It’s arguable one of the biggest rivalries in the AFLW, and on Friday night the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows will go head-to-head in the first Preliminary Final.
Well established as two of the toughest teams in the competition with an AFLW Grand Final having never been held without either Brisbane or Adelaide present, it doesn’t get much bigger for a Preliminary Final than this.
The stakes are high and the season is on the line for both teams, whose history together stretches right back to the very first AFLW Grand Final.
Back in 2017, Adelaide handed Brisbane their first Grand Final loss, with a six-point victory over the Lions at Metricon Stadium.
That Grand Final result would fuel the rivalry fire for years to come, with the Lions eventually getting their revenge in 2021 when they won their inaugural Premiership at Adelaide Oval over the Crows.
Friday night will mark another chapter in the history between the two sides; the ninth time the two sides have met since the beginning of the competition.
Their most recent meeting was only five weeks ago in Round 8, where the Lions stormed home to a confident 22-point victory at Metricon Stadium, notching up their fifth win against their rivals.
Coming off the back of a week break, the Lions will need to ensure they bring their best football on Friday if they wish to earn their fourth AFLW Grand Final appearance.
And it won’t be an easy feat, with the Crows coming out of a gruelling Semi Final against Collingwood with a hunger and a fire to take their game all the way.
Adelaide will take courage from the return of skipper Chelsea Randall, who missed last weekend’s elimination Final under AFL Concussion Protocol.
Key midfielders Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard loom large as genuine game changers for Adelaide, with the pair often the difference for the Crows.
Despite being kept quiet for the last two weeks against Melbourne and Collingwood, Marinoff is not to be underestimated, having run rampant with 33 disposals in the Crows last meeting against the Lions.
While Hatchard stood tall in last weekend’s Final despite the treacherous conditions faced at Unley Oval, gathering 24 disposals and one goal in the elimination Final.
Brisbane’s engine room will have their work cut out for them on Friday, with the Lions set to look towards Season 7 All-Australian squad members Ally Anderson and Tahlia Hickie, reigning W-medallist Emily Bates, as well as energetic midfielders Belle Dawes and Cathy Svarc to get the job done in the middle on Friday.
Competition leading goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw will look to continue her dominant season in the Lions’ forward line, currently tied with Crow Ash Woodland for the record of most AFLW goals kicked in a season.
Wardlaw will find support in the air and on the ground on Friday, with tall forwards Dakota Davidson and Taylor Smith and clever smalls Courtney Hodder and Greta Bodey all the midst of some of their best football.
While at the other of the field, Season 7 All-Australian squad members Nat Grider and Bre Koenen, alongside defensive unit teammates Shannon Campbell, Kate Lutkins and Phoebe Monahan will need to put their best football forward to keep key Adelaide forwards Danielle Ponter, Eloise Jones, Ash Woodland and Caitlin Gould at bay on Friday.
It’s set to be one of the biggest matches of the season and one you definitely don’t want to miss.
Make sure you get down to Metricon and get behind the Lions.
Tickets are still available HERE at just $10 for adults and free for children under 18.
Can’t make it to the game? Catch all the action live and free on 7mate.
