The Brisbane Lions are through to a third-consecutive AFLW grand final after surging over the top of a tiring Adelaide at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday night.
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The reigning premiers survived a ferocious first half from the Crows to emerge 18-point victors and set up a sequel to the enthralling 2023 grand final against North Melbourne.
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Twelve months after the Lions marched into Adelaide Oval and shocked the Crows on their home deck in the finals, the three-time AFLW premiers appeared poised to return the favour as they dominated the early exchanges at the Lions’ Springfield home.
But in another epic chapter to the AFLW’s most storied rivalry, Brisbane broke the game open with a four-goal-to-nil third quarter and held sway in the final term to book its sixth grand final berth.
The 7.8 (50) to 4.8 (32) victory marked the Lions’ sixth-consecutive win over the Crows – a curiously lopsided recent head-to-head given the two clubs’ history dating back to the inaugural grand final in 2017.
The previous three meetings between the two teams had all been decided by less than a goal but the Crows came to town with a point to prove after being overrun at the same venue earlier this season.
But they were unable to capitalise on its dominance in the first half, holding only a seven-point advantage into the main break.
Brisbane came out with a clear intent to put more speed on the ball and the Crows simply could not keep up in the hot and humid Springfield conditions.
Brisbane barometer Cathy Svarc was quiet to halftime with just six disposals but exploded in the third term, doubling her tally and directly contributing to two goals including one off of her own boot.
Adelaide’s usual suspects – Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard and Chelsea Randall – all dominated but the Lions were simply too even across the ground.
It marked the Crows’ third-consecutive preliminary final defeat.
Brisbane will head to Ikon Park next Saturday for a repeat grand final date with minor premiers North Melbourne, whose last defeat came in the 2023 decider.
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CONTENTIOUS CALL COSTS CROWS
Is it the call that cost the Crows a chance at a fourth AFLW premiership?
Chelsea Biddell could only shake her head in confusion after she was called to play-on inside Brisbane’s goalsquare having taken what she thought was a goal-saving contested mark midway through the third quarter.
The Crows defender barely took half a step off her line but that was enough for the controlling umpire to call play-on, forcing Biddell to hurriedly handball into the path of Jade Ellenger who goaled to give the Lions a nine-point advantage.
That quickly became 15 points when Dakota Davidson goaled off the deck for her second major of the night.
A game previously in the balance quickly became one-way traffic as the hosts roared to life with a vocal home crowd at their backs.
RAMPANT RANDALL
If the AFLW had a Player of the Finals award it would undoubtedly have gone to Chelsea Randall.
Adelaide’s talismanic jack-of-all-trades threatened to break Brisbane hearts with an imperious first-half display as the Crows shot out of the blocks.
Randall was the difference at quarter-time after out-marking Poppy Boltz to kick the opening goal of the game – but it was her second major that will make highlight reels this week.
The Crows needed a reset after Brisbane booted two quick goals to draw within a point in the shadows of halftime and Randall delivered.
A quick kick inside 50 caught the Crows’ livewire off-guard but with incredible athleticism, contorted her body to take a stunning one-handed grab with Lions defender Nat Grider hanging off of her.
Randall went back and kicked truly to send the Crows into halftime with a seven-point lead.
But as Brisbane got on top in the middle of the ground Randall’s opportunities inside 50 dried up and not even the Crows’ maestro was able to magic a second-half comeback in the face of the Lions’ onslaught.
The 33-year-old averaged 18 disposals and booted five goals in her three finals appearances – unfortunately not enough to deliver the Crows to another grand final.
THAT’S USING YOUR HEAD, DAKOTA
When Brisbane needed a second-quarter spark it came from usual suspect Dakota Davidson – but not entirely as she had planned.
The Lions’ spearhead saluted with a typical strong contested grab and set shot goal to stem the bleeding but it was her goal assist minutes later that got tongues wagging.
Davidson led strongly at a kick toward the 50 but misjudged the ball in flight and copped an almighty falcon for her troubles.
But it was far from misfortune for the Lions, as Cathy Svarc swooped on the loose ball, burst through a pair of Crows tacklers and set up Courtney Hodder’s goal that drew the Lions back within a point.
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SCOREBOARD
LIONS 0.3, 2.4, 6.5, 7.8 (50)
CROWS 1.3, 3.5, 3.7, 4.8 (32)
BEST
Lions: Anderson, Grider, Davidson, Hodder, O’Dwyer
Crows: Randall, Marinoff, Hatchard, Biddell, Kelly
GOALS
Lions: Davidson 2, Hodder, Ellenger, C. Svarc, Dawes Hampson
Crows: Randall 2, Gould, Kustermann
INJURIES
Lions: Nil
Crows: Nil
CROWD
4519 at Brighton Homes Arena