AFLW: Lions must conquer the Crows in Adelaide to win a maiden premiership

Beating the Crows in Adelaide is hardest task in the AFLW, according to Brisbane Lions coach Craig Starcevich.

The Brisbane Lions celebrate during their win over Collingwood. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich says the Lions face the toughest task in AFLW – beating the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval – in their quest to win a maiden premiership.

The Lions qualified for their third AFLW grand final with a thrilling four-point win over Collingwood at the Gabba on Saturday.

The 7.3 (45) - 6.5 (41) preliminary final victory earnt the Lions a shot at the Crows – two-time premiership winners and this season’s minor premiers – in next Saturday’s decider at the Adelaide Oval.

“There’s probably no bigger one in AFLW,” Starcevich said of the challenge of defeating the Crows in Adelaide.

“The Adelaide Oval itself is a magnificent venue to play footy, and we happen to be there in a grand final playing the home team, so what a challenge and how exciting - I’m looking forward to it.”

Starcevich said reaching this season’s grand final felt different for the Lions compared to their efforts in making the 2017 and 2018 deciders, the first of which was against the Crows in the competition’s inaugural season.

That winning feeling 🎉 pic.twitter.com/ngdxgIILBt

— Brisbane Lions AFLW (@lionsaflw) April 10, 2021

“The first two, it wasn’t a finals series. It was finish in the top two and then go to play (in the grand final), so it’s completely different from that point of view,” he said.

“It’s a longer home and away season, the second year we fell into the grand final on the back of one big win in the last round, the team’s completely different, we’ve only got eight left from those first two years ... but what an opportunity.”

Starcevich the finals series had presented the Lions with the challenge of having a weekend off before Saturday’s preliminary final.

Collingwood started the better at the Gabba, kicking the game’s first two goals on the back of their qualifying final win over North Melbourne a week earlier.

“Being switched on to really compete early was found wanting a little bit,” the Lions coach said.

“Once they got that level back up, they were fine in terms of competing.”

Magpies coach Steve Symonds was proud of his team’s effort.

The Magpies were never out of the contest, with Ashleigh Brazill’s goal with 21 seconds left giving them hope until the final siren.

“We’ve got so much fight in us,” Symonds said.

“There were a couple of times today where we lost momentum ... but we were still fighting all the way to the end to give us a chance.

“We’re all disappointed but we’re immensely proud of the work we’ve done.”