TWO COACHES with plenty of experience between them, Matthew Clarke and Scott Gowans, agreed that the two-point AFL Women’s game between their respective Adelaide and Sydney sides was a fantastic contest.

Clarke’s troops came out on top in the Crows’ 100th game, highlighted by gun midfielder Ebony Marinoff‘s ton milestone. However the Swans did not make it easy for them, fighting right to the end before Adelaide pipped them at the post in the enthralling 6.5 (41) to 6.3 (39) result.

“I think it was really significant that it was a great game in the 100th game for the club,” Clake said. “I thought Sydney were outstanding and for us to come away in a really tight tussle and get a win and for everyone to be here and enjoy it, couldn’t have got much better day.

“The occasion was probably the most important thing about the day and the fact that our players showed up and performed at a really high level. “Clearly a two-point game so there was a little bit of luck involved whenever you win by a small margin, but the game itself was impressive.”

Despite being on the losing side of the tight result, Gowans agreed the quality of the game was high and the difference was decision making in key moments.

“It was obviously a good game of footy to be honest,” he said. “We came with a clear plan how to get the game looking a certain way, and for moments we didn’t and then Adelaide just to their credit are a good football side.

“It’s probably just the learning and that journey that we’re on that in key moments when the pressure’s really on, you’ve just got to be able to sometimes have those moments of composure to then go quick, and we probably just got that mix wrong in the end. “But I’m really proud of the effort, I thought it was a great effort against a really good side.”

The Crows coach highlighted the difference between the two sides, with the scores level at quarter time, Sydney up at half-time, Adelaide back in front by a goal at the final break and then holding on by two points.

“We obviously got those first couple of goals which ended up being important and then from there for the rest of that quarter and for most of the game to be honest, we weren’t really able to control Sydney’s uncontested possession,” Clarke said. “They won that stat by a fair bit and we were able to march the ball down and got it into our d50 and we gave up a couple of frees and they score a couple.

“I thought across the day that was probably the story. “We won contested ball, they won uncontested, they had a lot more of the ball, we had a few more inside 50s and in the end, just a good game of footy really. “As I said when you come out on top, I hope they’re all like that, but when you come out on the other side, then you think I’m not so sure, but it was a really good game.”

Gowans also noted the importance of those first two goals, but said he could not have been prouder for the Swans to sum up the situation on such a big occasion for the opposition, and get back to work.

“It’s when you’re down on the scoreboard and it’s hard and you’re away from home and you get to experience the quietness when you think you’re going to earn a free kick and there’s no noise, and it’s hard,” he said. “Great learning on our journey and I’m really comfortable in saying that our girls gave great effort and they fought with intensity but just couldn’t get over the line.”

Looking ahead, the two sides face teams at polar ends of the ladder. On Saturday, the Swans tackle the ladder-leading North Melbourne, a side unbeaten for the past 21 games, before the Crows head to IKON Park on Sunday against a winless Tigers outfit.