Crows coach Matthew Clarke praises balanced team football as team heads to Darwin to face Fremantle

Balanced team football a key priority for the Crows as they head to Darwin to face Conference A rivals, the undefeated Fremantle, with forward Sarah Perkins dropped for the clash.

• AFLW Round 4 teams: Blues father-daughter pick set for debut

At the beginning of pre-season, Adelaide’s new coach Matthew “Doc” Clarke said he wanted to make sure the Crows weren’t just the “Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall show”.

And while there’s no denying the co-captains are an integral part of the side — it’s the development of other players that is bringing a smile to Doc’s face.

“(Phillips and Randall) are great players and they’ll continue to be … but we very much want to balance the load and make sure everyone is contributing,” he said.

And he praised the work ethic of speedy midfielders Anne Hatchard, Justine Mules and Ebony Marinoff as among the raft of players who were stepping up.

But there’s no taking away from the performances of the stars, particularly Phillips who was best on ground in Sunday’s 29-point home win over Geelong.

“Phillips is enormous talent, both midfield and forward, but I guess the thing that sometimes gets missed is what she provides to her teammates around her,” Clarke said.

“When she’s in the area, the opposition defence get a little bit jumpy and often that provides the opportunity for others to move into space … she’s a real asset.”

Anne Hatchard of the Adelaide Crows (second from left) celebrates a goal with her teammates during the Round 3 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

Chalking up their second win of the AFLW season last week, the Crows showcased passages of team football that indicates the team is hitting its strides after the round one loss. But changes are still inevitable, even with a winning combination.

And as the team flies to Darwin today to face their undefeated Conference A rivals, Fremantle at TIO Stadium, Clarke announced a number of team selection changes.

Sarah Perkins has been omitted and placed on the emergency list. Hannah Martin returns from leg soreness and Sally Riley — who filled her spot against Geelong — retains her spot after chalking up 10 disposals.

Jenna McCormick also returns after her soccer commitments have come to an end.

Clarke said Perkins’ omission was a tough call for selectors, but the forward needed extra time to develop her contested work.

Adelaide Crows AFLW coach Matthew Clarke during the round three AFLW match between Adelaide and Geelong. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

“She contributed in both our wins, which has been great and it was really line ball, but ultimately her performance wasn’t quite at the level she wants for herself and what we need, so she’ll get the opportunity to go back and work on those things and once she shows that, she’ll absolutely be back in contention,” he said.

Key forward Chloe Scheer, 19, who kicked two goals last week, is sidelined after accepting a one-match suspension for rough conduct against the Cats’ Richelle Cranston.

Fremantle, meanwhile, has its own suspension worries with midfielder Hayley Miller also serving a one-match ban for rough conduct. Another of the Dockers’ midfielders, rookie Brianna Moyes, is out after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee last week.

Adelaide v Fremantle
Saturday, February 23
TIO Stadium
Darwin, 9.05pm

Originally published as Crows coach Matthew Clarke praises balanced team football as team heads to Darwin to face Fremantle