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.