Crows crush Essendon to go top of AFLW ladder
Oliver Caffrey |
AFLW juggernaut Adelaide have extended their unbeaten start to the season, crushing Essendon by 33 points at Unley Oval.
After being tested by the Bombers early, the Crows blew the game open with a four-goal second term to set up the 9.8 (62) to 4.5 (29) win on Sunday.
Danielle Ponter, Niamh Kelly and Caitlin Gould booted two goals each for Adelaide, while Madison Newman, Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard all collected 23 disposals to be the leading possession winners on the ground.
“I think we’ve just got so much more to come as well, which is exciting,” Gould the Seven Network after the game.
Adelaide remain the only team with a perfect record after St Kilda’s undefeated start to the season ended on Saturday with a 57-point belting by Hawthorn.
AFLW legend Erin Phillips, who starred in three premierships for Adelaide before finishing her decorated career at Port Adelaide, declared the Crows clear premiership favourites while in commentary.
The Crows will next renew their fierce rivalry with reigning premiers Brisbane when they travel to play the Lions at Springfield next Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Bombers’ season is quickly turning into a nightmare after they secured a maiden finals berth last year.
Essendon slumped to 1-3 by losing to the Crows, and could finish the round only in front of Collingwood, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
Nothing has gone right for the Bombers since captain Bonnie Toogood suffered a serious knee injury in their opening-round defeat against Fremantle.
Maddison Gray (23 touches) and Madison Prespakis (22) fought hard for the Bombers against Adelaide, while Paige Scott popped up with two goals.
The Bombers are next in action on Friday when they host Melbourne at Windy Hill.
AAP