Crows thrash Cats in AFLW prelim final

Ruthless AFLW flag favourites Adelaide have demolished Geelong by 66 points to advance to the grand final against Carlton.

The Crows kept the Cats to the lowest-ever AFLW score with a stunning 11.7 (73) to 1.1 (7) win in Sunday’s preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.

Geelong didn’t score until the 13th minute of the last quarter, with their only goal coming from a free kick and subsequent 50-metre penalty.

Adelaide, eyeing a second flag, will carry hot favouritism into next Sunday’s home grand final against the Blues, who downed Fremantle by 36 points in Saturday’s preliminary final.

Before 13,429 spectators, Adelaide’s big guns fired – co-captains Erin Phillips (22 disposals) and Chelsea Randall (15 touches, one goal) were influential.

Midfielder Ebony Marinoff was superb with two goals and a game-high 27 possessions. She also laid 10 tackles and set the ball rolling for the Crows with the opening goal inside four minutes.

Adelaide’s Danielle Ponter (three goals) and Chloe Scheer (two goals) were ever-present attacking threats and ruck Jessica Foley was busy with 19 disposals, 16 hitouts and a goal.

A host of Crows including Anne Hatchard (19 touches), Angela Foley (17 disposals) and Marijana Rajcic (14 possessions) were prolific ball-winners.

Adelaide’s pressure was immense, laying 84 tackles to suffocate the Cats.

Geelong’s Meghan McDonald (16 disposals) and Melissa Hickey (15 possessions) battled gamely in a grim game for the league’s newcomers.

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