STILL CROWING

Goddard says Top End fans pushed Adelaide over line

ADELAIDE coach Bec Goddard singled out Darwin football fans for praise after her team’s thrilling four-point win over Fremantle at TIO Stadium on Friday night. The win kept alive the Crows’ hopes of winning a second straight AFLW flag, temporarily putting them in second with one round left.

A noisy crowd of more than 2000 helped get their “Terri- tory Crows” over the line. “It was so great to have the Darwin supporters behind us because it got really rowdy in the last few minutes,” Goddard said.

“Having that home-crowd support really spurred the girls on to hold on in the dying minutes.”

The Crows were previously winless in the Top End after two practice games versus the Dockers and last year’s Round 6 defeat against Melbourne.

“We had a real point to prove. We hadn’t won up here before. Our Darwin contingent makes a sacrifice every week,” Goddard said.

“It’s not just the players — it’s the support staff and coaches who travel every week.

“They deserved to have a win in front of their family and friends.”

All the Crows players with Territory links — Jasmyn Hewett (13 hitouts and one tackle), captain for this game Ange Foley (15 disposals and six tackles), Sophie Armitstead (six disposals) and Stevie-Lee Thompson (four tackles) — made valuable contributions.

Goddard was delighted with Hewett’s work as a secondary ruck, behind standout Rhiannon Metcalfe (18 hitouts and two tackles).

“She (Hewett) was unstoppable against Alicia Janz — their No. 1 ruck,” Goddard said.

“She was winning the hitouts but was also really mobile around the ground.” While Goddard was glowing in her praise for Erin Phillips — calling her a “freak” after kicking three goals — she was also quick to single out rover Ebony Marinoff (16 tackles after a facial cut) and full-back Sarah Allan (11 disposals and two tackles).

“Sarah Allan — I think that’s the best game we’ve seen her play,” Goddard said.

“She’s been really consistent all year and in our best every game.

“She’s grown so much, she’s very mature, she knows what her role is in the team.

“Ebony Marinoff had stitch- es in her head and tongue, and now her face.

“She’s the toughest player in the competition. She does really hard work for us.”

The Crows will need to win big in their last home-andaway game of the season — against the disappointing Collingwood, who upset the Bris- bane Lions yesterday, in Melbourne next Sunday — to have any chance of making a second-straight grand final.

“The second and third quarters (against the Dockers) we’ve got some areas to look at.

“That was how Freo stayed in the game,” Goddard said.