SUNDAY MARCH 7 2021 SPORT 51 Injuries mar big win for Crows ADELAIDE narrowly missed making AFLW history but en- hanced its top-two aspirations with a 70-point demolition of Gold Coast at Norwood Oval yesterday. The Crows won 13.7 (85) to 2.3 (15), the home side’s score one point shy of the Western Star Territorian Danielle Bulldogs’ all-time benchmark, Ponter. Picture: James Elsby/ but their bigger concern came AFL Photos via Getty Images with a couple of injuries. Nikki Gore suffered a sus- Gold Coast lifted early in pected fractured left ankle in the second and got on the the opening minute following board through Leah Kaslar be- an accidental collision with fore the Crows, who threw teammate Marijana Rajcic. Phillips into the middle for a Midfielder Hannah Button centre-square cameo, rifled the sat out the last quarter with her next five goals. left arm in a sling and her The run was capped when shoulder iced after injuring Phillips goaled after being herself while trying to tackle switched back to attack, hold- Alison Drennan in the dying ing off Cheyenne Hammond moments of the third term. with one hand and marking Gold Coast had its own in- with the other. jury worries when reigning Kate Surman, who along best-and-fairest winner Jamie with Drennan and Lauren Ah- Brisbane’s Dakota Davidson celebrates a goal against GWS with teammate Sophie Conway in Canberra. Picture: Getty Stanton was stretchered off the rens had a real crack for the arena five minutes into the visitors, goaled on the cusp of contest after damaging her left halftime. ankle while tackling Anne But the Suns were forced to OMINOUS LIONS FEAST ON GIANTS Hatchard. wait until late in the fourth Hatchard and Ebony Mari- stanza before troubling the BRISBANE continued its the Bulldogs today. third time this season, the after former Demon noff proved too tough in the scorers again. ominous form against Greater The Lions struck the first Lions kept their opposition Katherine Smith kicked her middle while Territorian Dan- GOALS Western Sydney yesterday, blow early when Tahlia Hickie goalless for the first half. first goal in Giants colours. ielle Ponter (four goals) and Adelaide: Ponter 4, Phillips overrunning the Giants by 38 kicked a nicely weighted ball Elle Bennetts had the Bennetts then added a Erin Phillips (two) provided 2, Randall 2, Hatchard, Wood- points at Manuka Oval. inside 50 which allowed chance to give GWS the second goal in the fourth the finishing touches in a clini- land, Martin, Scheer, Thomp- A week after ending Davidson to run forward and perfect start early in the third term, but by then the sting cal display. son. Fremantle’s 11-game winning kick a classy running goal. term but missed a snap in front was well out of the game. The Suns’ pressure and Gold Coast: Kaslar, Surman streak, a two-goal performance The Giants had no answers of goal. Soon after, Dawes It was an imposing victory clearance work was admirable BEST from Dakota Davidson and for a relentless Brisbane side kicked her second goal to give by the Lions but an unhappy early but the Crows’ defence Adelaide: Ponter, Phillips, youngster Isabel Dawes helped that added another five goals Brisbane a 49-point lead and return to Canberra for the proved impenetrable, Adelaide Hatchard, Marinoff, Randall, the Lions temporarily jump to to enter the main break 41 put the game out of reach. Giants, who were playing holding an opposition side Thompson the top of the ladder, pending points up. GWS fans were finally given their first game at Manuka scoreless in the first quarter for Gold Coast: Drennan, Ah- Collingwood’s match against More impressively, for the some relief in the third quarter Oval in 722 days. the fourth consecutive week. rens, Surman, Groves-Little DEMONS KEEP AFLW FINALS CHANCES ALIVE AFTER DOWNING SAINTS MELBOURNE remains in disposals, while Karen Paxman Pearce and Alyssa Bannan. was soon undone after a con- to its fourth loss of the season. touch with the top six follow- (24 touches) and Eden Zanker St Kilda finally got its first troversial ruck infringement GOALS ing an impressive 9.12 (66) to (23 touches) also starred. major on the board in the sec- free kick inside 50 led to a Melbourne: Pearce 2, Ban- 3.4 (22) victory over St Kilda. The game was played com- ond quarter, courtesy of Nat Tegan Cunningham goal and nan 2, Scott, Cunningham, Consecutive losses for the pletely in the Demons’ front Exon. put Melbourne 18 points up at Parry, McNamara, Hore Demons over the past two half early, with the St Kilda de- It kickstarted a promising halftime. St Kilda: Exon, Whitfort, weeks saw them fall to seventh fence under siege from the few minutes for the Saints, It was more of the same Luke place on the AFLW ladder, but very start. Melbourne didn’t who suddenly started getting after the break, with Pearce, BEST their victory at RSEA Park has make the most of its opportun- repeat forward-50 entries and Bannan and Jacqueline Parry Melbourne: Gay, Pearce, kept their finals chances alive. ities but was able to keep St looked threatening for the first all adding goals in the third Hanks, Zanker, Bannan Captain Daisy Pearce led Kilda scoreless and kick two time. term and putting the game out St Kilda: Priest, Patrikios, from the front with 2.1 and 13 first-quarter goals through But St Kilda’s good work of reach for St Kilda, which fell Exon, Phillips, Watt Daisy Pearce celebrates. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.