AFLW flag favourites Adelaide’s bid to host their preliminary final as a double-header with the men’s league has been knocked back.
But Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall says her team will still realise a dream by playing on Adelaide Oval when they host Geelong on Sunday.
The Crows’ AFLW game will be played a day after the other preliminary final between Carlton and Fremantle at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
Adelaide’s AFLW hierarchy asked for their final to be played before or after the men’s Crows team play Hawthorn in the AFL premiership season opener at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Instead, it will be a stand-alone fixture on Sunday with Randall hoping for a 20,000-strong crowd.
“We have got such an amazing fan base in Adelaide and we hope they all get around us,” Randall told reporters on Monday.
“I’d love to see at least 20,000-plus there, for sure, and I think we will be able to definitely get that … why not, let’s dream big.”
The Blues will host Fremantle from 2.45pm AEDT on Saturday with the Crows’ game against Geelong from 1.10pm AEDT on Sunday.
Adelaide topped conference A with six wins and a loss while the Cats made the finals despite winning only three of seven games in conference B.
Fremantle finished second behind the Crows and the two other teams in conference A – North Melbourne and Melbourne – would have made the finals under a straight ladder without the controversial conference system.
“I guess for us, it’s sad … you want to see the best possible sides in finals and unfortunately for two sides they have missed out on that opportunity,” Randall said.
“But flip it around, how awesome is it for Geelong and Carlton to still have an opportunity.”
The preliminary final winners advance to the grand final on Sunday March 31 at a venue and time to be confirmed.
The grand final host will be the club with the most premiership points, or highest percentage if points are the same, entering the finals.