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Adelaide Crows to face Melbourne Demons in AFLW grand final after prelim wins over Fremantle and Brisbane

Adelaide are heading to their fourth grand final in five complete seasons. (Getty: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos)

Melbourne and Adelaide will meet in the 2022 AFLW grand final after the Demons knocked out reigning champs Brisbane and the Crows held off Fremantle.

The most successful team in AFLW history, the Crows have another shot at a flag having seen off the Dockers 6.4 (40) to 4.2 (26).

Earlier, in a tight game in wet conditions at headquarters, the Demons made their move in the third quarter, kicking three goals to one to establish an 11-point break at the final change.

Alyssa Bannan (three goals) was put clear to kick the first goal of the final term, and Melbourne then withstood a late charge from the Lions to win by four points, 5.3 (33) to 4.5 (29).

Adelaide and Melbourne will meet next Saturday at 12pm ACDT (12:30pm AEST) at Adelaide Oval.

Check out the scores and stats below.

Adelaide into another decider

The Crows will have a chance to make amends for last year's grand final loss to Brisbane on Saturday, they host a third straight decider.

The 2021 and 2019 grand finals were both played at Adelaide Oval, with the 2020 game cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 14-point win over the Dockers means the Crows will have been in all but one of the first five AFLW grand finals, winning in 2017 and 2019.

They looked every bit a champion side late against Fremantle as they refused to allow the ball out of the forward 50 for large chunks of the final quarter.

The usual suspects brought the pressure for Adelaide, with Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard leading the team in disposals with 22 and 20 respectively, as well as each laying on five tackles.

Ash Woodland booted two goals, while midfield star Erin Phillips slotted one to go along with 13 possessions.

Kiara Bowers had a massive 10 tackles and 24 disposals for Fremantle but they simply could not get over the top of a well-oiled and experienced finals side.

Dees win thrilling first AFLW game at MCG

Alyssa Bannan kicked three vital goals to help the Melbourne Demons reach the AFLW grand final. (Getty Images / AFL Photos: Michael Willson)

Melbourne have a chance of being the first football club to hold both the men's and women's AFL premierships at the same time, after the Demons beat reigning AFLW champions Brisbane by just four points at the MCG.

The Demons held off a late surge from the Lions, with Shannon Campbell slotting with six minutes left and Greta Bodey adding one in the final minute to really tense the muscles.

That pressure was released somewhat when Brisbane conceded a 5-6-5 free-kick at the centre bounce, and while the Lions got the ball back into the danger zone, Melbourne held on to reach their first AFLW grand final.

The first AFLW game at the MCG continued the series of nerve-wracking battles between these teams, with Melbourne victorious by three points earlier in the season.

It was a bruising contest that turned into a slog in the greasy conditions following light rain shortly before the start of the game.

Both teams were hellbent on getting the ball into the open to implement their running styles, but the slippery ball literally played into the hands of the defenders in the low-scoring first half.

After Dakota Davidson scored on the run to fire Brisbane into the lead early in the third quarter, the Demons regained control of the contest.

Young forward Alyssa Bannan booted her second and third goals, ruck Lauren Pearce got a goal from a stoppage and Eliza McNamara sent the home fans wild with a freakish bouncing goal from a tight angle.

Davidson could have a case to answer for a lifting tackle on Lily Mithen that may rule her out of the last game of the season.

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