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Crows stun Cats with big AFLW win

3 minute read

Adelaide Crows co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall sparked a devastating four-quarter performance to dominate Geelong 66-37 in round 3 AFLW action.

ERIN PHILLIPS of the Crows after the loss during the NAB AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Australia.
ERIN PHILLIPS of the Crows after the loss during the NAB AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Australia. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

A trip to Darwin's heat to face unbeaten Fremantle holds few fears for Adelaide after they dominated a young Geelong outfit to register their highest AFLW score and collect their second win of the season.

The Crows never looked threatened while racking up 10.6 (66) to Geelong's 6.1 (37) at Norwood Oval.

While speedster Hannah Martin (leg) was a late withdrawal, Adelaide co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall dominated at opposite ends of the ground.

Phillips (3.1) had eight possessions in the opening term as she ignited the Crows rush, booting two goals in four minutes, while Randall dictated in defence with anticipation, strong marking and relentless rebound.

Jess Foley (183cm), who battled hard against the taller Erin Hoare (194cm) in the ruck, Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard soon joined in with added run through the Crows' midfield while Stevie-Lee Thompson, Justine Mules and Chloe Scheer consistently bobbed up as willing targets forward of centre.

Both teams came in to the round 3 fixture with a 1-1 win-loss record but it was the Crows who brought the focus and physicality of a top side.

Adelaide dominated the tackle count 62-46 and finished with 25 more inside 50s than the Cats (41-16).

The Crows also had a whopping 83 more disposals than Geelong (253-170).

but Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said he was concerned that his team allowed the Cats six goals, including four in the second half.

"Being selfish, I'd say perhaps we could have stopped a couple of those but overall I'm very happy,'' he said.

"The midfield was strong for four quarters and we held (the ball) in (attack) pretty well.

"A couple of time Geelong transitioned on us but overall (I am) pretty happy.''

Adelaide takes a Conference A home game against the Dockers to Darwin next week but midfielder Ebony Marinoff, who starred in the midfield, said hot weather did not bother the Crows on Sunday and it wouldn't worry them in the Top End.

"We went up to Darwin a few weeks ago and we thought it was hotter back in Adelaide, it wasn't even that humid up there,'' she said.

"We should be fine, just get the job done it doesn't matter about the weather.''

The Cats, who had four players aged 18, could not cope with Adelaide's fierce approach and cohesion although Richelle Cranston - back after a two-week suspension - Meghan McDonald, Sophie Van De Heuvel, Hoare and Madeline Keryk fought out the full four quarters.

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