Last-gasp hope for defence of Crows flag

ADELAIDE produced a finalquarter fightback to keep its AFLW flag defence barely alive with a draw against Greater Western Sydney yesterday.

Both teams battled hard in teeming rain at Blacktown, in Sydney’s west, where the Crows trailed for most of the game which finished 2.7 (19) to 2.7 (19).

The Crows are last of the eight teams on percentage behind GWS, with both clubs six points outside the top two with three rounds remaining.

Conditions made it hard to produce flowing passages of play and handle the ball, and especially difficult to take marks.

Much of the match was conducted at ground level where both teams scrambled furiously for possession.

Trailing by nine points at the last change, Adelaide scored the first 10 points of the final quarter before GWS notched a behind to square the contest.

Each team scored once in the first quarter with Rebecca Beeson hitting the target for GWS and returning vice-captain Courtney Cramey replying for Adelaide as the teams went to the break at 7-7.

GWS forward Cora Staunton kicked the only goal of the second quarter from a free kick, with the Giants leading by eight at the long break.

Scoring became tougher in a goalless third quarter in which the Giants added two behinds to the Crows’ one.