Have a gander at the AFLW table, and you'll see the Adelaide Crows there, equal on points at the top.

They are the three-time premiers, and currently reigning.

In the constantly evolving world of women's footy, one thing doesn't seem to change: the Adelaide Crows are almost always contenders.

Except this off-season, there was a big change at the Crows as a host of players left including two-time league best and fairest and captain Erin Phillips. 

Phillips is now captaining Port Adelaide, but like most expansion teams, the Power have struggled badly this season.

Losing arguably your best player to your cross-town rivals would knock the wind out of most teams. 

But the Crows have hardly missed a beat and star midfielder Ebony Marinoff is not surprised. 

"If I'm going to be honest, no [I'm not surprised]," Marinoff told The W with Sharni and Sam podcast.

"To put it blankly, when everyone was like 'no Erin Phillips, no Crows', I knew that was the outside noise.

Of course, there was still an adjustment period and with a grand final rematch against the powerhouse Demons in round one — a game they lost — the Crows were forced to adjust quickly.

"The reality is, we probably took a couple of weeks to find that forward connect," Marinoff said.

"I mean Erin Phillips was once our forward connect, and our captain.

"Erin was a pretty bloody good player for us, a match-winner, and could turn a game on one kick, or one handball, or one speccy.

"But yeah, we've found our feet now."

Adelaide had more stars than just Philips and Marinoff said this season they have stepped up.

"Now Chelsea Randall is leading the way in that mid-forward role," she said.

"I'm sure, even with Erin, if you asked her, with her time here she was only as good as the people around her as well, and we bloody enjoyed our time playing with Erin, and we had a lot of success."

'I had great faith in our program'

Four other players left in the off-season along with Phillips.

"The likes of Justine Mules, who was an exceptional player for us, probably bloody underrated to be honest," Marinoff said.

"Her pressure and the energy she brought is irreplaceable, but it gives someone else the opportunity to bring something unique and different.

"I had great faith in our program, that we had girls that were willing to put in the work and show Doc [head coach Matthew Clarke] and the coaches that they were ready to put their hand up and say 'pick me'."

Marinoff is the leading disposal-getter in the AFLW this season, has gained more metres than any other player, and ranks second in the tackle count.

The four-time All-Australian is a force to be reckoned with in the Crows midfield, alongside Anne Hatchard, and she is a target for vigilant tagging in every game.

"I've been tagged many times in my career, and I actually have been the past couple of weeks as well," Marinoff said.