Reigning premiers Adelaide are still alive in season seven after one of the most remarkable finals matches in AFLW history.
In awful conditions, that twice forced players from the field due to lightning and torrid rainfall, the Crows held on to a 12-point win – despite not scoring a goal in the second half.
The wild weather ensured the 3.5 (23) to 1.5 (11) win would be a scrap as players were forced to play a “stoppage-fest” in a Unley Oval bog.
It was heartbreak for Collingwood after having plenty of territory in the second half, but strong winds ensured goals were hard to come by.
For Adelaide, they march on to a preliminary final showdown with Brisbane, where they’ll regain inspirational skipper Chelsea Randall.
Randall was ruled out of the semi final in controversial scenes, after fresh vision emerged of her head knock last weekend.
MATCH BLOG
Wild weather hit Adelaide in the hours before the second semi final, with Magpie Chloe Molloy joking she should have brought her swimmers instead.
Just 30 minutes before the second semi final was due to start, the call was made to delay the first bounce.
“Due to lightning striking within 10km of the ground, the game between Adelaide and Collingwood will be delayed by 30 minutes,” the AFL said.
Commentator Tom Rockliff described conditions at Unley Oval as “very stormy”.
“There’s been lightning all morning,” he told Fox Footy.
“The Christmas Pageant here in Adelaide was called off. There’s a massive storm front just about to come over.
“The players have been out on the ground, the Adelaide Crows girls were out warming up and they’ve been sent off the ground.
“Both teams have completed their warm ups but if it gets really dark, we know the lights here at Unley Oval aren’t really strong.”
But after a 30-minute delay, the game did get underway and it was the Crows who jumped out to an early lead.
Eloise Jones got the home side on the board just seconds into the contest before Lisa Whiteley’s diving grab was rewarded with a brilliant set shot.
Chloe Molloy’s quick snap just sailed wide while Jaimee Lambert couldn’t convert from her high tackle free kick to leave the Magpies goalless in the opening term.
“It’s just remarkable conditions,” commentator Jason Bennett said.
“Here comes that storm front. This is absolutely brutal right now.
“Almost gale force winds the Crows are running into.
“It is absolutely hosing down and pitch black dark.”
“It’s like Armageddon!” commentator Kate McCarthy added.
The call was made to delay the game once again at the quarter time break as Adelaide held an 11-point lead.
Rockliff said there were concerns with flooding at the interchange area as there were fears the game itself could be delayed until Sunday.
“This is unprecedented times,” commentator Ellie Blackburn said.
“The players are probably getting frustrated now. They’ve played a quarter.”
After a 20 minute delay and a 5-minute warm up, play resumed at Unley Oval with both sides having to contend with boggy conditions.
The ball simply stopped in the puddles across the field as neither side could find an avenue to goal.
It took some Anne Hatchard magic to break the deadlock as the Crows took a 19-point lead into half time.
Collingwood peppered the Adelaide defence to start the third, but struggled to get the return they were after before elimination final hero Eliza James capitalised.
James had the Magpies’ first goal of the match with a quick-thinking snap from the square.
“That’s the one they are after. That’s the return,” Bennett said.
The margin narrowed to 11 points and with the rain holding off, Collingwood were able to claw their way into the contest.
There was plenty of confusion when a push and shove with Hatchard ended up with the footy in the Magpies’ hands – after the initial free kick was reversed to Adelaide and then back to Collingwood once again.
Despite Collingwood’s third term dominance to hold Adelaide scoreless, they still trailed by 10 at the final change.
It was a hard-fought final term as both sides were worn down by the treacherous conditions.
And in the end, the Magpies just couldn’t find goals in the wild weather as Adelaide held on to victory.
GOLD MEDALLIST IN NEW-LOOK ATTACK
Two-time premiership defender Marijana Rajcic returns for the Crows instead, alongside Lisa Whiteley and Brooke Tonon.
The Crows will take on a Collingwood side brimming with confidence after teen Eliza James’ elimination final heroics.
The young Magpie booted a record four goals in that win over the Western Bulldogs – becoming the first player in AFLW history to achieve the feat in finals.
James is part of a new-look Collingwood forward line that includes Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ash Brazill.
Brazill said she was shocked to learn of her move into attack, after playing in the Pies backline in recent years.
But after missing the start of season seven due to her late start to training playing netball for Australia, Brazill said she’s focused on her new role.
“When Steve told me I had to play forward, I almost died, because everyone knows I can’t kick goals. I can get the ball, I just can’t do anything with it,” she said this week to Collingwood media.
“It’s been great. I’ve been playing netball for so long and playing in the same positions (wing defence and centre), so to come back to a sport I love and being handed a completely different role, the learning of a new position has got me so excited.
“It’s even got me thinking I’m not ready to give this sport up. I want to keep going and learn to be the best in my position.”
Brazill said while she was disappointed to miss the season start, she was adamant it was the right call for the club.
“My body appreciated it. I think the kid in my head was pretty gutted I wasn’t playing round one, but I’m standing here (now) in the finals series and my body feels great,” she said.
“I had to change the way I lifted weights, change the way I ran, change the netball body into a football body.
“It happened a bit quicker than I thought it would, so happy about that. But now I know there are more serious players around, I can’t just come back and expect to play.”
The second semi final between Adelaide and Collingwood starts at 3.10pm local time.
