Adelaide's 2024 season came to an end on Saturday night, as it fell to Brisbane by 18 points in the Second Preliminary Final at Brighton Homes Arena.
The Crows led for the entire first half, but could not counter a strong third term blitz by the home team, who kicked four unanswered goals to blow them game open and secure their sixth AFLW Grand Final appearance.
It was the Lions' sixth-straight win over the Crows and sets up an opportunity to become the first team to win back-to-back AFLW premierships.
Both teams were incredibly nervous early on, missing gilt-edged chances to kick the game's first goal.
Chelsea Randall pulled a set shot, Danielle Ponter hung a snap out to the right, but perhaps the most egregious miss came from Lion Sophie Conway, who was streaming into an open goal before spraying her kick wide from 10m.
It took a contested mark and calm set shot from Randall to break the deadlock late in the quarter to give Adelaide a lead it deserved.
The Crows continued to keep the ball camped in their front half early in the second quarter, winning back possession from clearing Brisbane kicks, so well were they set up.
Caitlin Gould gave the Crows a 13-point lead courtesy of a towering pack mark and goal, before the home team sprung to life with two goals in a quick burst.
Davidson held out Sarah Allan to mark strongly and convert, quickly followed by Hodder's running goal after nice lead-up play from Svarc and Evie Long.
It was fitting that Randall, who looked like taking the game over, kicked the visitors clear just prior to half-time after her juggling one-handed effort.
But the Lions took their game to another level in the second half, finding a gear the visitors simply did not have.
With Courtney Hodder injecting speed into the midfield, O'Dwyer (24 disposals) saving goals at one end and sparking attacking forays at the other, and Anderson (24) bobbing up everywhere, the Lions put the game away in a 10-minute avalanche.
Ellie Hampson finished off a sweeping movement that went from one end of the ground to the other, Jade Ellenger gave the Lions their first lead after a costly Crows turnover, Cathy Svarc was rewarded for her hard work with a goal and Dakota Davidson soccered one off the ground to have the home fans in raptures.
The Lions got the ball in space and used their speed to pry open the stingy Crows defence.
Svarc was again influential at half-forward, Bre Koenen a rock in defence and Davidson just as impactful with her defensive pressure as her two goals.
Randall was the star for the Crows, booting two goals, while Ebony Marinoff (30 disposals) and Anne Hatchard (25 disposals) were prolific through the midfield, and Zoe Prowse and Chelsea Biddell were excellent in defence.
SCOREBOARD
BRISBANE 0.3 2.4 6.5 7.8 (50)
ADELAIDE 1.3 3.5 3.7 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Brisbane: Davidson 2, C.Svarc, Ellenger, Hodder, Hampson,, Dawes
Adelaide: Randall 2, Gould, Kustermann
BEST
Brisbane: Grider, O’Dwyer, Anderson, C.Svarc, Hodder, Davidson, Koenen
Adelaide: Marinoff, Randall, Biddell, Hatchard, Ponter
INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 4519 at Brighton Homes Arena
