One of the most significant moments in Australian Rules footy history?

Vanquished AFLW coach Daniel Harford believes so.

Harford’s Carlton were thrashed by Adelaide by 45 points in Sunday’s AFLW grand final at Adelaide Oval.

The grand final attracted a crowd of 53,034 spectators, believed to be the largest attendance at a stand-alone women’s sports event in Australia.

The crowd figure topped the AFLW’s previous benchmark of 41,975 fans set at the first Australian Rules game at Perth’s new stadium last year.

The grand final was free of charge for spectators, but Harford said it “might be one of the most significant moments in Australian football history.”

“It’s a very special moment, I think, for the AFLW and for footy in Australia,” he said.

Midweek, Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall bumped into the joint skipper of Adelaide’s men’s team, Rory Sloane.

“He was like: ‘Chels, I reckon you’ll get at least 30,000-plus’,” Randall said.

“I was like: oh yeah? Hopefully at least 25,000.”

Randall described the eventual turnout as “unbelievable”.

“It just shocked,” she said.

“Even just doing the lap around the oval, it was pretty surreal, people screaming your name.

“It’s this unbelievable atmosphere that we have created. And I think it’s just going to continue to evolve over time.”

Harford, who played most of his 162 AFL games with Hawthorn, noted a refreshing difference in the AFLW.

“There is a real sense of goodwill and development and achievement throughout the whole competition – and it’s lovely to be a part of that,” he said.

“The men’s competition is quite cut-throat and ruthless.

“I don’t think you get that (in AFLW) … it’s welcoming, it’s warm, it’s family, it’s community.

“But more than that, it’s working with athletes that are desperate to be better and will listen and learn.”