Adelaide superstar Erin Phillips has showed why she is the AFLW's greatest player, spearheading the Crows to an ominous 14-point victory over Melbourne.
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In what shaped as the match of the round, Phillips and the two-time premiers handed the previously undefeated Demons a significant reality check at Norwood Oval.
Phillips booted the first three goals of Saturday's contest as Adelaide completely dismantled the visitors to run out 4.11 (35) to 3.3 (21) winners.
Melbourne did not score their first goal until the first minute of the last quarter - the longest period the Demons have gone without a major in their AFLW history.
Star recruit Tayla Harris broke the drought, before skipper Daisy Pearce quickly followed it up with the Dees' second goal.
Pearce popped through a set-shot after the final siren to put some respectability on the scoreboard.
However, Melbourne's late charge, which they have made a habit of doing this season, was far too late against the experienced and powerful Crows.
It was Phillips' day, kick-starting the Crows' surge with two first-quarter goals to fire up the parochial home crowd.
Adelaide added just four behinds in the second term, before Phillips' third goal broke Demons spirits early in the third quarter.
The 36-year-old's day out took her past Carlton Darcy Vescio as the AFLW's all-time leading goalkicker with 46.
"They're (Melbourne) a really fantastic side so we knew they were going to come in and out the pressure on us and I thought we did really well," Phillips told the Seven Network.
"I'm feeling fantastic and I just love playing with this team.
"We've got such a great forward line so it can be anyone's day.
"When we have targets like Ash Woodland, she is just an absolute rocket up forward, so when we have players like her, it makes my job easier."
But the dominant performance could come at a cost, with captain Chelsea Randall failing to play in the second-half after suffering another hamstring injury.
It was Randall's first game back after sitting out last week's win against West Coast due to a minor hamstring strain.
The 30-year-old will be assessed during the week but is in doubt to take on Carlton at Ikon Park next weekend.
The Crows went into the match without Justine Mules, Stevie-Lee Thompson and Danielle Ponter, who all missed due to the competition's COVID-19 protocols.
Adelaide joined Fremantle on top of the ladder with a 4-0 record, but pipped the Dockers for top spot with a superior percentage.
The Crows' defence has been miserly all season, conceding a combined tally of just 63 points across the first four rounds.
Australian Associated Press
