AFLW GF: Adelaide secures second AFLW flag despite knee injury to captain Erin Phillips

Adelaide has won the AFLW grand final, smashing Carlton by a whopping 45 points. However, it will be remembered as a bittersweet win, with Erin Phillips suffering an ACL injury. 

Adelaide has won its second AFLW grand final after beating Carlton by 45 points in front of a record women’s crowd of 53,134 people at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. 

But the 10.3 (63) to 2.6 (18) victory came at an even bigger cost for the 2019 premiers after co-captain Erin Phillips was stretchered off the field midway through the third term, clutching her left knee.

The 33-yer-old was chasing the ball out of the forward line when her left knee buckled underneath her and she appeared to be in a lot of pain.Phillips was arguably best on ground for the Crows before injuring her knee and helped set up the flag win, registering 18 touches, two goals and four tackles.

She did not take any further part in the game but was named best on ground in emotional scenes post-match. 

In a huge show of respect for the superstar, the entire crowd rose and gave Phillips a standing ovation as she was taken off the field.Her injury was one of three for the Crows.

Young gun Chloe Scheer went down, also with a knee injury, while Stevie-Lee Thompson hobbled off the field after hurting her ankle.The Blues’ doctors also had their hands full after Jayde Van Dyk and Tayla Harris clashed heads.

Although huge blows, Adelaide set up its victory with arguably the most clinical, attacking and tough brand of women’s football ever played in the second quarter.

The hosts overcame a nervous and undisciplined first quarter to boot seven unanswered goals in the second term, leaving the Blues shell-shocked.

The Crows’ run and carry through the midfield, their ball use and their ability to win the contests was elite.Ebony Marinoff had just to touches at quarter-time but overcame her tag to finish the match with 19 disposals.

Anne Hatchard was strong from the first bounce with 24 touches and a goal.

Daniela Abbracciavento

ADELAIDE: 3.0 9.2 10.2 10.3 (63) CARLTON: 1.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 (18)

BEST - Adelaide: Phillips, Hatchard, Ponter, Jones, Ponter, Foley, RandallCarlton: Davey, Stevens, Prespakis, Downie, Hosking

GOALS - Adelaide: Ponter 3, Phillips, 2 Hatchard, Thompson, Martin, Considine, Jones

Carlton: Prespakis, Davey,

INJURIES - Adelaide: Scheer, Phillips

Carlton: Van Dyke, Harris

Crowd: 53,034 

Originally published as AFLW GF: Adelaide secures second AFLW flag despite knee injury to captain Erin Phillips

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