Crows reap benefits of bold AFLW approach

Bold, attacking, relentless, tough – two games into the inaugural AFL Women’s season Adelaide are talking the talk and walking the walk.

A week after they opened their account with a comprehensive win over Greater Western Sydney, the Crows dispatched the Western Bulldogs 7.6 (48) to 2.11 (23) in front of 7669 fans at Whitten Oval.

The Dogs, one of the main premiership fancies, spurned some scoring opportunities on Friday night, but hard-edged Adelaide announced themselves as a genuine flag threat nonetheless.

Led by co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall, Rising Star nominee Ebony Marinoff and cult figure full-forward Sarah Perkins, the high-scoring Crows are reaping the benefits of their bold approach.

“I think in this form of the game – with 15-minute quarters, 16 a side, a smaller footy – let’s show off the girls’ skills, let’s see the one-on-one contests, let’s see the big goals,” coach Bec Goddard said.

“Let’s attack, let’s not go into that defensive shell. Are you going to come out and throw the first punch or are you going to come out with (your defence) up and just get punched?

“We want to come out and attack and see where it takes us.

“We’ve got a real chance to make something great here.”

Bulldogs coach Paul Groves lamented early scoring opportunities that went begging, his side managing just five behinds in the first quarter.

“We need to work on finishing that hard work off … we probably need to go back to the fundamentals a little bit,” Groves said.

“We definitely didn’t underestimate them, maybe the media and (others) have, but they certainly won’t be underestimating them now.

“It’s a really quick seven-week competition and you have to be ready every week.

“If you’re off a little bit you cop what we did tonight.”

The Bulldogs must regroup for a clash with Melbourne at Whitten Oval next Saturday night, while the Crows will host Carlton at Thebarton Oval next Sunday.

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