Lightning strikes twice, so it was only fitting the skies above Unley Oval illuminated as reigning AFLW premier Adelaide kept its back-to-back flag dream alive.
The Crows defied both the elements and a determined Collingwood to prevail by 12 points in a drama-filled semi-final, winning 3.5 (23) to 1.5 (11) on Saturday.
It sets up a clash with Brisbane next weekend for the right to face either Melbourne or North Melbourne in the Season Seven Grand Final.
There was nothing smooth about how the Crows punched their preliminary final ticket.
A 30-minute delay to the start of the game due to lightning was followed by another 43-minute delay at quarter-time, as a severe thunderstorm caused havoc.
By that stage, the Crows had a handy two-goal buffer courtesy of goals to Eloise Jones – the quickest in AFLW history at just 14 seconds after the game's first bounce - and Lisa Whiteley.
Anne Hatchard's dribbling left-foot effort extended the margin to 3.3 (21) to 0.3 (3) at the main break and the Crows had the game under control.
Eliza James' goal at the six-minute mark of the third quarter sparked life into the Magpies.
Spot fires broke out with a free kick reversed not once, but twice, due to off-the-ball indiscretions by both teams.
It was a torrid last quarter – neither side kicking a goal as the Crows hung on with a gutsy performance.
Ruck Caitlin Gould completely dominated her individual battle finishing with 28 hit-outs to go with 14 disposals, including 12 contested possessions and seven clearances.
Hatchard overcame a slow start to finish with a game-high 24 disposals, but it was the Crows' high-pressing defence, led superbly by stand-in skipper Sarah Allan, that the Magpies couldn't get through.
ADELAIDE 2.1 3.3 3.3 3.5 (23)
COLLINGWOOD 0.2 0.3 1.5 1.5 (11)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jones, Whiteley, Hatchard
Collingwood: James
BEST
Adelaide: Gould, Hatchard, Charlton, Newman, Allan, Biddell
Collingwood: Lambert, Schleicher, Sheridan, Butler, Molloy, Chiocci
Reports: Nil
