IN a new approach to the AFL Women’s end of season reviews, Rookie Me Central casts both a glass half full and half empty lens over each side’s campaigns.

Adelaide is the team put under the microscope today, after a season which saw the Crows fall one game short of the opportunity to defend their Season 6 title.

GLASS HALF FULL

No Phillips, no worries

Before this season, the worry was how Adelaide would fare without their long time leader Erin Phillips.

Well, it turns out the Crows did just fine.

They did not reach the heights of previous seasons, but they still finished third and made it all the way to a Preliminary Final, holding up despite some key departures to their incoming local rival.

The emergence of Chelsea Biddell

One Crow who had a breakout season was Chelsea Biddell.

The young defender really lifted her game in Season 7, and was rewarded with an All Australian selection.

Strong defence

One of the strongest parts of Adelaide’s game is its defence.

Alongside Biddell, Sarah Allan, Madison Newman, Marijana Rajcic, and even Chelsea Randall all featured behind the ball and combined for a sturdy season.

GLASS HALF EMPTY

Not going on to defend their title

Despite all the positives of the year, Adelaide was unable to go back to back, falling one game short of the opportunity to defend its Season 6 title.

Found out by flag rivals

The Crows showed they can bet just about anyone on their day, but have begun to fall just short of the likes of Brisbane and Melbourne.

Playing to their strengths, they like to keep it physical and contested against the top sides, but once their opponents start scoring freely there is no counter punch and nor penetrative speed of ball movement, which can get them into trouble.

Will Port keep raiding?

Although Port Adelaide did not take as many Crows as outsiders suspected it would, who is to say the Power will not come back and try and take some more players before Season 8? They have the time to put a good case to these players after a promising maiden campaign and throughout a longer offseason.

CONCLUSION

Despite everything, Adelaide still had a good season.

Despite not making the Grand Final, a lot of people expected the Crows to struggle even more after some of their departures, but they held up well. If the build up to the Preliminary Final had been different, maybe they would have been able to take it up to Brisbane and rewrite that history.