The Swans have run over the top of the Crows in a free-flowing goalfest at Unley Oval, making a huge statement to the rest of the competition.
Sydney nabbed an eight-point win on Sunday afternoon in their first time ever beating Adelaide, kicking off their era under the freshly appointed coach Colin O’Riordan perfectly.
The Crows led the affair for the majority afternoon, stretching out to a game-high lead of 15 points on the stroke of halftime.
The Swans entered the fourth quarter 12 points down, but goals from Cynthia Hamilton and Holly Cooper left Sydney two points up with just minutes to go.
The Crows were forced to attack hard and up the centre, but turned it over which led to a shot for Sydney’s 21-year-old debutant Imogen Brown.
Brown slotted the sealer, handing the Swans an ideal start to their 2026 campaign.
The final quarter concluded with the Crows failing to register a single score.
DAZZLING DEBUTANTS
Both sides’ exceptional off-season recruiting was on full show at Unley Park with multiple debutants stealing the show.
Eighteen-year-old Crows draftee Chloe Bown slotted straight into the Adelaide side, looking like a constant threat whenever she floated forward.
Bown announced herself on the scene after going pick five in last year’s AFLW Draft, with a performance that made a notable argument for the round one rising star nomination.
She was involved in eight of the Crows’ 18 total scores, looking to be an integral part of Adelaide’s offensive threat.
Sydney’s star recruit Taylor Smith wasted no time opening her account at her new club, flushing three goals in the first half.
The two-time premiership Lion was lured to Sydney in the off-season, adding more starpower to a forward line already featuring three-time all-Australian Chloe Molloy.
NOFFY’S WORLD
Crows skipper Ebony “Noffy” Marinoff was back to her dazzling best and was a shining light in her side’s narrow defeat.
The 2024 best and fairest award winner was once again a ball magnet, racking up 27 disposals and constantly stringing together the Crows’ best plays.
She will hope to make another case in 2026 for her second best and fairest award, and that case will be a good one if she continues this form.
Adelaide Crows: 4.2 6.7 7.11 7.11 (53)
Sydney Swans: 3.1 4.4 6.5 9.7 (61)