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Famous five for Ponter as Crows dominate against Hawks

3 minute read

Danielle Ponter is the first Adelaide player to kick five goals in a game as the Crows ended Hawthorn's unbeaten start to the season with a 26-point home win.

Danielle Ponter has kicked a club-record five goals as Adelaide brought Hawthorn back to earth with a thud in the AFLW.

The home team smashed the Hawks in the second term on Sunday with four goals to no score, on the way to a 26-point win at suburban Unley, 9.4 (58) to 4.8 (32).

The only setback for Adelaide was a serious-looking achilles tendon injury to Eloise Jones in the third term.

Jones had to be carried off the ground and was on crutches at the end of the game, with ice on the back of her right ankle.

Adelaide and Hawthorn came into the game with 2-0 starts, but the Crows were too good as Ponter and co-captain Ebony Marinoff dominated.

Marinoff continued her outstanding form with a game-high 33 possessions.

She and Ponter, who kicked Adelaide's opening three goals, also had six clearances apiece.

"It was a great performance. The goals were outstanding, but some of her work around the contest and the stoppage was equally good," Crows coach Matthew Clarke said of Ponter.

"Obviously we know she's been a very talented player for a long period of time and stood up for us in some really big games. It was good for her to have a day out."

Clarke also had a laugh at his own expense, noting he played Ponter as a defender in her first two senior games.

But the Crows coach was grim-faced when asked about Jones.

"It's not great, so we obviously wait for the scans. It's not looking wonderful ... it could be significant," he said.

"If there's a tear, that's no good.''

The Hawks led by a point at quarter-time, but the Crows were threatening with three more inside-50s.

Adelaide ran rampant in the second term as they kicked with a strong wind, killing off the game.

Hawthorn, who had come into the match as the highest-scoring team so far this season, did not kick a goal from midway through the opening term until late in the third.

Captain Emily Bates, who returned from injury, broke the drought and was the Hawks' best, with 28 possessions and six clearances.

Trailing by 37 points in the third quarter, Hawthorn rallied and averted a blowout loss, but the damage was done.

"It was not complete, but ultimately I'm really happy with the outcome," Clarke said.

"To have three wins on the board early is great."

Chelsea Biddell and Stevie-Lee Thompson were also rock-solid in defence for the Crows, while ruck Jessica Allan racked up 30 hit-outs.

New Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster said his emerging team had learned some tough lessons from one of the league's best sides.

"We started OK - that second quarter was one that really hurt us. They got on top and we got a little bit reactive, sat back a little bit, as opposed to getting after the game," he said.

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