The Adelaide Crows finished as minor premiers at the conclusion of the regular AFLW season, however this did not result in their fourth flag as expected. Adelaide will look to continue its rich AFLW form after retaining its strong playing core for the 2024 season.

TEAM LIST

#1 Caitlin Gould

#2 Eloise Jones

#3 Brooke Boileau

#4 Zoe Prowse

#5 Rachelle Martin

#6 Hannah Munyard

#7 Keeley Kustermann

#8 Najwa Allen

#9 Deni Varnhagen

#10 Ebony Marinoff

#11 Sarah Goodwin

#12 Chelsea Biddell

#13 Kiera Mueller

#14 Stevie-Lee Thompson

#15 Danielle Ponter

#16 Taylah Levy

#17 Madison Newman

#18 Brooke Smith

#19 Jess Waterhouse

#20 Tamara Henry

#21 Lily Tarlinton

#23 Niamh Kelly

#24 Amy Boyle-Carr

#25 Teah Charlton

#26 Chelsea Randall

#27 Abbie Ballard

#28 Brooke Tonon

#32 Jess Allan

#33 Anne Hatchard

#39 Sarah Allan

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Brooke Boileau, Tamara Henry, Lily Tarlinton, Amy Boyle-Carr (rookie)

Out: Montana McKinnon, McKenzie Dowrick, Amber Ward, Hannah Button, Lisa Whiteley, Yvonne Bonner

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 30 vs Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval

Match 2: September 8 vs Fremantle at Fremantle Oval

Match 3: September 15 vs Hawthorn at Unley Oval

Match 4: September 22 vs Essendon at Unley Oval

Match 5: September 29 vs Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena

Match 6: October 4 vs St. Kilda at Norwood Oval

Match 7: October 9 vs Melbourne at Norwood Oval

Match 8: October 13 vs GWS at Henson Park

Match 9: October 20 vs Collingwood at Victoria Park

Match 10: October 25 vs North Melbourne at Norwood Oval

Match 11: TBC vs Geelong at GMHBA

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can Adelaide fix its scoring woes?

Since the exit of former club captain Erin Phillips, the Crows have had trouble capitalising from their usual midfield dominance on the scoreboard. Scoring at least 50 points less over the season than the top-attacking side in the competition in Melbourne, Adelaide needs more options in the forward line.

More consistent form from spearhead Danielle Ponter, as well as both Eloise Jones‘ move down forward and Chelsea Randall‘s cameos have done well to add to the sides’ versatility and potency in the forward half.

Without Yvonne Bonner, who was recruited last season for this purpose and didn’t fill the void, and Montana McKinnon, who defected to Richmond in the off-season, the Crows might still seek a reliable forward target.

Draft recruits Tamara Henry and Lily Tarlinton, look set to contribute with Caitlin Gould able to again spend more time in the forward half with the recruitment of Jess Allan ahead of last season.

Will their young players be able to back up their form?

With Najwa Allen being suspended for three matches and Sarah Allan being out through injury for most of last season, the defence was particularly raw and inexperienced.

Sarah Allan has been a stalwart of the Crows’ defence since their inception, playing 69 games across the eight seasons.

In their stead Kiera Mueller, Zoe Prowse, Sarah Goodwin and Brooke Tonon were impressive in their efforts last season, joining Chelsea Biddell as the general of sorts back there.

Mueller and Prowse had their first full season at the level, Mueller showing her decision-making and kicking, while Prowse displayed a cool-head and contested-marking ability.

Meanwhile, Brooke Tonon showed versatility as a former forward playing in defence last season in spurts. She was accompanied by Sarah Goodwin who has grown in confidence in her first year at the Crows after being traded by Port Adelaide.

These four players have shown that they are able to excel when they are not expected to match the lofty standards of the experienced defenders but how will they go when the competition knows about their exploits?

PLAYER TO WATCH

Lily Tarlinton

With the attacking half troubling the Crows the most, it is logical that new recruit Lily Tarlinton looks to benefit from a spot being up for the taking in the side.

With Bonner and McKinnon’s exits this off-season, Tarlinton will look to cement her place as a tall forward option that can mark and pinch-hit in the ruck for Jess Allan.

Working with the likes of Ponter, Gould and Jones, she will provide more height and physicality.

PREDICTION

Adelaide has been one of, if not the benchmark of the competition since its inception. It has once again retained its core group of players which will help its cause with only a few wins keeping them from its fourth premiership.

The Crows should be expected to make the top four, particularly if they beat the likes of North Melbourne, Melbourne and Brisbane who look to make up the top echelon of the league again this season.