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Adelaide have scored a hard-fought 11-point win over a brave Geelong at GMHBA Stadium to get the Crows' AFLW premiership defence back on course.

Adelaide's premiership defence is back on track with a hard-fought 11-point win against an equally gallant Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

In Sunday afternoon's hot contest, the Crows prevailed 8.1 (49) to 6.2 (38).

It was a controversial last minute as Geelong defender Maddy McMahon was penalised for deliberately running the ball over the Adelaide goalline.

With the Crows clinging to a five-point lead, the umpire's decision handed forward Danielle Ponter her fourth goal to cap a sterling performance.

Crows coach Matthew Clarke was relieved.

"We got a little bit lucky, but I thought overall our intent was good," he said.

On the umpire's ruling with 59 seconds left on the game clock, Clarke said: "To the letter of the law, it was probably right but, when you saw it live, I wasn't a mad fan of the decision".

Geelong coach Paul Hood wasn't sure if it was the right call.

"But there's not much I can do about an umpire's decision. It's a game of inches. Sometimes it goes your way."

Ponter was dangerous every time the Crows surged forward. The niece of Essendon champ Michael Long and cousin of Hawthorn favourite Cyril Rioli booted two of her goals in the opening quarter when Geelong threatened to build a lead.

While Geelong improved their inside-50 deficiencies, the lopsided 18-41 stat in that crucial area provided limited opportunities for leading forward Phoebe McWilliams and smaller Danielle Higgins.

Higgins, sister of North Melbourne ace Shaun, booted two goals in the first half to keep the Cats in touch. The home team posted two of the first three goals.

When Richelle Cranston goaled with a snap shot on the run late in the last term, it propelled the Cats to their biggest AFLW total.

But Adelaide generally controlled the midfield, led by ruck Jess Foley and busy midfielder Ebony Marinoff, giving the Crows more scoring chances in the perfect conditions.

Geelong lifted their intensity around the ball early in the third quarter to try to pull back a 12-point halftime deficit, but they couldn't grab the lead in a tense final term.

"I'm gutted for the players - that was maybe the best game a Geelong AFLW team has played," Hood said.

Crows defender Dayna Cox might be in trouble for a strong tackle on Higgins in the second quarter. Higgins goaled from the free kick, with the incident expected to attract video review scrutiny.