MELBOURNE has cruised into the finals with a clinical display against Adelaide, the Demons ending the Crows' season with an impressive 18-point win in a rain-affected contest at Unley Oval on Sunday. 

CROWS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

There was a late injury concern for Melbourne, with Kate Hore leaving the ground with a sore shoulder after she was met solidly in a bump by Jemmika Douglas with three minutes remaining. 

But coach Tom Wilson allayed fears after the final siren, reporting his star player hadn’t suffered an injury in the clash.

Results heading into the clash meant Adelaide couldn’t play finals, while the Demons had locked up third spot and they took the opportunity to manage key players Olivia Purcell and Paxy Paxman, who were late withdrawals.

In their absence, Tyla Hanks and Megan Fitzsimon handled the ball like it was a dry day, while Ryleigh Wotherspoon was outstanding with three goals.

“I thought our first half, in particular, was super strong,” Wilson said.

“The third quarter was a little bit more of an arm wrestle, and credit to Adelaide I thought they finished the game really strongly.

“So, to be able to come here, turn up and get the four points is really important for us, and the girls deserve a lot of credit.”

Ebony Marinoff led the charge in trademark fashion, but Adelaide’s midfield was well beaten.

The visitors bounced out of the blocks and probably should’ve led by more than 11 points at the first break.

With steady rain falling, the Demons dominated the territory battle with a lopsided 11-4 inside 50 count, and smashed Adelaide at the clearances 11-2.

Wotherspoon kicked goals on either side of the half-time break to extend her side’s lead to 31 points, but Ryan Davis’ side showed impressive fight, with a Keeley Kustermann goal narrowing the gap to 24 points at the last change.

Caitlin Gould’s season ended in painful fashion in the third quarter when she fell awkwardly in a ground-ball contest.

The key forward grimaced in pain as she was helped to the bench between two trainers with a right foot injury.

Wotherspoon ensured there would be no Adelaide fightback with a spectacular goal to start the final term, the star Demon watching her effort from a tight angle in traffic bounce through as she fell to the turf.

“I really like the way we finished it off with some really good endeavour,” Davis said.

“There are some really good signs going forward into the next season.

“In and around the contest, the work rate, that's a really good lesson for us against a quality side that’s going to go deep in the finals.”

Allan drops Mark of the Year
Adelaide ruck Jess Allan found herself in rare air when she rose high on Lauren Pearce’s shoulders in the second quarter. For a brief moment, Allan appeared set to take Mark of the Year, but the long kick-in bounced from her grasp. Worse was to come for Allan, who was winded when she landed flat on her back. Pearce copped a knee to the back of the head in the contest, but returned to the game in the third quarter after being cleared of a concussion.

Farewell, Unley Oval
Sunday’s clash was the Crows’ last home game at Unley Oval before their switch to the club’s new Thebarton Oval headquarters from next season. Adelaide first hosted an AFLW match at the venue in Round 6 of the 2019 season, resulting in a 32-point win against the Giants, and the ground became a fortress for the Crows. Adelaide won its first 12 games at Unley Oval before losing to the Sydney Swans in Round 1 this season, with three more defeats in 2026 leaving the Crows with a 14-4 overall record at the ground.

Up next
Melbourne will play a Qualifying Final against second-placed Geelong, while Adelaide’s season ends with a 5-7 record.

ADELAIDE    1.1   1.2   2.5   3.11  (29)       
MELBOURNE  2.6   4.9   5.11 6.11 (47)  

GOALS
ADELAIDE: Leuzzi, Kustermann, G Kelly
MELBOURNE: Wotherspoon 3, Hore, Fitzsimon, Bannan

BEST
ADELAIDE: Marinoff, Biddell, Bown, Egan, Charlton, S Allan
MELBOURNE: Wotherspoon, Hanks, Fitzsimon, Chaplin, Allen, Hore

INJURIES
ADELAIDE: Gould (foot)
MELBOURNE: Hore (shoulder)

LATE CHANGES
ADELAIDE: Nil
MELBOURNE: Olivia Purcell (managed) replaced in the selected side by Tahlia Fellows. Paxy Paxman (managed) replaced in the selected side by Alyssia Pisano.

Reports: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Unley Oval