Adelaide has atoned for 2021's grand final loss to Brisbane, winning the club's third AFLW Premiership, defeating Melbourne by 13 points.
The Crows were dominant in first half, on top of the tackle count, clearances and inside 50s but showing insufficient reward for effort on the scoreboard, up just 10 points at the break.
The Crows' midfield guns were in fine form, Anne Hatchard with 15 possessions to half time, Ebony Marinoff 11 and Erin Phillips 10, kicking her 50th AFLW goal before half time with a left foot snap in the goal square.
Five-time All Australian Karen Paxman was the best of Melbourne's midfield in the first half with 10 touches, the fleet-footed Bannan the Demons' sole goalscorer.
The Crows' second half started perfectly with a goal in the first minute, Hatchard's centre clearance running out in front of Phillips. The Adelaide champion's right foot snap shot found Danielle Ponter in the goal square winning a one-on-one marking contest.
Melbourne hit back with Kate Hore running with the flight of the ball onto a ball into the forward area, driving home her shot on the run. Melbourne bottled a chance to draw closer after Paxman's layoff to Pearce found Harris to mark up forward. Harris laid off to Paxman but the midfielder's shot didn't make the distance. A throwdown tackle saw Melbourne's Mithen granted a shot 35 metres out directly in front of goal for Melbourne to narrow the margin, but the shot sprayed to the right.
The remainder of the third quarter was a running battle of contested possession with intense tackling and little time on the ball, the Crows more composed in defence handballing off to a loose player time and again to work the ball into the midfield.
The first half of the final quarter turned into a scrap in Melbourne's forward half, the Demons lacking the finesse to break clear of Adelaide's defensive pressure. With Melbourne numbers pushed forward, Adelaide broke the Melbourne press to run loose. Ponter marked in the forward 50 and played on, goaling to seal a Crows victory.
Chelsea Randall was brilliant with her attack on the ball in defence, while Hatchard was unstoppable in midfield with 26 possessions. Randall said after the match:
"I'm immensely proud, thanks to all the fans that came out, geez they were unreal, the girls put in their heart and soul - I couldn't be prouder."
Erin Phillips said post-game it was the toughest game she had played in, and batted away questions from 7's Sam Lane about whether she might look to play for her childhood club, Port Adelaide, as it enters the AFLW.
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