Adelaide has powered back to the top of the AFLW ladder with a 23-point win over Fremantle in front of 4,578 spectators at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.
The home side was quick out of the blocks, with goals to Rising Star nominee Ashley Sharp and Amy Lavell opening up a 13-point quarter time lead.
But the Crows, powered by co-captain Chelsea Randall (18 possessions), booted six unanswered goals through the second, third and fourth quarters to reaffirm their status as premiership favourites.
Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan lauded Adelaide's work ethic, praising key forward Sarah Perkins for her defensive efforts inside 50.
"I think Adelaide work really hard for each other," Cowan said.
"Their two-way running is great but they also kick the ball and get it forward and give the forwards opportunity."
"Sarah Perkins' game – she's incredible.
"She had 10 tackles in the game, she works really hard, and her first, second and third efforts are some of the best that I've seen in that game, so credit to her."
The loss puts the seventh-placed Fremantle out of Grand Final contention, with only the top two ranked teams qualifying for the final match on Saturday 25 March.
Marquee magic
Adelaide marquee signing Chelsea Randall was in dangerous touch. In a new defensive role, the Crows co-captain showed explosive pace and endurance, amassing 17 disposals and six marks in a dominant performance. Her Fremantle counterpart Kara Donnellan was again among the home side's best, working tirelessly to collect 20 touches and six tackles of her own.
Blink and you missed it
Having taken a mark inside her defensive 50 late in the first term, Freo Dockers half-back Cassie Davidson was on hand to save the day again seconds later – but only just. Stationed 30 metres from the Crows' goal with only seconds remaining until quarter-time, Davidson flew over a pack of players to reel in one of the marks of the competition. However, her work was almost undone when an errant kick across goal found the chest of Crows forward Jessica Sedunary. Sedunary's shot after the siren fell short and the visitors entered the first change scoreless.
Say what?
"There was no panicking (at quarter time). Some pretty strong messages were reinforced about how we wanted to play. We wanted to change a few things very quickly, the girls got that message and to their credit, they responded really well." - Adelaide coach Bec Goddard
"It's incredibly disappointing when you see how well the girls played in the first quarter. To fall away so quickly is really disappointing." - Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan
What's next?
Adelaide will prepare to host the Brisbane Lions in a top-of-the-table clash at Norwood Oval on Saturday night in a match that could go a long way towards deciding one the AFLW's inaugural Grand Finalists. The game starts at 6.40pm ACDT.
The Fremantle play Collingwood on Saturday at Rushton Park in Mandurah, with the match set to start at 10.35am WST. The contest will be followed by a JLT Community Series clash between the respective clubs' men's teams at 1.40pm WST.
FREMANTLE 2.1 2.3 2.4 3.5 (23)
ADELAIDE 0.0 1.3 4.7 6.10 (46)
GOALS
Fremantle: Sharp, Lavell, Bentley
Adelaide: McCormick 2, Phillips, Sedunary, Holmes, Perkins
BEST
Fremantle: Donnellan, Hooker, Antonio, Lavell
Adelaide: Randall, Phillips, Perkins, Holmes, Marinoff, McCormick
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Stephanie Cain (Frem) for forceful high contact on Angela Foley (Adel).
Umpires: Power, Paton, Dugan
Crowd: 4578 at Fremantle Oval
