“There’s Better Footy in Us” - Matthew Clarke

A massive clash from the very top of the AFLW ladder, as the red hot Hawthorn Hawks travel to take on the Adelaide Crows. It will be the first time the teams have met in the Women’s game.

“It’s been a good start to the season,” Adelaide’s head coach, Matthew Clarke, said.

“We’re happy with how we’re tracking.”

However, Clarke believes that there is room for improvement;

“I think we haven’t played absolutely as well as we’d like to, particularly offensively.

“We haven’t quite finished the plays, we’re certainly generating the opportunities.

“This weekend’s game shapes as a really great match. Hawthorn are top of the ladder for a reason. It should be a high-paced game, which is what we’d like to try and produce.”

Adelaide’s injury list is getting smaller and Clarke offered an update on the fitness of his players;

“Abbie Ballard is going to come back and play her first game in the scrimmage, so that’s really exciting for her, she’s a 10 and a half month rehab.

“It’s just Naj [Najwa Allen] who’s still to come back from a little hammy.”

Teah Charlton comes into the team, alongside Brooke Smith, while Deni Varnhagen and Brooke Boileau have been omitted;

“She’s [Teah Charlton] had a pretty interrupted pre-season, but she was able to play last week,” Clarke began.

“She played probably 80% game time in the scrimmage, she’s been an outstanding player for us for a long time.”

The game gets underway at Thomas Farms Oval in Unley from 12:35 ACST.