Adelaide fell to its second loss of the AFLW season against a sharp Carlton outfit at IKON Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues led for the entire match, and capitalised on some shaky Crows disposal when attempting to clear the footy from danger zones to record the 7.8 (50) to 3.5 (23) victory.

Adelaide may be a team in transition, but its defence led by Sarah Allan, Chelsea Biddell and new half-back Eloise Jones remains as steady and experienced as ever, repelling a number of Carlton forward forays throughout the game.

But the Crows' entries into their own attacking 50 left much to be desired, with high hooping kicks easily picked off by the equally tight-knit Carlton backline, and too often the diminutive Christina Leuzzi was picked out as the target sitting under the footy.

In an attempt to employ new coach Ryan Davis' fresh game plan, the Crows became too corridor-happy in the first half, continually trying to pull of risky kicks regardless of the game situation.

At half-time, Adelaide actually led the inside 50 count by one, despite trailing by 15 points and having conceded five more scoring shots, and it was a sharper visiting side who came out after the main break.

Maddi Newman dominated on the wing in the third term with 11 touches and a goal (finishing with 30), dragging her side back into the mix, but Carlton did enough to maintain a two-goal buffer heading into the final quarter.

Darcy Vescio put in a claim for a mark of the year nomination with a classic hanger, launching off the back of Niamh Kelly in the second term.

Adelaide spearhead Caitlin Gould was well held by Maddy Hendrie, who had recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the round one match a fortnight ago in order to play.

Carlton speedster Erone Fitzpatrick had a very hot start on the wing with 10 disposals in the first quarter, and finished with 29 and three behinds for the match, rotating to half-forward, while Claudia Whitfort (23, five clearances) and Mimi Hill (28 and three) were strong in the stoppages and Nell Morris-Dalton booted three, all from the goal-square.

Ebony Marinoff (30, four clearances) battled hard through the middle of the ground, but didn't have nearly enough support

CARLTON      1.4     3.5     5.6     7.8 (50)
ADELAIDE     0.0     1.2     3.5     3.5 (23)

GOALS
Carlton: Morris-Dalton 3, Whitfort, Duursma, Finn, Vescio
Adelaide: Gould, Newman, Goodwin

BEST
Carlton: Fitzpatrick, Hill, Whitfort, Finn, Morris-Dalton, Hendrie
Adelaide: Newman, Marinoff, Biddell, Jones, Goodwin

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Ikon Park