WHEN Carlton lines up against Adelaide in the 2019 AFLW Grand Final, their Round 2 clash will no doubt be front of mind.

Carlton fell 13 points short to the comeback Crows in a high-scoring affair last time the grand finalists met at Ikon Park.

In a game of momentum swings, the Blues were eventually overrun, finishing 7.2 (44) to the Crows 9.3 (57).

Both sides wrestled to stamp their dominance on the match, exchanging majors early in the first term.

Eloise Jones and Stevie Lee-Thompson notched early goals for the Crows, but Carlton was quick to respond. 

Joint 2018 best-and-fairest winners Katie Loynes and Breann Moody slotted a major each to finish the opening term two points in arrears.

Nat Plane was quick to put the Blues in front after quarter time, but it was Brianna Davey who steadied the group in an attacking role.

Kerryn Harrington led the way down back to keep the Crows scoreless for the quarter, as the contest heated up through the centre with Madison Prespakis.

The Blues went into half time with the momentum well and truly in their favour.

Chloe Dalton kicked off a busy five minutes, with subsequent goals from Nat Plane and Darcy Vescio to extend the lead.

But in a game-saving momentum swing, the Crows found their feet with goals from Thompson and Erin Phillips.

Adelaide nudged its nose in front to enter the final term with a one-point lead, successfully quelling Carlton’s attack.

With all the momentum in their favour, the Crows ran away in the final term with goals from Thompson and Jones to seal the victory. Thompson — whose shift to attack was a surprise — was Adelaide’s most-threatening forward, kicking four goals for the game.

Three things we learned:

  • A four-quarter effort is needed to silence the Crows. Carlton showed patches of brilliance in the Round 2 clash but will need consistency when it counts.
  • The Blues’ defensive chemistry will be key. They may be coming up against the highest-scoring side in the league, but the Blues’ backline has jelled into a strong defensive unit in recent weeks.
  • Carlton’s forwards are at their best. The Blues scored freely against Adelaide even without Tayla Harris for most of the match, so a full-strength forward line is sure to worry the opposition.

Match summary:

Carlton 2.0   3.0   6.1   7.2 (44)
Adelaide 2.2   2.2   6.2   9.3 (57)

Goals:

Plane 2, Loynes, Moody, Dalton, Vescio, Prespakis

Best:

Prespakis, Harrington, Pound, Plane, Mullane

Attendance:

3150 at Ikon Park