Minor premiers stunned as injury-hit Lions survive thriller to clinch ...

Brisbane will host an AFLW preliminary final after claiming a thrilling two-point win over minor premiers Adelaide on Saturday.

The Lions had to survive a desperate Crows blitz late in the contest to hang to the 6.3 (39) to 5.7 (37) win at Norwood Oval.

While it’s disappointment for Adelaide to lose just their second game of the season, Eloise Jones did everything she could to keep her side in it with four of the Crows’ five goals.

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But it wasn’t enough to get the win as the Lions earned themselves a week off.

And they’ll need it after injury scares to stars Dakota Davidson and Bri Koenen.

Davidson injured her shoulder on the stroke of half time while Koenen limped off with a left ankle injury and later bleeding from the face.

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It was the Lions doing all the early attacking as Taylor Smith opened scores for Brisbane.

But down the other end, a crafty Eloise Jones drew the free kick to ensure the home side had the instant reply.

Lion Orla O’Dwyer then turned on the magic as she snapped truly from the boundary, extending her side’s lead to nine points.

“We’ve seen some special goals this AFLW season so far … Orla O’Dwyer takes a step and throws it on the left boot!” commentator Kate McCarthy said.

“That was a spectacular finish.”

The Crows just couldn’t clear from defence, but Brisbane didn’t make it count on the scoreboard.

Despite a 12-3 inside 50 count and five to one scoring shots, at the first change the Lions only held a 15-6 advantage.

The Crows were urged to fight for the footy outside the contest by coach Matthew Clark, but it was Cathy Svarc who took the game on for Brisbane.

She helped find Dakota Davidson inside 50 and the Lion struck first in the second term.

But the match turned off the back of a horror Jade Ellenger mistake.

Ellenger missed teammate Nat Grider with the chip kick, gifting Adelaide their second goal of the afternoon as Jones pounced on the vacant goalsquare.

Jones then made sure she let Ellenger know her kick missed the mark as she celebrated with teammates.

When Poppy Boltz dived on the footy under pressure in the square, she was pinged and Jones added a third to close Adelaide within three points.

“Great response from the Crows,” commentator Jason Bennett said.

Niamh Kelly then gave Adelaide the unlikely lead at the main break with her snap right on the half time siren.

As Adelaide enjoyed a 24-21 lead, the Lions had a big injury concern as Davidson was left sprawled on the turf after heading down back as the extra player.

She came from the ground with the arm cradled in her jumper in worrying signs for Brisbane’s finals hopes.

Coach Craig Starcevich played down the injury as a stinger as Davidson was able to return for the second half.

But it was Adelaide who continued on through Jones with her fourth goal.

Jones was able to easily turn opponent Grider and snap from 25m, as the Crows kicked four straight goals.

“You can not give a player that has kicked three goals in a game and is running hot that much distance!” McCarthy lamented.

“She had too much room to move!

“Forwards like Eloise Jones will make you pay for that.”

The day only got worse for the Lions when skipper Bri Koenen limped from the field.

“She was in a lot of pain as she came to sit down,” commentator Mark Soderstrom said.

“She’s tested out that left ankle, hopping around on it with the physio.”

Brisbane finally got some reward when Davidson marked inside 50 – and was then marched to the line thanks to a 50m penalty to get the margin back to five points.

When O’Dwyer managed a second – after Jones’ first mistake of the day – scores were tied up heading into the final term.

Lion Ally Anderson picked the perfect time to slot her first goal of the year when she got out the back and strolled into the square.

The Crows were peppering down their end of the ground but the three-time AFLW champions couldn’t find the breakthrough goal.

The game was stopped with less than three minutes to play so Koenen could come from the field in the hands of trainers for the second time - after a nasty head clash saw blood streaming down her face.

Lion Phoebe Monahan took a saving mark in defence with just 80 seconds to play to deny Adelaide once again.

But when Ruby Svarc left the footy behind, the Crows had one final chance to steal the win - but Brisbane’s backline was able to rush the footy through and hold on to a thrilling two-point win.

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