3 minute read
Brisbane's Bre Koenen says there's no advantage in knowing Adelaide inside out ahead of their fifth finals meeting because the Crows know them just as well.
Death, taxes and Brisbane playing Adelaide in an AFLW final.
For the fifth time since the inaugural 2017 season, the two powerhouses of the women's competition will face off in the post-season.
The latest iteration of the rivalry will pit the reigning premiers against the three-time premiership Crows in a preliminary final on Saturday at Brighton Homes Arena.
It is their third preliminary final together (2022, '23) after two grand final meetings (2021, '17).
Such is the familiarity between the teams Brisbane skipper Bre Koenen talks of meeting Adelaide again like one of life's certainties.
"It's almost, like, expected at this stage," Koenen told AAP.
"They're far and beyond one of our biggest rivals in the competition.
"We know them very well and they're very tough competitors."
Still, defender Koenen takes no comfort from knowing her rivals inside out because the truth is also found in the reverse.
"On the flip side, they know us very well too," Koenen said.
"I don't think it's an advantage or a disadvantage.
"It might be a little bit nicer with regards to the research we have to do going into the game. We're able to prepare for it, but as I said, so are they."
The Lions have got the upper hand over the Crows in recent fixtures, winning their past three games by a total of three points dating back to round eight in 2023.
Most importantly, they haven't lost to their rivals in finals since the 2021 grand final.
But a win won't come easy for the Lions, especially after the Crows backed up a cut-throat performance against minor premiers North Melbourne with a semi-final demolition of Fremantle.
Led by Chelsea Randall, Adelaide threatened North Melbourne's undefeated status in a see-sawing qualifying final before being forced to accept a seven-point defeat.
They returned to their scary best against the Dockers, winning by 37 points after an Ebony Marinoff masterclass in the midfield.
"We definitely can't go into it thinking we're at any advantage from our past wins," Koenen said.
"They've been incredibly close and they could have gone either way, like it's literally the flip of a coin.
"They play a little bit similar to us. They're a really good high-pressure side.
"They're a little bit chaotic at times, with their method, their competitors, they're great with the contested ball. That's all things that we're pretty good at.
"Always against them, it's going to be tough. They're one of the hardest teams I've ever played against."
Beating Adelaide in front of a sea of Lions fans remains Koenen's sole focus, despite the possibility of claiming back-to-back premierships.
"I didn't even know what's happening next week," Koenen joked.
"Just totally concentrated on Saturday night. We really want to get a good crowd down to at least try and create some home-field advantage if we can.
"It's going to be a fiery contest so we need it. It's an extra player on the field for us."