AFLW: Fremantle Dockers suffer heavy season-ending loss to Adelaide in one-sided semifinal

The ‘Flagmantle’ dream remains on hold for the Dockers, with Lisa Webb’s side suffering a goalless first half before succumbing to a 37-point belting at the hands of the Crows at Adelaide’s Norwood Oval.

The gulf in class between the Dockers and the Crows - who finished only one spot above them on the ladder - was clear for all to see in the 7.7 (49) to 1.6 (12) victory.

After only falling behind late in the first quarter, Fremantle’s flag assault fell flat in the second term.

Once Adelaide had the ascendancy, they never looked back, booting four goals to none in a second-quarter blitz which put the game beyond the Dockers’ reach.

It means the Crows, not Fremantle, will fly to Brisbane next weekend for a spot in the grand final, bringing an end to an admirable Dockers campaign.

Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said she was overwhelmed with pride for her side despite the defeat.

“They took their moments better than us. We showed up really strong in that first quarter but we couldn’t kick the goals,” she said.

“The girls never gave up fighting so I was super proud of them, it’s been a strong theme for us.

“Adelaide have got a lot of experience in finals games and that shone through, but I can’t express how incredibly proud I am as a coach of this group.”

Ebony Marinoff produced a monster game with 32 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances while Chelsea Randall was a constant menace as she produced six score involvements from 17 touches.

Jessica Allen, meanwhile, managed to edge the ruck battle against the in-form Mim Strom, who battled valiantly but was unable to get the game on her terms.

The returning Ash Brazill and Emma O’Driscoll tried in vain to stem the Crows’ inside 50s, while Gabby Newton and Aisling McCarthy fought all day long against Adelaide’s powerful midfield.

Fremantle star Hayley Miller was also restricted in her efforts as she battled a knee issue but still fought through the match.

“Hayley hurt her patella tendon, so we had to shuffle the players round a bit,” Webb said.

“(It’s) fairly significant. She’s incredibly brave, she’s always been a warrior for us and she said ‘whatever I need to do, I’ll stay out there as much as I can.’”

The Dockers did not look overawed by the occasion early, kicking the game’s opening score, but the Crows soon made their presence felt.

Adelaide had a 13-6 inside 50 advantage in the opening quarter, but as they have done all year, Fremantle’s defence stood strong — initially — in the face of adversity.

It took the Crows until the final minute of the term to take the lead, when Danielle Ponter threw a toe at a bouncing ball to help it through the sticks.

The late goal proved to open the floodgates, with the quarter-time siren serving as one of the last times the Dockers were within reach of their opponents and while Fremantle had the breeze behind them in the second quarter, it was the Crows who played with the wind beneath their wings.

Strom showed her class around the ground, but found her influence at the ruck curtailed by Allan, who helped the Crows get their second major after quarter-time, winning the tap inside 50 before Taylah Levy converted opportunistically.

Adelaide enjoyed the first 10 inside 50s of the quarter as the Dockers struggled to exit their own half, lacking the requisite options forward of the ball to retain possession and settle the tempo.

The hosts, on the other hand, feasted on scraps, trapped the ball in Fremantle’s half and were cleaner around the ground, best illustrated by Randall wheeling and dealing to Anne Hatchard inside 50, who in turn fed Hannah Munyard for their second goal of the quarter.

When Rachelle Martin snapped truly to make it 27-3 in Adelaide’s favour, it felt like game over, and when Abbie Ballard played on and finished after a harsh holding the ball call against Madi Scanlon, it looked like Fremantle knew it too.

As Ebony Antonio’s set-shot with seconds remaining in the half clattered off the post, the clang sounded like the siren sounding on Fremantle’s flag hopes.

Phillipa Seth got the Dockers’ first goal against Adelaide in two matches this season after the break, but by that time, Marinoff had already kicked the Crows’ fifth of the game.

Fremantle lifted as the quarter went on, desperate to salvage any hope going into the final quarter, but the Crows stood up to the test, and Ponter’s second of the day was a further nail in the Dockers’ coffin.

Brazill was thrown forward in a fit of desperation in the final term, but her absence in defence allowed Adelaide to ramp up the forward pressure.