Adelaide Crows too good for Fremantle in Darwin AFLW trial

THE Adelaide Crows won on the scoreboard last night but might have lost on the injury front after a 20-point win over Fremantle in their AFLW trial match at TIO Stadium.

The Crows booted four goals to two in a spirited second half to beat the Dockers 9.4 (58) to 5.8 (38) in front of a boisterous crowd.

Dayna Cox around the ball, Jess Foley — another basketball convert from the Adelaide Lightning — across half forward and draftee Chloe Scheer with two goals were the best for the Crows in their first hitout under new coach Matthew Clarke.

But injuries to ruck pairing Rhiannon Metcalfe (knee) and Jasmyn Hewett (ankle) took the gloss off the win, with the Crows set to play the Western Bulldogs in the season opener on February 2 at Norwood Oval.

Both players will undergo scans to determine the extent of their injuries, Metcalfe will fly out of Darwin early today for early scans, while Hewett was on crutches at the end of the game.

Clarke was happy with the former of Territory recruit Danielle Ponter in her first match in Crows colours, playing her down back where she showed enough to suggest she will be at home at the elite level.

Clarke was also pleased with his side’s use of the football on the big Marrara ground with the Bulldogs match less than a fortnight away.

League best and fairest and All-Australian Erin Phillips was eased into the match in the second half where she showed she will again be a driving force behind the Crows’ push for a finals berth.