Brisbane have booked a spot in the AFLW preliminary finals after a thrilling two-point win over minor premiers Adelaide on Saturday.
Ally Anderson was the hero for the Lions with the only goal of the final term as the defence held on for the 6.3 (39) to 5.5 (37) victory at Norwood Oval.
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The Crows surged late but couldn’t land the match-winning goal as the Lions booked a home preliminary final in a fortnight’s time.
Adelaide star Eloise Jones kicked four goals – the most by a player in a final – but it wasn’t enough as the Crows head into a cut-throat semi-final next week against the winner of Gold Coast and Sydney.
Orla O’Dwyer kicked two for the Lions, including a remarkable goal from a tight angle in the first quarter.
Orla O’Dwyer celebrates her goal. Credit: AAP
Dakota Davdison shrugged off a shoulder concern to also kick two, while Taylor Smith and Anderson were the other goalkickers.
After scores were level at 5.3 apiece at three-quarter time, Brisbane’s Anderson soccered the sole goal of a frantic final term.
Anderson collected a team-high 16 disposals in her influential display while Isabel Dawes (15, seven tackles) and Jade Ellenger (14) were prominent.
The Crows had the top seven ball-winners on the ground, headed by Ebony Marinoff (25) and Anne Hatchard (24).
But after Jones snapped her fourth early in the third quarter for a nine-point lead, the home side couldn’t score another major.
The Lions dominated the opening term, registering a dozen inside 50s to three, to create a 2.3 to 1.0 quarter-time lead.
And when Brisbane spearhead Davidson goaled after a strong mark early in the second stanza, the visitors were 15 points up.
With alarm bells ringing for Adelaide, the influential Jones booted two goals in a three-minute patch.
And when teammate Niamh Kelly burst through a pack and snapped accurately as the halftime siren sounded, the Crows held a three-point advantage, 4.0 to 3.3.
After a tight third term, scored were locked before Anderson’s game-breaking goal – she chased a long Sophie Conway bomb in to the goal square and soccered through the winner.
– With AAP
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