Adelaide battled hard in its first game under a new era, but ultimately went down to Sydney by eight points at Unley Oval on Sunday afternoon.
A final-quarter surge from the Swans led to the 9.7 (61) to 7.11 (52) win.
The visitors trailed by 12 points at three-quarter time, but with Laura Gardiner and Fish lifting, the Swans hit the front seven minutes into the tense final term when Holly Cooper added her second.
After an off-season of great change, which included Ryan Davis taking the reins from departing premiership coach Matthew Clarke, there were plenty of positives despite the loss, with Captain Ebony Marinoff, Sarah Goodwin and Maddie Newman all impressing.
The first quarter was played at a highly entertaining breakneck pace, with both teams keen to move the ball quickly from defence.
Eloise Jones showed flashes of class after a role switch, with the mercurial forward redeployed to half-back where she provided great pace and damaging execution by foot in the first term.
Adelaide's small also forwards impressed, with Christina Leuzzi getting out the back for two goals in the first quarter, but goal of the first half came from Newman, who banged home an absolute ripper on the run from 40m out.
The home side led by seven points at quarter-time and 15 at the main break, but it should've really been a wider margin with the Crows letting themselves down with inaccuracy in front of goal.
A change in the tempo of the game in the third quarter and Sydney's slower, more considered ball movement troubled Adelaide.
As the goals dried up for Adelaide, Hamilton and Cooper hit the scoreboard before Brown stepped up, with Adelaide restricted to just one goal in the second half.
"It was a disappointing loss in the end, but I think Sydney's pressure certainly in that last quarter … they really ramped it up in terms of their contest and their outnumber," Adelaide coach Davis said.
"They were harder for longer in the end.
"(But) we're very positive at the footy club, we know this brand that we're trying to play is going to hold up in big games."
Young Crow Kiera Mueller's day ended in the second quarter when she left the ground to have a knee injury assessed and did not return.
Adelaide is back in action against Carlton at Ikon Park next Sunday.
SCOREOARD
ADELAIDE 4.2 6.7 7.11 7.11 (53)
SYDNEY 3.1 4.4 6.5 9.7 (61)
GOALS
Adelaide: Leuzzi 2, Newman, Gould, Egan, Charlton, Boyle-Carr
Sydney: Smith 3, C.Hamilton 2, Cooper 2, Molloy, Brown
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Newman, Goodwin, Bown, Kelly, J.Allan.
Sydney: Morphett, Fish, Molloy, Gardener, Smith, McEvoy, Hurley.
INJURIES
Adelaide: Mueller (knee)
Sydney: Nil
