Footy final marred by ‘brutal’ blow

Adelaide’s courageous captain Chelsea Randall has been helped from the ground and ruled out of the Crows AFLW preliminary final against Melbourne, after suffering a head knock in a heavy collision with Demon Eliza McNamara.

At the eight-minute mark of the first quarter, Randall and McNamara were both running hard toward the ball near the centre of Adelaide Oval when they clashed heads in the contest, both falling onto the grass.

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They both stayed motionless on the turf for a few moments before being helped from the ground by their respective club medicos.

Ohhhhh jeez that’s brutal, hope both are ok #AFLWpic.twitter.com/AnD6EkpYaW

Adelaide said Randall had suffered a head knock and would not return to the field, with the Demons also confirming that McNamara would not to play.

At halftime, the Crows lead the Demons 2.1 (13) to 0.3 (3) with Adelaide star Erin Phillips kicking the game’s only two majors.

Eliza McNamara and Chelsea Randall were ruled out of the match after their head clash.Source:Getty Images

The Crows managed to race ahead in the second half and secure a home Grand Final.

Adelaide will play against the winner of Brisbane and Collingwood, who face off at the Gabba this afternoon.

If Randall fails her concussion test, she will automatically be ruled out of the grand final under the new AFL concussion protocols that demand players rest for a mandatory 12 days.

Randall has been ruled out once in 2021 under the new protocols after experiencing delayed concussion earlier this season.

Captain Chelsea Randall will play no further part in today's game after a heavy collision. #crowsaflw#weflyasonepic.twitter.com/RvagN1yUHF

Eliza McNamara will take no further part in today's game.

She came from the field in the first term after a big collision with Adelaide's Chelsea Randall.#FiredUp | #AFLWCrowsDees

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE 1.0 2.1 4.2 5.3 (33)

MELBOURNE 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.9 (15)

BEST:

Crows: Marinoff, Hatchard, Allan, Martin, Thompson, Foley, Rajcic, Phillips.

Demons: Paxman, Hanks, Hore, Mithen, Pearce.

GOALS

Crows: Phillips 2, Scheer, Hatchard, Jones.

Demons: Hore

INJURIES

Crows: Randall (concussion).

Demons: McNamara (concussion)

Originally published asFooty final marred by ‘brutal’ blow

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