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| Venue: Adelaide Oval (South Australia). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date: Sunday 31st March, 2019 (12.30 pm). | |||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Lost by 45 points | |||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: 53,034 (AFLW record) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: M. Prespakis, B. Davey 1. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: Andrew Heffernan, Nathan Toner, Nick McGuiness | |||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: T. Harris (knee) | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
No fairytale finish for the BluesCarlton's history-defining season has come to an end. The Blues were outclassed by a rampant Crows outfit, who ran out 45-point winners in front of an 53,034-strong home crowd. Spirits were high for the Blues in the early stages, after Maddy Prespakis kicked the opening goal of the game. However, the Crows second-quarter dominance was ultimately the difference, with the Blues never quite able to get themselves back into the contest. The Grand Final was played in front of the largest ever AFLW crowd and the fifth largest ever at the Adelaide Oval for football.
The Breakdown:
Q1 Breakdown: History will show that Madison Prespakis kicked the opening goal of the 2019 AFLW Grand Final. The Blues matched the Crows for pressure throughout the quarter, and led the inside 50s 11-6. However, it was the Crows who were able to capitalise the most on their opportunities to take a nine-point advantage into the first break.
Q2 Breakdown: The momentum swung the Crows’ way in the second quarter, as they opened up the game and scored freely to put on four unanswered goals and blow the game open. Defenders Kerryn Harrington, Gab Pound and Jayde Van Dyk all fought hard under constant pressure.
Q3 Breakdown: A step up in intensity was notable as soon as the siren sounded for the start of the third term. The Blues dominated the early stages of the quarter, but were unable to capitalise on the momentum they generated. The third term was soured by a serious knee injury to Adelaide’s star Erin Phillips, who was stretchered off halfway through the third quarter. Carlton weren’t without their own injury woes, with both Tayla Harris and Jayde Van Dyk spending extended time on the bench.
Q4 Breakdown: The Blues fought gallantly until the very end, but the deficit was always going to be difficult to chase down. Bri Davey and Katie Loynes showed great spirit, but the physical nature of the game began to show with neither side able to meaningfully hit the scoreboard in the final term.
Player of the match:
Captain Bri Davey was outstanding, showing her indomitable spirit to fight until the very end. Davey finished the day with a team-high 22 disposals, six tackles and one goal, demonstrating exactly what a class act she is.
Moment of the match:
Maddy Prespakis’ goal to open the Grand Final will be the moment to remember for Blues. It was a fitting reward for the 18-year old, who had a debut season to savour. If Prespakis’ reaction was anything to go by, the goal meant just as much to her as it did to the Navy Blue faithful in the crowd.
Three things we learned:
1. The Blues have had a season to remember, and no-one can deny the fight they have shown throughout the year
2. Daniel Harford has inspired a team and a club by creating a culture every single Blues fan can be proud of.
3. Bri Davey is a true leader on and off the field. - Julian Wallace.
Best Players:
B. Davey, N. Stevens, M. Prespakis, S.Hosking, A. Downie.
Team
| B: | 21 Nicola Stevens | 9 Kerryn Peterson | 36 Jayde Van Dyk |
| HB: | 15 Chloe Dalton | 20 Charlotte Wilson | 6 Gabriella Pound |
| C: | 1 Brianna Davey (c) | ||
| HF: | 12 Lauren Brazzale | 16 Breann Moody | 18 Tilly Lucas-Rodd |
| F: | 3 Darcy Vescio | 7 Tayla Harris | 14 Brooke Walker |
| Ruck: | 30 Alison Downie | 4 Madison Prespakis | 10 Sarah Hosking |
| Interchange: | 2 Katie Loynes | 25 Jessica Edwards | 11 Jessica Hosking |
| 19 Georgia Gee | 8 Amelia Mullane | ||
| Coach: | Daniel Harford | ||
| Emg: | 32 Nat Plane | 24 Reni Hicks |
Team Changes:
Nil