As AFLW behemoths go head-to-head, how have Adelaide and Brisbane stayed on prime?

On Sunday afternoon, Brisbane and Adelaide will play off for the twelfth time of their AFLW historical past, probably the most of any pairing within the competitors’s historical past. 

They’re the truest of AFLW adversaries, with their rivalry born out of do-or-die finals battles and dramatic, momentum-swinging home-and-away matches.

The Lions and the Crows are additionally probably the most profitable golf equipment within the league, profitable two and three premierships respectively.

Now, 9 seasons in, they as soon as once more sit first and second on the ladder. Separated solely by share, their reign seems set to proceed in 2024.

Inner enchancment

This 12 months, each Brisbane and Adelaide have leant on inner enchancment from their respective taking part in lists.

The recruitment of latest gamers, significantly via the draft, is at all times key to constructing lists, however these sides reliably keep a gentle stream of bettering gamers, beneath whom youthful recruits can bide their time.

Whereas every membership has debuted two gamers thus far this season – Brooke Boileau and Amy Boyle-Carr for the Crows, Evie Lengthy and Sophie Peters for the Lions – they’ve been capable of are available and easily contribute, quite than be relied upon in a extra critical vogue.

One participant specifically for either side has made massive strides within the first half of the 2024 season, epitomising the club-wide angle towards inner progress, in addition to exemplifying key areas of the way in which every workforce desires to play.

For the Crows, it is Jess Allan, and for the Lions, it is Jade Ellenger.

Adelaide’s tall puzzle

Final 12 months, Allan returned to the Crows after two seasons at Higher Western Sydney, and one other two on the sidelines centered on her profession outdoors footy.

Her arrival, and talent to carry down the No.1 ruck position, created a optimistic domino impact for Adelaide.

With Allan within the ruck, fellow tall Caitlin Gould was afforded the liberty to play as a pure key ahead – one thing the Crows desperately wanted within the absence of Ash Saint who had moved throughout city to Port Adelaide – and subsequently allowed Gould to be the largest improver on the membership final 12 months.

Now, with the pair of their established roles of ruck and ahead, it’s Allan who’s taking her recreation to a brand new stage.

Her energy within the air, and neat connection along with her midfielders, has allowed Adelaide to common probably the most clearances in its historical past with 29.8 per recreation, whereas Allan additionally kicked the primary objectives of her profession in week one.

What Allan additionally gives her Crows is defensive protection as soon as the ball has been despatched ahead.

Adelaide is severely disciplined, trapping the ball in assault and organising its again line in an arc that sits a kick outdoors of its attacking 50.

Allan reliably fills a gap in that construction, permitting the Crows to intercept any of the opposition’s makes an attempt to exit, and ship the ball straight again into an attacking place.

Brisbane’s run and gun

The Lions’ operating recreation has been a staple of the AFLW for a number of seasons now, and this 12 months is not any completely different. What has modified, nevertheless, is the areas during which their skilled runners place themselves.

Sophie Conway, a 2023 All-Australian on the wing, has spent extra time taking part in inside the competition this 12 months, and Ellenger has launched her attacking sprint from the halfback line quite than the wing this 12 months.

Whereas Ellenger’s break day halfback did start partially final 12 months, it has grow to be a extra honed positional shift in 2024.

Ellenger’s evolution

Identical to Allan for Adelaide, Ellenger has additionally elevated her scoreboard affect, kicking two objectives in opposition to West Coast final week.

Her critical endurance makes Ellenger the best rebounding halfback choice, capable of press up the bottom and grow to be a part of Brisbane’s wave of gamers utilizing fast fingers and foot pace to get the ball inside 50, however she can be reliably getting again into defence to restrict the opposition from attacking themselves.

With such a shift from Ellenger, the Lions have been capable of blood each Lengthy and Peters in a wing position, getting ready the following wave of Brisbane runners to take care of its reign.

Now, as the 2 sides put together to go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, will probably be a prime of the desk conflict between two golf equipment with distinct, well-organised manufacturers.

Key to their preparation can be not simply getting ready for the star names every workforce boasts, however the depth gamers who’re on the enhance, most notably Allan and Ellenger.