The 2026 AFLW season kicked off with one of the most dramatic opening round comebacks in recent memory on Sunday afternoon, as the Sydney Swans overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure an eight-point victory over the Adelaide Crows at Unley Oval. The win marks the first time the Swans have ever beaten Adelaide, and delivers a dream start for newly appointed head coach Colin O’Riordan’s tenure at the club.
Adelaide controlled the bulk of the contest, building a game-high 15-point lead just before halftime and holding a comfortable advantage heading into the final quarter. But the Swans flipped the script completely in the final 15 minutes of play, holding the Crows scoreless for the entire fourth quarter to clinch a memorable 61-53 win.
Two late goals from veterans Cynthia Hamilton and Holly Cooper flipped the scoreboard on its head, putting Sydney up by just two points with minutes left on the clock. Pressured deep in their attacking half, the Crows attempted a risky centre drive to find an equalizer, but a costly turnover put 21-year-old Sydney debutant Imogen Brown in position for the match-clinching score. Brown calmly slotted the goal to seal the eight-point result, capping off one of the most impressive opening-round turnarounds in recent AFLW history.
Sunday’s clash also highlighted the impact of off-season recruiting for both clubs, with high-profile new additions and top draft picks stepping up to deliver standout performances. For the Crows, 18-year-old number five draft pick Chloe Bown made an immediate impression in her senior debut, proving a constant offensive threat up forward and contributing to eight of Adelaide’s 18 total scores for the day. Her dominant showing has already put her at the top of the conversation for the league’s Round 1 Rising Star nomination, and suggests she will be a core piece of Adelaide’s forward rotation for seasons to come.
Sydney’s big off-season acquisition also delivered on expectations immediately, with two-time premiership winner Taylor Smith kicking three first-half goals in her first game wearing the Swans guernsey. Smith was lured north to Sydney during the off-season trade window, adding elite attacking firepower to a forward line already anchored by three-time All-Australian Chloe Molloy.
Adelaide captain Ebony “Noffy” Marinoff put on a masterclass even in defeat, returning to her signature dominant form in the middle of the ground. The 2024 Club Best and Fairest winner racked up 27 disposals and orchestrated nearly all of the Crows’ best attacking moves throughout the afternoon. If Marinoff maintains this form through the 2026 season, she is already on track to claim a second Best and Fairest award for her club.
The final scoreline reflected the tight, back-and-forth nature of the contest: Adelaide Crows finished at 7.11 (53), while the Sydney Swans closed out the game at 9.7 (61). The upset win sends an early warning to the rest of the competition that the Swans, under their new coaching regime and boosted by elite off-season additions, are a serious contender in 2026.