They had access to talent across South Australia and the Northern Territory as well as crafty free agent signings. This combination helped the team stamp their authority in the competition.

Unlike Brisbane, the Crows couldn’t remain undefeated, losing games late in the season to Lions and Melbourne. A 24-point win over Collingwood in the final round saw them clinch a Grand Final berth, where they clinched the inaugural AFL Women’s Premiership due to the tactical genuineness of head coach Bec Goddard.

Erin Phillips earmarked herself as the preeminent talent in women’s football; going from free agent signing to the best and an unstoppable player – winning every award the league had to offer. 

Little has changed from the dominant Adelaide roster, as the club shied away from trading with other teams and instead opting to refurbish their list through the draft. Of the eight players delisted at season’s end, only Heather Anderson and Kelly Gibson, now with Fremantle, featured in all eight games for the team.

Through the draft, Adelaide managed to secure some of the best U18 talents on offer, including Jessica Allan and Jasmyn Hewitt along with former Adelaide United W-League players Marijana Rajcic and Ruth Wallace.

Adelaide boasts perhaps the most well-balanced side in the competition and having kept most of their playing list intact, it’s hard to imagine the Crows won't be among the top again this season.

The Crows’ game-plan combines ruthless defensive structures and tireless two-way running – a combination seemingly only beaten by a higher work rate and luck.

A Grand Final rematch in the opening round against Brisbane looms as the team’s immediate challenge, while only three games in South Australia ensures a tough fixture in the Crow’s title defence.

Strengths

It’s already been established that Adelaide are the most well-rounded team in the competition, boasting a swarm of talent on the field. Where they stand out against the crowd though, is through their ability to pressure teams in the midfield. The Crows ranked a clear number one in both contested possessions, accounting for 121 more than the next best side, and tackles – ten more the next best team.

The Crows had four players average more than four tackles per game, including Rising Star Winner Ebony Marinoff, who is the yardstick of the competition with an average of 9.5 per game. Adelaide’s game plan breeds a culture where the other team simply doesn’t deserve the ball and so when they’re without it, the Crows restrict opposing teams from generating purposeful possession.

Challenge

Adelaide are the benchmark of the competition so the biggest challenge the team faces are simply whether they are able to replicate their lofty successes of 2017. The opposition has now had ample time to study and replicate the Crows’ game plan. It’s now up to the Crows to be able to adapt and meet their challenges head-on.

Key Player: Erin Phillips

Erin Phillips is the most dominant player in the AFL Women’s. Her sheer strength and versatility make her an almost unmatchable nightmare for opposing teams. Her statistics don’t leap off the page but she stands up in big moments and wills her side to victory. Now at 32, Phillips has retired from her basketball career with her focus now shifted onto AFL. Goal kicking midfielders are worth a king’s ransom in the competition, where team’s average under five goals per game. Phillips’ ability to do just that, such as her third quarter goal in the Grand Final, puts her on a pedestal as unquestionably the competition’s best.

One to Watch: Jessica Allan

Adelaide’s choice to not trade in the player movement period and instead focus on the draft helped the club secure some of the best U18 talent. First draft-pick South Australian Jessica Allan, has the ability to make an immediate impact in her debut year. The 18-year old ranked elite in countless categories as defined by Champion Data, including hitouts, contested marks, disposals and tackles, all significant KPIs for any ruckman. Her arrival at the club will allow Rhiannon Metcalfe the chance to rest while saving Sarah Perkins from ruck duties and allowing her to stay inside 50 where she is most damaging.