ADELAIDE narrowly missed making AFLW history but enhanced their top-two aspirations with a 70-point demolition of Gold Coast at Norwood Oval on Saturday.
The Crows won 13.7 (85) to 2.3 (15), the home side’s score one point shy of the Western Bulldogs’ all-time competition benchmark but their bigger concern came with a couple of injuries.
Nikki Gore suffered a suspected fractured left ankle in the opening minute following an accidental collision with teammate Marijana Rajcic.
Midfielder Hannah Button sat out the last quarter with her left arm in a sling and her shoulder iced after injuring herself while trying to tackle Alison Drennan in the dying moments of the third term.
Gold Coast had their own injury worries when reigning best-and-fairest winner Jamie Stanton was stretchered off the arena five minutes into the contest after damaging her left ankle while tackling Anne Hatchard.
Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff proved too tough in the middle while Danielle Ponter (four goals) and Erin Phillips (two) provided the finishing touches in a clinical display.
The Suns’ pressure and clearance work was admirable early but the Crows’ defence wall proved impenetrable, Adelaide holding an opposition side scoreless in the first quarter for the fourth consecutive week.
Gold Coast lifted early in the second and got on the board through Leah Kaslar before the Crows, who threw Phillips into the middle for a centre-square cameo, rifled the next five goals to put the contest beyond reach.
The run was capped when Phillips goaled after being switched back to attack, holding off Cheyenne Hammond with one hand and marking with the other.
Kate Surman, who along with Alison Drennan and Lauren Ahrens had a real crack for the visitors, goaled on the cusp of halftime.
But the Suns were forced to wait until late in the fourth stanza before troubling the scorers again as the Crows dominated at both ends.
(C) AAP 2021
ADELAIDE CROWS 2.1 7.2 10.5 13.7 (85)
GOLD COAST SUNS 0.0 2.2 2.2 2.3 (15)
Goals: Adelaide Crows: D Ponter 4 C Randall 2 E Phillips 2 A Hatchard A Woodland C Scheer R Martin S Thompson. Gold Coast Suns: K Surman L Kaslar.
Umpires: Tom Bryce, Rowan Hundertmark, Mitch Scott.
Venue: Norwood Oval.
