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AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

Crows beat Magpies after water pipe bursts at Vic Park

Adelaide have smashed Collingwood by 43 points at Victoria Park. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Adelaide have prevailed despite a burst water pipe at Victoria Park to beat Collingwood by 43 points and bolster their hopes of an AFLW top-two finish.

After a leaking pipe beneath the centre square threatened to delay Sunday's game, the Crows dominated from start to finish to post an 8.8 (56) to 2.1 (13) win.

The three-time premiership side sit third after seven wins and two losses, four points behind Hawthorn after successfully dodging the sandpit covering the burst pipe.

Taylah Levy and Caitlin Gould led in attack for Adelaide with three goals each, alongside ball magnets Ebony Marinoff (36 disposals) and Anne Hatchard (28).

Their only concern will be a possible foot injury to Keeley Kustermann, sustained in the third quarter after a tackle by Mikala Cann.

"I thought the pressure from Collingwood was high. It was tough," Crows coach Matthew Clarke said.

"Really happy with the way that they stuck at task. By the time the siren went, we had the outcome.

"It was a pretty good arm-wrestle."

An injury-ravaged Collingwood (1-8) are now last on the ladder and will be battling to avoid the wooden spoon in the season's final two rounds.

Sarah Rowe (25 disposals) and Ruby Schleicher (20) were the main achievers for Collingwood in captain Bri Davey's absence.

Davey suffered a season-ending bone stress reaction in her left tibia just days after celebrating her 50-game milestone last round.

The setback continues a horror run for Collingwood, whose injury crisis was so bad earlier this season they had to call up replacement players from the VFLW.

Ebony Marinoff.
Ebony Marinoff shone for Adelaide with 36 possessions. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

"They strangled us in that third quarter," Pies coach Sam Wright said.

"Effort isn't enough at this level to win games of footy against good sides. Effort will keep you in the contest but it's the system around that.

"We saw the overarching philosophy of what our system looks like, now it's back to the glue. The glue for us is the fundamentals of the game."

Adelaide took their chances better early to hold the hosts scoreless, kicking two goals to none before captain Chelsea Randall suffered a head knock in the opening term.

Randall clashed heads with Collingwood's Eliza James in a contest for the ball with less than a minute left of the first quarter.

Alana Porter notched a behind to give the Pies their first score in the second term, while the Crows only managed three points as Randall returned to the fray.

James was ruled out with a concussion, adding to the Pies' injury woes.

Adelaide found a way through the goal drought courtesy of two Levy majors in the third quarter, before Lauren Butler kicked truly for Collingwood's first major in the final term.

Brittany Bonnici slotted through another for the Pies, before Gould kicked her third of the match on the final siren.

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