2024 ladder position: 4th (8 wins, 3 losses - eliminated at Preliminary Final stage)
2024 best-and-fairest: Ebony Marinoff
Senior coach: Matthew Clarke
Story of the season
So near, yet so far. Adelaide, burning with the righteous indignation of losing the 2023 preliminary final to North Melbourne by one measly point, set out to correct the record. They started strongly, comfortably accounting for their first four opponents (including 2024 season bolters, Hawthorn) before a rather controversial – I’m not bitter, I’m over it – two-point defeat to Brisbane in Round 5. That didn’t affect the Crows too much; an 8-3 record saw them finish fourth and earn the double chance. They put up a valiant fight against the all-conquering Kangaroos in the Qualifying Final, but a seven-point defeat required them to go the long way. They did, to set up a seemingly perfect revenge story: back at Brighton Homes Arena, against Brisbane, with a Grand Final spot on the line. For a half, it looked promising. But the Lions took the game away from the Crows in the third quarter, overpowering and outscoring them by 23 points. For the third straight season, Adelaide lost in a prelim. And, of the five defeats the Crows suffered in 2024, four were to the eventual Grand Finalists. There were mitigating circumstances, sure. But they’ve been booted off the summit.
Summary of game style
In the post-Erin Phillips era, Adelaide has built its gameplan on three fundamental pillars: a strong defence, a highly competitive midfield, and a mark-heavy ball movement scheme. Thanks largely to the combined efforts of Chelsea Randall and Sarah Allan, the Crows have conceded the second-fewest goals per game over the last two seasons. In the engine room, Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard win the ball and effectively – especially in the case of Marinoff – spread it to the outside for the likes of Niamh Kelly and Maddie Newman to move it forward. The forward line also boasts significant aerial power. No player took more contested marks in the AFLW in 2024 than Caitlin Gould, and only Hawthorn’s Jenna Richardson averaged more marks overall. This translates to some impressive stats: last season, despite once again coming up short in a prelim, Adelaide ranked first for contested marks and first for inside-50 differential.
The biggest area of required improvement, and arguably what now separates the Crows from Brisbane and North Melbourne, is the pressure game – especially inside forward 50. Adelaide ranked a middling eighth for opposition turnovers and tackle differential, and also conceded the most rebound 50s of any side. This, along with a season-ending injury to Eloise Jones, was the main reason why the Crows were only eighth for scoring shots per inside-50. So while they’re great at getting the ball forward, they’re not as proficient in locking it in – a flaw which opposition sides exploited to some success.
List changes
In:
India Rasheed (2024 AFLW Draft – Pick #13)
Georgia McKee (2024 AFLW Draft – Pick #44)
Kayleigh Cronin (rookie – County Kerry, Ladies Gaelic Football Association)
Hannah Ewings (traded – Port Adelaide)
Grace Kelly (traded – St Kilda)
Out:
Tamara Henry (delisted)
Jess Waterhouse (delisted)
Deni Varnhagen (retired)
Najwa Allen (traded – Hawthorn)
Taylah Levy (traded – GWS)
List profile
Average number of games played: 41.7 (2nd)
Adelaide’s defence and midfield remain the envy of most sides in the AFLW. Chelea Biddell, Sarah Allan and Zoe Prowse are the defensive lynchpins, absorbing enemy attacks and initiating Adelaide’s chains from defensive 50. Ebony Marinoff had one of the best individual seasons in competition history, averaging 30.5 disposals per game on her way to a clean sweep of individual player honours. Anne Hatchard is a very capable Robin to Marinoff’s Batman, while Niamh Kelly and Maddie Newman offer good run and carry from the wings. Closer to goal, Caitlin Gould is one of the game’s best key forwards.
While there are very few doubts about Adelaide’s top end, they probably need some more output from their second tier of players if they’re to lift the cup again. Hannah Ewings hasn’t quite kicked on from her superb Rising Star-winning debut season, and will hope that the move from cross-town rivals Port Adelaide will reinvigorate her career. Irishwoman Grace Kelly (in a crowded field, probably my pick for best AFLW name) has joined from St Kilda and will enjoy playing alongside her sister, Niamh. Brooke Boileau had a disappointing first season – in a league where it’s not uncommon for young players to make an immediate impact, her trajectory looms as important for both the club’s short- and long-term prospects.
As I alluded to before, one of Adelaide’s biggest deficiencies last season was converting territorial dominance into scoring. Their success in improving their scoring power – surely helped by the return of Jones – will go a long way to determining their success this season.
Line rankings
Defence: Elite
Midfield: Elite
Forward: Average
Ruck: Above Average
The case for optimism
They’ve been there and done that. Adelaide, despite not looking quite as formidable as a couple of other sides, still boast elite talent and the muscle memory of knowing how to win the most important games. If Hannah Ewings can recapture her debut season form, and Eloise Jones comes back as the same player as she was before her achilles rupture, Adelaide will be a better side – perhaps by enough to close the small but persistent gap between them and the competition’s two best sides.
The case for pessimism
Adelaide are still one of the better sides in the AFLW. But in the last three seasons, they’ve lost a cumulative 13 games and not progressed past the prelim. In the three seasons before that (excluding the abandoned 2020 season), Adelaide lost only five games and made every Grand Final – winning two. The downward trend is subtle, but clear. They keep coming up slightly short against their main Premiership rivals. And, although one could plausibly argue that Adelaide will be stronger this year with the addition of Hannah Ewings and return of Eloise Jones, one could equally plausibly argue that it’s unlikely Ebony Marinoff can maintain her extraordinary level from last season.
Disappointing losses to Melbourne and Port Adelaide in pre-season contribute to a sense that Adelaide might be losing their grip on the uppermost reaches of the ladder. The lament of the pseudo-contender feels apt: a lot of things would need to go right, including misfortune for Brisbane and North Melbourne, for the Crows to truly contend.
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Breakout player
At times in recent seasons, Gould has had to shoulder too much of the load up forward – to the ultimate detriment of the team. Lily Tarlinton has only played two AFLW games and has yet to kick a goal. But she has talent. If she can become a capable AFLW player, Adelaide should pose a much bigger threat to opposition defences.
Most important player
No prizes for guessing the answer – it’s Ebony Marinoff. The 27 year-old (my goodness, how has that happened?) South Australian has fully emerged from the vast shadow of Erin Phillips to become one of the very best players in the game. A clean sweep of Club Champion, AFLW Best & Fairest, AFLW Players’ MVP, and AFLCA Champion Player of the Year was a fine reward for an astonishing individual season. Although one suspects Marinoff would have traded all those honours for a fourth flag.
Biggest question to answer
There are several micro-questions which, in the aggregate, will determine if Adelaide can continue to hang at the pointy end of the season. Will Eloise Jones return as the same player she was before her injury? Can Ebony Marinoff continue the form that saw her win every available individual award last season? Can Hannah Ewings recapture her Rising Star form at a new club? What effect will Matthew Clarke’s looming departure have on his side’s psychological fitness?
What success looks like
Most sides, at any level of the game, would regard making three consecutive prelims as a successful era. I doubt Adelaide’s AFLW program saw it that way. They’ll be champing at the bit to get back to the Grand Final stage – even if it looks like an uphill battle.
In a nutshell
Adelaide AFLW supporters, as always, have lots to look forward to – some of the game’s best players, a clutch of promising youngsters, and the confidence that only comes from sustained success. But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that they have fallen half a step behind the league’s very best. Another flag would be this mighty team’s greatest accomplishment.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.