DEMONS TOO GOOD AGAINST CROWS
MELBOURNE V ADELAIDE BEST 1.1 5.2 7.4 8.8 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 GOALS UMPIRES CROWD ADELAIDE’S premiership defence is hanging by a thread after it crashed to its secondstraight loss to extend its winless start to the AFLW season.
The Crows were out-muscled and outclassed as they fell to a lacklustre 32-point defeat to Melbourne at Casey Fields yesterday.
The visitors trailed at every change in windy conditions, a week on from their round-one reverse to Brisbane Lions.
Given Adelaide lost just two matches in the seven-week minor round on its way to last year’s grand final, the defeat made next Saturday’s clash with Western Bulldogs a mustwin. Coach Bec Goddard said her side was well beaten.
“We had some really good patches, especially in the first quarter ... and then we couldn’t stay with them,” Goddard said.
“It was a great opportunity for them (Crows players) to show why they should be playing in the AFLW, but it got a bit under-12s with us at times today and we should’ve done better.”
The Crows lacked intensity in defence and polish in attack as they again missed the presence of league best and fairest Erin Phillips who failed to shake off a quad strain.
Captain Chelsea Randall (17 possessions), Ebony Marinoff (18) and Dayna Cox (13) were gallant in defeat.
But there were too few contributors against the unbeaten Demons, who dominated contested possessions (127-104) and inside-50s (39-22)
The returning Abbey Holmes provided Adelaide’s bright spot, kicking into a strong breeze in a scrappy opening term. Sarah Perkins’ goalward effort fell to the forward who converted from close range to pull the Crows to within a point of the hosts following Aliesha Newman’s brilliant run and finish.
Adelaide failed to take advantage of the wind at its back as the Demons raced to a decisive 20-point half-time lead following a four-goal-to-one second quarter.
Shelley Scott extended Melbourne’s advantage, before Richelle Cranston and Lauren Pearce booted back-to-back goals. Jasmyn Hewett grabbed an important major for Adelaide with a wind-assisted long bomb which bounced through. But a Tegan Cunningham major, after she was found by the excellent Karen Paxman (21 possessions) late in the term put the Dees in control.
Melissa Hickey kicked truly from 50, before Ruth Wallace gave Adelaide a glimmer of hope with a classy kick on the run. Cunningham’s second, late in the third quarter, and another for Newman in the fourth, iced Melbourne’s triumph and left the Crows with much soul-searching to do.