The Adelaide Crows have kept their season alive thanks to the incredible return of superstar Erin Phillips who booted four goals in a seven-point win, while it may be more bad news for the Western Bulldogs after they lost Katie Brennan to potentially serious injury late in the match.
Final score
Adelaide Crows 6.5 (41)
Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34)
The Adelaide Crows‘ premiership defense is hanging by a thread and if they’re going to keep it alive, they’ll have to knock off the best team of the first two weeks, the Western Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 2:05pm AEDT.
The Crows were a great team in the inaugural season of AFL Women’s in 2017 and wound up winning the premiership away from home as their star player Erin Phillips took out just about every gong there is to take in the competition.
However Phillips hasn’t played in the first two rounds due to injury and the Crows have lost both games, and lost them pretty convincingly.
As a result the season was pretty much become win or die for them – three losses is probably too many for any team to overcome if they want to achieve a top-two finish and make it into the grand final.
The good news for Adelaide is that Phillips returns this week. The bad news is that they are up against possibly the best team going around right now.
The Bulldogs have set themselves up with top bragging rights after dominant victories over the Fremantle Dockers and last year’s grand finalists the Brisbane Lions in the opening two rounds.
They along with Melbourne and Carlton are one of three teams to be undefeated at the moment – while Melbourne have been super impressive, the Bulldogs have arguably matched them in quality so far.
The only problem for the Bulldogs is that unfortunately they’ve lost No.1 draft pick Isabel Huntington for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury.
Prediction
Having Phillips back is great, and having the home advantage is nice too, but I suspect that the Bulldogs, even missing Huntington, are still the better team here.
Western Bulldogs by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 2:05pm AEDT.
Josh
Expert
Thanks to all who joined me for the match, probably the best of the year so far.
Josh
Expert
Full Time That was an amazing game - four goals from Erin Phillips, two of them being absolute crackers, and one of the tightest finishes we've seen in the history of the AFLW competition. Adelaide get the win by seven points, and they still have a chance of defending their 2017 premiership.
Adelaide Crows: 6.5 (41) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
Josh
Expert
Goal 0:00 - Massive! Jenna McCormick marks in the goalsquare with seconds left, and slots a goal to put icing on the cake of a win, Crows by seven, and they are STILL IN IT!
Adelaide Crows: 6.5 (41) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
Josh
Expert
1:00 - Rachel Killian kicks a behind, handy point, that just might be enough!!
Adelaide Crows: 5.5 (35) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
Josh
Expert
2:00 - Oh geez - looks like Katie Brennan has an injury of some kind. Not sure what.
Adelaide Crows: 5.4 (34) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
Josh
Expert
3:00 - Might be headed for a draw here. Also just worth mentioning, but Bonnie Toogood for the Bulldogs has a rippingly good last name.
Adelaide Crows: 5.4 (34) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
Josh
Expert
Behind 5:10 - Just a behind from Katie Brennan and scores are level.
Adelaide Crows: 5.4 (34) Western Bulldogs: 5.4 (34)
anon
Roar Pro
Looking a little sparse in the outer.
Josh
Expert
Goal 10:45 - NO WAY! That is just an unbelieveable goal from Erin Phillips who has a miracle snap from the pocket, and it comes off! Up there with the best AFLW goals we've ever seen.
Adelaide Crows: 5.4 (34) Western Bulldogs: 5.3 (33)
Josh
Expert
15:00 - Here we go - five points down, one quarter left to save their season. Can the Crows win from here?
Adelaide Crows: 4.4 (28) Western Bulldogs: 5.3 (33)
Josh
Expert
Three-Quarter Time A busy quarter, but in the end the margin is the same at the final break as it was halfway through the match. Who can get on top in the final quarter?
Adelaide Crows: 4.4 (28) Western Bulldogs: 5.3 (33)
Josh
Expert
Goal 1:45 - PHILLIPS! Wow. Just when Adelaide really needed a goal, she produces a bit of magic to soccer one through in mid-air at just the right moment.
Adelaide Crows: 4.3 (27) Western Bulldogs: 5.3 (33)
Josh
Expert
Goal 9:31 - Brooke Lochland has a set shot on goal for the Bulldogs, and she nails it. Liking the accuracy in front of goal today particularly from the Dogs, who are back in front.
Adelaide Crows: 3.2 (20) Western Bulldogs: 4.1 (25)
Josh
Expert
Goal 11:55 - Wow! Jenna McCormick has a set shot for the Crows, it doesn't look like it'll go but it swings in just beautifully, and Adelaide are ahead!
Adelaide Crows: 3.2 (20) Western Bulldogs: 3.1 (19)
Josh
Expert
Half Time Bulldogs lead by five points at the half. Erin Phillips has both of the Crows' goals, but they're not just a one-woman team, with some good defensive pressure across the board from Adelaide.
Adelaide Crows: 2.2 (14) Western Bulldogs: 3.1 (19)
Josh
Expert
3:02 - Erin Phillips everywhere at the moment. She takes a wild snap at goal but it's just too much to ask, only a behind.
Adelaide Crows: 2.2 (14) Western Bulldogs: 3.1 (19)
Josh
Expert
4:34 - We're really getting a taste of just how much Adelaide missed Erin Phillips - she takes a big mark and slots her second goal of the day, keeping the Crows withing striking distance.
Adelaide Crows: 2.1 (13) Western Bulldogs: 3.1 (19)
Josh
Expert
5:49 - Great mark from Katie Brennan close to goal and she easily converts from that distance. Dogs looking good.
Adelaide Crows: 1.1 (7) Western Bulldogs: 3.1 (19)
Josh
Expert
10:24 - Monique Conti has a set shot, it's just not quite got the distance.
Adelaide Crows: 1.1 (7) Western Bulldogs: 2.1 (13)
Josh
Expert
Second term underway.
Adelaide Crows: 1.1 (7) Western Bulldogs: 2.1 (13)