Adelaide puts its stamp on AFLW with big win against GWS Giants in Round 1

AFTER a lifetime wait it took all of one minute for Adelaide’s women’s football team to announce its arrival against GWS.

Rhiannon Metcalfe in action. Picture: Sarah Reed

AFTER a lifetime wait it took all of one minute for Adelaide’s women’s football team to announce its arrival against GWS.

Flawless end-to-end footy started at full-back and resulted in the first goal to Kellie Gibson — or, as the young girls screaming from the stands call her, “Gibbo!”.

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After the Giants posted the first behind of the match, the kick-in was marked by Ebony Marinoff. She moved the ball to Deni Varnhagen on the wing before Erin Phillips worked her opponent under the footy and handballed to a running Gibson, who went bang from 50m.

And as the crowd roared, Gibson’s arms rose with them as if to say “here we are”.

The Crows were all over the Giants physically and with their intensity to win their first ever game by 36 points.

Deni Varnhagen (right) celebrates with teammate Ebony Marinoff. Picture: Sarah Reed

Phillips has played in WNBA championships but the smile on her face after kicking three goals looked like it meant just as much.

Momentum from Friday night’s 24,000 lockout in Melbourne spilt across the border with 9250 fans turning out for the game in suburban Adelaide. Both grandstands were full and punters were 5-10 deep all the way around the ground.

Adelaide got back in numbers and defended as a team, led superbly by Heather Anderson while co-captain Chelsea Randall showed pace and poise in the contest and Rhiannon Metcalfe’s tapwork in the ruck was superb.

More than 9000 people watch Adelaide’s first AFLW game. Picture: Sam Wundke

Phillips lived up to her promise to be a livewire forward and after three consecutive behinds her big moment arrived early in the second quarter when she kicked a goal off the ground.

Phillips had so much time with the ball and sold plenty of candy in heavy traffic as well as earning her share of free kicks in a way that would make Geelong captain Joel Selwood envious.

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But any comparison between men’s and women’s footy is pointless because they are different competitions and should be celebrated and viewed as such — just like women’s tennis, golf, swimming and cycling are.

What fans witnessed was an entertaining, physical and meaningful contest complete with push-and-shove before the first bounce.

Adelaide’s Justine Mules is caught in a tackle. Picture: Sarah Reed

Spectators will forgive wayward kicks, missed handballs or the odd fumble providing one thing which is non-negotiable no matter what level the action — they have a crack.

And they did. From the moment Dayna Cox ran down her GWS opponent and caught her holding the ball to when Phillips almost had her head taken off by a coathanger in the goalsquare, both sides were 100 per cent committed.

The Giants had several strong contributors, led by Alexandra Saundry who was under siege in defence, while Jessica Dal Pos showed dash and Erin McKinnon looked a natural with the ball. But they were simply outgunned by the home side.

Rhiannon Metcalfe gives the Crows first use. Picture: Sarah Reed

After leading by 22 points at halftime, Adelaide refused to let up on the Giants who kicked their first and only goal via Phoebe McWilliams three minutes into the final quarter.

The Crows had a few more party tricks to come with Tayla Thorn showing a first-class sidestep and Sarah Perkins’ set shot goal from 40m bringing the house down. Perkins celebrated with a huge fist pump which was the icing on the cake as the Crows turn their attention to the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Friday night.

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Sarah Perkins celebrates a last-quarter goal. Picture: Sarah Reed

Originally published as Adelaide puts its stamp on AFLW with big win against GWS Giants in Round 1