For the sake of three points, Adelaide would be hosting the AFLW grand final and be favourites to win their fourth premiership.
Crows coach Matthew Clarke admitted their second-successive preliminary final loss hurt more after they went down to North Melbourne by one point in a pulsating clash on Sunday at Ikon Park.
North's grand final opponent will be Brisbane, who beat the Crows by two points in a qualifying final.
Adelaide mauled Sydney in between those two narrow losses and Clarke called that win their only complete performance of the season.
As was the case against the Lions, Clarke's team paid dearly on Sunday for a poor start.
"We're disappointed that both our finals we've lost, we just haven't had the level of intensity we'd expect of ourselves from the first minute of the game," Clarke said.
"We'll have to live with that one.
"But beyond that, I'm still amazingly proud of our group and the way they keep presenting and keep fronting up and keep giving themselves an opportunity to contend."
There was a quick turnaround between Adelaide's third premiership in 2022 and last season's preliminary final loss, so Clarke wondered whether that was their true level.
This time, he knows they've blown a big opportunity.
"This one probably stings a little bit more, because I feel as though our best footy could well have been good enough to play in the grand final," he said.
After the Crows beat North by three points at home in round nine, this time the Kangaroos turned the tables.
"It's not much fun, getting rolled by small margins, but North Melbourne played an outstanding game and on balance it probably felt like they had the better of the day," Clarke said.
"Any time it's under a goal, there's a tiny little bit of luck involved. In round nine, we probably had that luck and I'd probably trade it right now."
While Adelaide won the tackle count 69-52 on Sunday, Clarked ruefully noted North won contested possessions 117-97.
The Crows were in it right to the end, with Anne Hatchard taking an all-time great mark in the last few minutes and kicking the goal that reduced the margin to one point.
Having lost to the two grand finalists in tight contests, Clarke has no doubt next Sunday will also be memorable.
"You'd anticipate it will be another cracking game," he said.
