AFLW LIVE: Cutthroat AFLW final getting ‘really out of hand’ amid SCORCHING conditions

Adelaide and Fremantle do battle in a cutthroat final on Saturday afternoon for a spot in a preliminary final against Brisbane.

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After falling to North Melbourne in their qualifying final, the Crows are looking to turn things around and progress to their fifth preliminary final.

Meanwhile, the Dockers are plotting an upset of the apple cart at Norwood Oval — buoyed by their defeat of Essendon in last week’s elimination final.

These sides last met in Week 2, with Adelaide winning by 33 points and rendering Fremantle goalless. The Crows will enter as favourites.

The first semi-final got underway at 3:35pm AEDT (3:05pm ACDT). Watch on Fox Footy (ch.504) or stream via Kayo Sports: bit.ly/3UzQ8PK.

Follow the live blog below for moment-by-moment updates!

LIVE MATCH UPDATES

The temperature is currently a scorching 35 degrees in Norwood. These are the ‘heat mitigation measures’ in place for this afternoon’s contest:

– Two-minute extension to quarter-time and three-quarter time breaks — breaks will be eight minutes rather than six.

– Four-minute extension to the half-time break — 18 minutes rather than 14.

– Both clubs will be permitted two extra water-carriers for the match — meaning each side can have up to seven water-carriers.

– Trainers/water-carriers will not need to wait for a set shot or after a goal and can instead enter the ground as required to deliver hydration.

FIRST QUARTER

The sides felt each other out to begin, with Fremantle unable to capitalise on a couple of early chances before Adelaide started owning territory.

Sarah Verrier and Madi Newman — six disposals each — were among the busy early ball-winners.

“It is going to be very hard to come by scores this afternoon,” Seven’s Abbey Holmes noted.

Fremantle star Gabby Newton had to be attended to by trainers after suffering a hard fall from an aerial contest.

The game’s first major came with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, as Chelsea Randall got her foot to a bouncing ball in the goalsquare.

Adelaide took a four-point lead into the first change.

SECOND QUARTER

Going against the breeze in Norwood, Taylah Levy snagged the Crows’ second goal of the game to kickstart the second term.

Hannah Munyard snapped Adelaide’s third goal of the game to instil a handy buffer while kicking against the wind.

“Chelsea Randall is the difference in that forward line for Adelaide,” Holmes said.

Holmes also noted the down demeanour of the Dockers: “Their body language is really flat for a side that is playing for a spot in a preliminary final.”

Rachele Martin was the next Crow to hit the scoresheet in the second stanza, putting Adelaide in a “very prominent position” — taking a four-goal lead.

Things are “starting to get really out of hand” for the Dockers, who conceded another major to fall behind by 30 points courtesy of an Abbie Ballard goal.