten by Adelaide.
Phillips, Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard and ruck Jess Foley dominated possession to give their forwards opportunities and put the Kangaroos’ defence under pressure.
North Melbourne coach Scott Gowans looked for a spark by deploying Brittany Gibson and Jasmine Garner into the midfield at various stages of the second half but the damage was done.
CONFUSION REIGNS
It’s not often you see a double 50m penalty paid but the Crows were penalised in the opening term courtesy of the AFL’s new rules.
Kangaroo Kaitlyn Ashmore was awarded the first 50m on the defensive side of the wing and as she took off to take full advantage, Adelaide ruck Foley tackled her, gifting her a second 50m penalty to take her within scoring range.
Ashmore made no mistake from the set shot to kick the opening goal of the game.
It was the first double 50m penalty to be paid in the AFLW this season.
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 3.3 4.3 4.5 (29)
ADELAIDE 3.0 5.1 6.3 10.4 (64)
GOALS
Kangaroos: Ashmore, Hope, Emma King, Elisha King
Crows: Ponter 2, Phillips, Jones
BEST
Kangaroos: Kearney, Duffin, Emma King, Garner
Crows: Phillips 2, Ponter 2, Thompson 2, Jones, Scheer, Riley, Li
INJURIES
Kangaroos: Jess Trend (ankle/leg)
Crows: Nil
CROWD: 2107 at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee
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