Adelaide has held off Sydney to notch its fifth win of the season

By Jason Phelan at Thomas Farms Oval

Ebony Marinoff is chaired off after her 100th game during round seven, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

ADELAIDE has celebrated Ebony Marinoff’s 100th AFLW game with a nail-biting two-point win against Sydney in a pulsating contest at Unley Oval on Sunday.

It was the first time ever the sides had faced off in a home-and-away game and they put on a show to remember, with Niamh Kelly and Marinoff outstanding in the 6.5 (41) to 6.3 (39) win.

CROWS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

The Crows’ third win on the trot improved their record to 5-2, while the Swans slipped to 4-3 on the back of their third loss in a row.

With Adelaide clinging to a six-point three-quarter time lead, neither side could find a goal in a tense final term until Chloe Molloy stepped up with just under five minutes remaining.

The superstar forward’s second goal of the day set up a frantic finale, with the home side managing to hold out several late attacks to clinch a memorable victory.

Marinoff was superb in her milestone match with 24 possessions, 14 tackles and seven clearances, as was Niamh Kelly, who led her side with 29 touches and a goal.

Laura Gardiner was brilliant for the Swans with a game-high 34 disposals and a goal, and was pivotal to getting her team going after a fast start to the home side.

The Crows flew out of the blocks with the first two goals of the game, including a ripper on the run from Niamh Kelly, with the Irish star in everything early.

But the Swans quickly ratcheted up the pressure led by Gardiner, who had 10 possessions, five clearances and laid six tackles in a blistering opening term.

She capped her superb start with a cool set goal that levelled the scores at the first break after she earnt a holding the ball free kick.

Danielle Ponter converted on the run early in the second quarter, but the hard-working visitors gained the ascendancy, causing plenty of turnovers in dangerous spots, Cynthia Hamilton and Molloy kicking truly to put their side up by five points at the main break.

Montana Ham’s speed on the wing was a feature throughout and was on show again early in the third term when her run and searching, long ball inside 50 set up Alexia Hamilton’s goal.

Little separated the sides in an enthralling third term, with Anne Hatchard’s ice cool set shot after the siren handing Adelaide a six-point lead and setting up a grandstand finish.

ADELAIDE   2.1 3.3 6.3 6.5 (41)
SYDNEY    2.1 4.2 5.3 6.3 (39)

GOALS
Adelaide: Ponter, Kustermann, N Kelly, G Kelly, Hatchard, Jones
Sydney: Molloy 2, A Hamilton, C Hamilton, Gardiner, Cooper

BEST
Adelaide: N Kelly, Marinoff, Newman, Goodwin, G Kelly, Boileau
Sydney: Gardiner, Ham, Molloy, Kennedy, Fish, A Hamilton

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Sydney: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Unley OvalÂ