Crows Dominate Saints in One-Sided AFLW Final
The Adelaide Crows have delivered a brutal reality check to St Kilda, demolishing the Saints by 44 points in a comprehensive display of finals football at Norwood Oval on Sunday. The three-time AFLW premiers showcased their experience against St Kilda, who were making their long-awaited finals debut after entering the competition in 2020.
First Half Shutout Sets Up Victory
Adelaide's dominance was established early, with the Crows keeping St Kilda to just one point in the entire first half. This defensive masterclass allowed Adelaide to build a commanding 28-point lead by the main break, setting the platform for their eventual 8.12 (60) to 2.4 (16) victory.
The win holds special significance as it extends long-time coach Matthew Clarke's final season in charge, ensuring the Crows progress to a sudden-death semi-final against Melbourne at Ikon Park next week.
Saints' Brief Fightback Quickly Extinguished
St Kilda's first goal didn't arrive until 10 minutes into the third quarter through star midfielder Georgia Patrikios, by which time Adelaide led by 33 points. The Saints enjoyed their most productive period immediately after, with Jesse Wardlaw quickly adding another goal and threatening to reduce the margin to just 15 points.
However, Wardlaw missed her next attempt, and star Crow Anne Hatchard's composed set shot from the boundary effectively killed off St Kilda's momentum. Adelaide entered three-quarter time with a comfortable 26-point advantage.
The Crows shared the scoring load effectively with multiple contributors:
- Caitlin Gould and India Rasheed kicked two goals each
- Teah Charlton, Eloise Jones, and Anne Hatchard all hit the scoreboard
- Even defender Zoe Prowse managed to get on the scoresheet
In positive news for Adelaide, star defender Chelsea Randall made an impressive return after missing the last two months with concussion symptoms. With the result secured, Randall spent the final 10 minutes resting on the bench.
Disappointing Finish for Developing Saints
St Kilda failed to score in the final quarter, meaning they managed just one point in three of the four terms. Despite crashing out of the finals in the first week, the Saints can take encouragement from their development this season, having finished inside the top-eight for the first time.
The Saints were hit hard by injuries at the end of their campaign, blowing an opportunity to secure a home final with a heavy defeat to the Western Bulldogs last week.
