Adelaide have become the first team to win three AFLW premierships, holding off a late surge from Melbourne to win the grand final by 13 points.
Four days after finishing second in the AFLW best and fairest, Anne Hatchard was named best on ground, with 26 disposals, five clearances, six tackles and nine marks in a 4.5 (29) to 2.4 (16) win at Adelaide Oval.
In atoning for last season's grand-final defeat, the Crows have now won three of the five grand finals since the AFLW started, adding the 2022 flag to their 2017 and 2019 triumphs.
Danielle Ponter (two goals) was Adelaide's spark up forward while Chelsea Randall and Chelsea Biddell double-teamed Tayla Harris to keep the star forward goalless.
Ebony Marinoff and Erin Phillips were also excellent.
Former Carlton and Brisbane forward Harris also earned the unenviable statistic of becoming the first player to lose an AFLW or VFL/AFL grand final with three separate clubs.
All three losses came against the Crows.
For Melbourne, Sinead Goldrick (20 disposals) was brave all day in defence while Karen Paxman, Gabrielle Colvin and Eliza McNamara were busy.
Adelaide were suffocating with their pressure in a dominant first half, consistently forcing Melbourne into poor kicks inside 50 where Crows defenders could intercept.
Adelaide drew first blood when defender Libby Birch gave away a free kick off the ball for bumping Ponter.
While Ponter's shot drifted wide, grand-final inclusion Jasmyn Hewett leapt to take a massive mark on the goal line before snapping the opener.
Adelaide let Melbourne off on multiple occasions throughout the second quarter until Phillips snapped to deliver a 17-point lead.
With it, she became the second AFLW player after Carlton's Darcy Vescio to reach the 50-goal mark.
Alyssa Bannan gave the Demons life out of nowhere just before half-time when she intercepted Caitlin Gould's kick across defence and ran into an open goal to keep the half-time margin at 10.
The Crows got off to the perfect start in the second half when Ponter outmuscled Birch in the goal square to mark, then restore a 16-point lead.
From there on, Melbourne had a resurgence after putting Daisy Pearce behind the ball with Kate Hore drawing them to within two goals.
Melbourne peppered Adelaide's goal without reward at the end of the third term and start of the fourth, while Casey Sherriff was forced from the field with a wrist injury.
Then, against the run of play, the Crows broke down the wing and found Ponter, who took a mark, played on and iced the game.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
Three of the best for the Crows!
As the Crows celebrate on Adelaide Oval with family, friends and fans we will leave the blog there for the day. It's been another one to remember, and a treat we should cherish to watch Erin Phillips and this whole Crows team play together. They continue to set the standard for this league, and it's quite a high standard too.
Thanks for joining me today, and keep an eye out for much more out of this game from Kate O'Halloran and the team all weekend. Until next time, goodbye!
By Dean Bilton
The Crows are receiving their medals
Massive roars for Erin Phillips, Ebony Marinoff, Danielle Ponter and Nikki Gore (who stacked it going up the stairs).
By Dean Bilton
Anne Hatchard is the player of the grand final!
No doubt in my mind either, that was a stellar performance on the biggest stage. She finished with 26 disposals, and so many of them were impactful forward of centre. Just rewards for a titan of this league.
By Dean Bilton
A proud skipper
What a game Chelsea Randall played today. Simply phenomenal at the back, as we've come to expect. She's been talking to ABC Sport.
I can't even put a sentence together, this is incredible, amazing, something we've been chasing for a very long time since last year. They've sacrified so much they're just incredible people I'm so proud of them and now they get the ultimate prize.
It's a bit strange, we've had five grand finals and we've been part of 4, and won 3. It's unbelievable when you've got the likes of Phillips in that side, who has just been a pillar of us and our footy club and our team and our young kids who bring so much energy and really wanted this, we just put everything into it.
By Dean Bilton
An overjoyed Erin Phillips
The champ has been speaking with Channel Seven about the game, her future and spending the week in a caravan to make sure she was ready for this game.
It's amazing. There's a huge amount of work that goes into getting to this point. We just keep turning up every year. We keep wanting to be better. It doesn't matter if we've won before. We act like we haven't won anything. We want to push ourselves getting better. We love coming to training and hanging out with each other. Amazing group of girls, athletes to be a part of. It really is something special.
Honestly, my whole goal has been to win another premiership with this team. I haven't thought about that. There's been a lot of noise. A lot of people talking about what is next. Something my wife Tracey and I will sit down and talk about and see what is next in life. There's more factors than just one simple choice for me. We'll see how we go. Right now I'm so proud to be a Crow.
There's people living in flood waters. There's people in the middle of a war. I sleep in caravan it's not that bad. I just wanted to be in this game. I have three kids that are potential little germ spreaders. It's a simple thing to do. I can't wait to give them a hug and kiss now.
By Dean Bilton
THE ADELAIDE CROWS ARE AFLW PREMIERS AGAIN!
A dominant force, and a champion team that has created a dynasty. A third AFLW premiership in five years is a remarkable achievement, as the Adelaide Crows overcome every challenge that is thrust before them.
What a mighty team.
By Dean Bilton
1': Into the last minute now, and it's a tired scramble out there. The hugs have begun on the Adelaide bench, siren imminent...
By Dean Bilton
3': Fine mark in defence from Allen! It's been the story of the day for Melbourne, that Crows defence is just too good. Two minutes to go, we're just counting down to the celebrations now.
By Dean Bilton
4': Ponter again! She marks 30 metres out, directly in front and will take all the time she is allowed. What a game she has played, her and Hatchard the clear front runners for BOG honours.
That kick is a shank though. Falls short and into the pocket.
By Dean Bilton
5': Again Melbourne have a sniff inside 50, but the Adelaide defence will not be beaten! Chelsea Randall has been monumental!
By Dean Bilton
AND SLOTS IT! PONTER MIGHT HAVE SEALED THE FLAG FOR ADELAIDE!
Melbourne couldn't make the most of their repeat entries, and in one quick burst the Crows have put it to bed! Lightning quick from end to end, and Ponter was so clever to play on after the mark. A lovely finish on the run, and the champagne is on ice in Adelaide.
By Dean Bilton
7': Here come the Crows! It starts with Hatchard's composure on the wing and ends up with Ponter who marks, plays on...
By Dean Bilton
8': Another scramble in the pocket after Gay's kick forward, but the ball spills out of play. Boundary throw in, Melbourne pressing.
By Dean Bilton
10': Stoppage inside 50 for Melbourne. First goal of this quarter obviously so crucial.
By Dean Bilton
12': The game is opening up and Melbourne are moving from end to end much easier. The ball eventually falls to Gay who snaps, and misses across the face. Eight points in it.
By Dean Bilton
13': Hatchard forward again with a sidestep and a kick, but Goldrick is there to take a timely intercept mark.
By Dean Bilton
14': Remarkable stuff from Ponter! She is clear over the back from Hatchard's kick, and takes the shot from 50. It bounces in the wrong direction towards Dees defenders, but Ponter is there again to tackle and force the stoppage. Inspirational work from the gun forward.
By Dean Bilton
15': Melbourne go forward first and it looked for a second like Bannan was going to burst clear. Adelaide shut the play down and forced a stoppage. Meanwhile Casey Sherriff is down and nursing what looks a nasty arm injury. She jogs off and may not come back on.
