ADELAIDE has announced itself as legitimate AFLW premiership contenders, thumping previously-undefeated North Melbourne by 35 points in Werribee.
The Crows conceded the first two goals but rallied strongly to pile on 10 of the last 12 majors to run out handsome 10.4 (64) to 4.5 (29) winners in the hot conditions and move to the top of Conference A.
Incredibly, after setting the pace all season, North is now in danger of slipping out of the top two if Fremantle beat the Western Bulldogs by a big enough margin later on Sunday.
The result was further soured for North with Jess Trend appearing to badly hurt her right ankle in the last quarter.
The meeting between the AFLW’s top two teams also featured a heavyweight battle within as arguably the competition’s two best players in North’s Emma Kearney and Adelaide’s Erin Phillips locked horns.
Kearney was brilliant with 31 disposals (16 contested), 10 clearances, eight marks and four tackles but probably shaded by Phillips who had 23 touches (12 contested), seven clearances and two goals.
Chelsea Randall was also an architect of the Crows’ victory with 23 touches (11 contested) and seven marks as was Ebony Marinoff with 22 disposals (11 contested) and 10 tackles.
Danielle Ponter and Stevie-Lee Thompson were lively up forward with two goals apiece.
Kearney found support in North vice-captain Jess Duffin, who collected 23 touches (11 contested) and a game-high 11 marks, Kaitlyn Ashmore (11 touches, nine marks and nine tackles) and Jasmine Garner (15 disposals).
North got off to a bright start, booting the two openers with the help of a combined three 50-metre penalties.
But it didn’t take long for Adelaide to dust off the cobwebs as they piled on the next five majors to open up a 17-point lead in the second quarter, capitalising on some awful turnovers from North.
The Kangaroos settled, though, and fought back admirably, registering five of the next six scoring shots, including two goals, to whittle the margin to four early in the third stanza.
However, Adelaide held its nerve and restricted the hosts to just two more behinds while helping themselves to five more goals.
© AAP 2019
ADELAIDE CROWS 3.0 5.1 6.3 10.4 (64)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 3.3 4.3 4.5 (29)
Goals: Adelaide Crows: D Ponter 2 E Phillips 2 S Thompson 2 C Scheer E Jones S Li S Riley. North Melbourne: Emma King Elisha King K Ashmore M Hope.
Best: Adelaide Crows: E Phillips C Randall E Marinoff D Ponter S Thompson J Foley. North Melbourne Kangaroos: E Kearney J Duffin K Ashmore J Garner J Stanton.
Injuries: Adelaide Crows: Nil. North Melbourne: J Trend (right ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Official Crowd: 2,107 at Avalon Airport Oval.
