Coach Bec Goddard and her match committee have some selection ‘headaches’ leading into Round One after Adelaide’s strong performance in the AFLW trial game against Fremantle on Saturday night.

Scores were level late in the last quarter at TIO Stadium, but the Dockers converted two goals from free kicks in the final few minutes to secure a 12-point win.   

Despite the defeat, Goddard was pleased with her team’s last hit-out before the AFL Women’s Grand Final rematch against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, February 3.

“We would’ve liked to have seen a bit more consistency across the four quarters. Freo were the more consistent team and handled the ball better in the humid and slippery Darwin conditions, but I thought some of our new players in particular stood out and gelled together,” Goddard said.

“Ruth Wallace looked really dangerous around goals and Jas Hewett’s first quarter was exciting.

“Jess Allan and Eloise Jones did some good things and Rheanne Lugg kicked her first goal.

“Our leaders also stood up. (Joint vice-captain) Ange Foley was captain tonight and I thought she was exceptional.

"Courtney Cramey was voted into the leadership group earlier today and was very good, along with another vice-captain, Sally Riley.”

Foley acted as captain in the absence of newly-reappointed co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall, who sat out the practice match along with 2017 leading goalkicker Sarah Perkins and key defender Anne Hatchard.

The premiership quartet will return for Adelaide’s season-opener at Norwood Oval, while Wallace, Hewett, Allan, Jones and Lugg are among the recruits pushing for an AFLW debut.

Small forward Wallace was lively throughout the game and kicked the Crows’ first goal in remarkable fashion.

The Norwood SANFL Women’s premiership player put in multiple efforts to stay involved the contest, before collecting the ball with one hand and palming it down on her left foot and snapping across her body.  

Northern Territory recruit Jasmyn Hewett was unlucky not to have two goals to her name in the first quarter. The athletic utility hit the post twice within minutes – one on a blistering run and another from a set shot after a contested mark.

Highly-rated draft picks Jess Allan and Eloise Jones provided glimpses in the forward half, while older Allan sister Sarah showed she’s got plenty of room for improvement after an impressive display in defence.

Lugg leveled the scores with a goal from a neat pass from Riley, who delighted her adopted-home crowd with a sliding mark at an important stage of the game.

The Crows reported no new injuries on Saturday night.

Goddard said form, a fit squad and the rule change that will see teams reduced to 21 players this season had contributed to healthy competition for spots.

“It’s going to be hard to pick a team, but that’s what you want especially after winning a premiership,” Goddard said.

“Your standards have to go up in all aspects, in your preparation, training, playing and your demands of each other.

“We’ve just got to keep training like we want to play. We’ve got two weeks left to really hone in on that.”

The Dockers won the corresponding trial game in the Northern Territory last year before the Crows upset the home team in Perth during the home and away season.

Adelaide  0.2  2.4  2.4  4.6 (30)
Fremantle  1.2  2.4  3.6  6.6 (42)

GOALS
Adelaide: Wallace, Metcalfe, Varnhagen, Lugg
Fremantle: Barr 3, Atkins 2, McGuire