2024 AFLW

Games Won 9

Ladder Position 3

Premiership position: 3rd (9 wins, 5 losses). 4th after minor round (8 wins, three losses).

Coach: Matthew Clarke

Captains: Sarah Allan, Ebony Marinoff

Another preliminary final exit confirmed Adelaide remained an AFLW threat but was falling frustratingly short of the competition leaders.

Of the five losses in the 2024 season, four were against grand finalists North Melbourne and Brisbane. And the Crows led at half-time of both the qualifying final (v North) and preliminary final (v Brisbane) but for the third consecutive season did not advance to the grand final.

“It was a very disappointing way to finish,” coach Matthew Clarke said. “That’s been a few years in a row where we have got to that point and not been able to break into the grand final. Clearly there are things we have to do better.”

New co-captain Ebony Marinoff scaled new heights, crowned the AFLW Best and Fairest, AFLW Players’ MVP, AFLW Players’ Best Captain, AFLCA’s Champion Player of the Year, All Australian for the seventh time and Crows Club Champion.

She polled in nine of the 11 games to finish with 23 votes in the AFLW best-and-fairest count, three votes ahead of North Melbourne midfielder Ash Riddell.

Marinoff – the second Adelaide player to win the award after Erin Phillips – averaged career-high numbers for disposals (30.5), contested possessions (16.5), tackles (12.4), clearances (6.5) and pressure acts (26.7).

Five Crows were named in the All-Australian squad – Marinoff, Chelsea Randall, Caitlin Gould, Danielle Ponter and Chelsea Biddell – with Ponter the only one to miss out on selection in the final team.

Adelaide’s season opened with a 14-point Showdown win against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval. Marinoff was at her brilliant best with 29 disposals, five clearances, 647 metres gained and nine tackles to win the Showdown Medal as best afield and receive the Variety Showdown Shield with co-captain Sarah Allan.

Adelaide held Fremantle goalless in a 33-point win at Fremantle Oval and then Ponter kicked a club AFLW record five goals when the Crows thumped Hawthorn by 26 points at Unley. Unfortunately, star forward Eloise Jones tore an Achilles tendon, ruling her out for the season.

A fourth consecutive win, by 33 points against Essendon, lifted Adelaide to top spot but the run came to an end in Brisbane the next week, when two late goals by the Lions sunk the Crows by two points.

Hannah Munyard’s brilliant AFLW Goal of the Year from the forward pocket was the highlight of a tough four-point win against St Kilda at Norwood Oval. But Adelaide struggled in a dour mid-week clash against 13th-placed Melbourne and went down by two points.

Adelaide rediscovered some scoring power in the next two away games, thrashing GWS by 64 points only four days after the Demons loss and then defeating Collingwood by 43 points. Marinoff put on yet another midfield masterclass against GWS, with a career-high 41 disposals while also gathering 12 clearances and 17 tackles.

Adelaide wasted scoring chances against North Melbourne in week nine before losing by eight points after making a late surge. But the Crows secured a double chance in the last minor round after a scare from Geelong, which led by 14 points at half-time. Gould kicked three goals in the tense four-point win.

Unbeaten North Melbourne was Adelaide’s opponent in the first qualifying final at Ikon Park and although the Crows spent much of the first half on top, they wasted some opportunities. North then dominated the third term and held on in the last quarter to win by seven points.

Adelaide advanced to its sixth preliminary final, by comfortably accounting for Fremantle by 37 points in a steamy semi-final at Norwood Oval.

The Crows played some scintillating football in the first half of the preliminary final and led by 13 points late in the second quarter but Brisbane kicked ahead in the third quarter and held Adelaide to one goal late in the second half.

Marinoff’s third Club Champion award was a predictable reward for her outstanding season. Runner-up was former captain Randall, who was also recognised by her peers and Crows Members, winning the Players’ Player and Members’ MVP awards.

Three-time winner Hatchard came third, ahead of leading goalkicker Gould and Biddell.

Season gallery

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 25: Winner of the 2024 AFLW Best and Fairest Medal, Ebony Marinoff, Co-Captain of the Crows, celebrates with teammates during the 2024 W Awards at Crown Palladium on November 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 23: Ebony Marinoff (left) and Hannah Munyard of the Crows look dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFLW Second Preliminary Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at Brighton Homes Arena on November 23, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Caitlin Gould of the Crows and Anne Hatchard of the Crows and Tilly Lucas-Rodd of the Hawks during the 2024 AFLW Round 03 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at Thomas Farms Oval on September 15, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER Zoe Prowse of the Crows marks the ball during the 2024 AFLW Second Preliminary Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at Brighton Homes Arena on November 23, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 08: Hannah Munyard of the Crows during the AFLW Qualifying Final match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows at Ikon Park, on November 08, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 08: Chelsea Randall of the Crows kicks for goal during the AFLW Qualifying Final match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows at Ikon Park, on November 08, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 08: Teah Charlton of the Crows marks the ball under pressure from Nicole Bresnehan of the Kangaroos during the AFLW Qualifying Final match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows at Ikon Park, on November 08, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 13: Brooke Tonon of the Crows in action during the round seven AFLW match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Adelaide Crows at Henson Park, on October 13, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 16: Jessica Allan of the Crows and Mim Strom of the Dockers compete in a ruck contest during the 2024 AFLW First Semi Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at Norwood Oval on November 16, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 25: Danielle Ponter of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFLW Round 09 match between Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) and the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos at Norwood Oval on October 25, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 08: Madison Newman of the Crows handpasses during the round two AFLW match between Fremantle Dockers and Adelaide Crows at Fremantle Oval, on September 08, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 25: Anne Hatchard of the Crows runs with the ball during the 2024 AFLW Round 09 match between Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) and the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos at Norwood Oval on October 25, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos)

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 01: Anna-Rose Kennedy of the Cats and Hannah Munyard of the Crows compete for the ball during the 2024 AFLW Round 10 match between the Geelong Cats and Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) at GMHBA Stadium on November 01, 2024 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 01: Ebony Marinoff, Co-Captain of the Crows, Rachelle Martin of the Crows and Georgie Rankin of the Cats compete for the ball during the 2024 AFLW Round 10 match between the Geelong Cats and Kuwarna (Adelaide Crows) at GMHBA Stadium on November 01, 2024 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 09: Niamh Kelly of the Crows and Tahlia Gillard of the Demons during the 2024 AFLW Round 07 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Norwood Oval on October 09, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 13: Deni Varnhagen of the Crows is challenged by Eilish O’Dowd of the Giants during the round seven AFLW match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Adelaide Crows at Henson Park, on October 13, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 13: Sarah Goodwin of the Crows takes a group selfie as they celebrate victory during the round seven AFLW match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Adelaide Crows at Henson Park, on October 13, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 20: Sarah Goodwin of the Crows in action during the 2024 AFLW Round 08 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at Victoria Park on October 20, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 20: Taylah Levy of the Crows celebrates kicking a goal during the round eight AFLW match between Collingwood Magpies and Adelaide Crows at Victoria Park, on October 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 20: Imogen Barnett of the Magpies marks the ball under pressure from Zoe Prowse of the Crows, receiving an accidental poke in the right eye, during the round eight AFLW match between Collingwood Magpies and Adelaide Crows at Victoria Park, on October 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Teah Charlton of the Crows celebrates kicking a goal during the round five AFLW match between Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows at Brighton Homes Arena, on September 29, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Chelsea Biddell of the Crows in action during the 2024 AFLW Round 05 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at Brighton Homes Arena on September 29, 2024 in Ipswich, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 04: Hannah Munyard of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFLW Round 06 match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at Norwood Oval on October 04, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 04: Deni Varnhagen of the Crows signs during the 2024 AFLW Round 06 match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at Norwood Oval on October 04, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 04: Sarah Allan, Co-Captain of the Crows during the round six AFLW match between Adelaide Crows and St Kilda Saints at Norwood Oval, on October 04, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15:Aine McDonagh of the Hawks competes with Zoe Prowse of the Crows during the round three AFLW match between Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks at Unley Oval, on September 15, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Chelsea Randall of the Crows competes for a mark against Kodi Jacques of the Bombers during the round four AFLW match between Adelaide Crows and Essendon Bombers at Unley Oval, on September 22, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 31: Ebony Marinoff of the Crows during the 2024 AFLW Round 01 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval on August 31, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 31: Amelie Borg of the Power runs into Anne Hatchard of the Crows during the round one AFLW match between Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval, on August 31, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 31: Sarah Allan of the Crows and Ebony Marinoff of the Crows with the Showdown trophy during the 2024 AFLW Round 01 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval on August 31, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 31: Eloise Jones of the Crows celebrates a goal during the round one AFLW match between Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval, on August 31, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Awards and Achievements

All Australians: Ebony Marinoff, Caitlin Gould, Chelsea Biddell, Chelsea Randall

AFLW Best and Fairest: Ebony Marinoff

AFLW Players’ MVP: Ebony Marinoff

AFLCA’s Champion Player of the Year: Ebony Marinoff

Players’ Player award: Chelsea Randall

AFC Leading Goalkicker: Caitlin Gould

Defensive Player of Year: Zoe Prowse

Members’ MVP: Chelsea Randall

Showdown Medal: Ebony Marinoff

Other news

Inaugural Crow and two-time AFLW premiership player Courtney Cramey was honoured with Life Membership for her pioneering contribution to the game and the Adelaide Football Club. Cramey was the third AFLW player to be awarded Adelaide life membership, with Premiership Co-Captains Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips receiving the honour in 2023.
Chelsea Biddell, Caitlin Gould, Rachelle Martin, Teah Charlton and Maddi Newman all reached the 50-game milestone.
Ebony Marinoff continued her run of playing every possible AFLW game for Adelaide since the competition started in 2017. She played 14 games in 2024 for a total of 93.
Three young Crows stars – Sarah Goodwin, Zoe Prowse and Teah Charlton – were selected in the AFL Players’ Association AFLW 22Under22 final team.

List changes

In: Brooke Boileau (South Adelaide), Tamara Henry (Western Jets), Lily Tarlington (Bond University Qld), Amy Boyle-Carr (rookie, Ireland).

Out: Montana McKinnon (Richmond), Yvonne Bonner, Lisa Whiteley (retired), McKenzie Dowrick, Amber Ward, Hannah Button.

First game players

Brooke Boileau v Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval, 31/8/24 (player debut number 68)

Amy Boyle-Carr, v Essendon at Unley Oval 22/9/24 (69)

Lily Tarlington, v Melbourne at Norwood Oval 9/10/24 (70)

The 2024 squad

Back row (from left): Keeley Kustermann (7), Sarah Goodwin (11), Stevie-Lee Thompson (14), Teah Charlton (25), Tamara Henry (20), Brooke Boileau (3), Madison Newman (17), Brooke Tonon (28). Second row: Danielle Ponter (15), Brooke Smith (18), Chelsea Randall (26), Chelsea Biddell (12), Caitlin Gould (1), Lily Tarlington (21), Zoe Prowse (4), Deni Varnhagen (9), Niamh Kelly (23). Sitting: Najwa Allen (8), Eloise Jones (2), Ebony Marinoff (10, co-captain), Matthew Clarke (coach), Sarah Allan (39, co-captain), Anne Hatchard (33), Jessica Allan (32). Front: Kiera Mueller (13), Taylah Levy (16), Amy Boyle-Carr (24), Hannah Munyard (6), Abbie Ballard (27), Jess Waterhouse (19), Rachelle Martin (5).

2024 jumpers

The main AFLW guernsey was almost the same as 2023 but from round three featured a new sponsor logo above the number. The new clash guernsey featured the same retro Crow from the AFL clash design but the main background colour was red, with yellow at the bottom, on the shoulders and back. The 2024 Indigenous guernsey was worn across the AFL, SANFL and AFLW season. It was crafted by forward Izak Rankine with his cousin, artist Harley Hall, in a celebration of their shared Ngarrindjeri heritage. The Pride Round jumper was the same design as the previous season, with a new logo above the number.

Sarah Goodwin models the main guernsey; Brooke Tonon; Caitlin Gould and Jess Allan wearing the new clash jumper; the 2024 Indigenous design (Danielle Ponter); Keeley Kustermann playing in the Pride Round jumper.