Co-captain Chelsea Randall says the disappointment of the Crows’ first AFLW loss will fuel the fire in the last two rounds of the inaugural season.
Brisbane handed the Crows their first defeat in Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash at Norwood Oval. The Lions prevailed by three points in a riveting duel, snapping Adelaide’s four-game winning streak.
Moments after the final siren, Randall and co-captain Erin Phillips gathered their teammates on the field to reflect.
“It was about coming together and supporting each other through this. It’s obviously the first time it’s happened to us,” Randall said.
“It’s really important that, now more than ever, we get around each other and be one as a team.”
The Crows dominated most key statistics on Saturday night including disposals (196-175), contested possessions (114-91), inside 50ms (36-18) and clearances (23-17), which was a particular focus for the home side pre-match.
But the final scoreline is always the main thing that matters, and Randall said it was a tough result to take.
“Three points… sometimes those losses hurt more,” she said.
“We’ve just got to make the most of our opportunities and convert them on the scoreboard.”
Randall played in her signature fearless style, throwing her body into contests and flying for several spectacular near-marks.
She finished with 17 disposals, second only to fellow co-captain Erin Phillips (21), and a team-high four rebound 50ms as Adelaide’s leader in defence, helping hold Brisbane star forward Tayla Harris goalless.
A packed house of 12,108 at Norwood Oval was treated to a thrilling contest between the top two teams on the AFLW ladder. It was the biggest attendance the Crows have played in front of at any venue this season.
“That was the loudest crowd I’ve played in front of. They were just incredible,” Randall said.
“That roar. It gave me goosebumps running out onto the field before the game. The noise is right around you!”
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The Crows held the lead for the majority of the second and third terms, but squandered several opportunities to put the Lions away.
Turnovers and poor decision-making at critical moments proved costly as Brisbane slammed on the final two goals of the match to walk away winners.
“We’ve got a couple of things that we can take away,” Randall acknowledged.
“We’ll look at some of the footage and work really hard on that next week.”
The team heads to Darwin for their Round Six clash against Melbourne next Saturday night, giving the Northern Territory-based players some relief from their relentless travel schedule.
“We’re looking forward to going back up to the home of some of our teammates, and seeing the Crows supporters up there get behind us,” Randall said.
The clash will follow the NTFL Women’s Final between the Darwin Buffaloes and Waratahs, the local club of Crows Ange Foley, Abbey Holmes, Heather Anderson and Lauren O’Shea.
Randall, who works as a Community Programs Officer at the Crows, will fly to Darwin early to visit school groups throughout the week and coordinate a super clinic.
The 25-year-old will get another taste of the NT heat and humidity two months after Adelaide played a practice match at TIO Stadium against Fremantle.
“It’ll be really good to train with the Darwin girls all week and go through some of the things that we can look at coming into Round Six,” she said.
“Nine of our girls play up there in that heat. so hopefully that might just be an advantage.”
I just can't decide who my favourite player is in the @Adelaide_FC women's team! The skipper @randall_chelsea has been unbelievable.
— Tom Lynch (@tom_lynch27) March 4, 2017
