Adelaide have strengthened their grip on an AFLW double chance and terminated Geelong's top-four dreams after holding on for a gripping two-point win over the Cats at Unley Oval.

Without injured captain Chelsea Randall, the Crows bounced back from last week's disappointing loss to Brisbane and moved to 7-2 with their tense 4.6 (30) to 4.4 (28) victory on Friday.

The neck-and-neck battle was in the balance virtually until the last 12 seconds when Nina Morrison's handball trickled out of bounds.

Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard's midfield battle with Amy McDonald and Georgie Prespakis finished honours even but it was Danielle Ponter who really had the crowd on their feet.

The excitement machine kicked two first-half majors, including a contender for goal of the season, to give Adelaide the early edge.

Ponter picked off an ill-advised corridor kick from Gunjaca intended for Friswell, and turned on the afterburners.

Starting fractionally behind the centre circle, Ponter took four bounces as she ran through the middle and goaled from around 20 metres, Cats captain Meg McDonald forlornly giving chase.

In reply, tall Kate Darby snared a strong mark against Chelsea Biddell and converted Geelong's first to reduce Adelaide's quarter-time lead to one point.

Ponter sharked Darby's tap and snapped truly for her second six-pointer midway through the second term, which Julia Crocket-Grills equalised thanks to some marvellous grunt work from Morrison.

The Crows continued to win the territory battle but they lost their lead just after half-time when Shelley Scott was rewarded for her excellent forward pressure.

The lead changed hands five times in a gripping third quarter, at the end of which the Crows led by a point.

The fourth term was a real arm-wrestle, Caitlyn Gould's shanked behind the only score.

The home side looked almost home when Rachel Kearns conceded a free kick for her leaping, high tackle on acting Crows captain Sarah Allen with just over a minute left but the decision was reversed when Eloise Jones came in to remonstrate with Kearns.

Moments later, Hatchard launched a long clearance out of defence into the hands of Ponter, who went on another long run, this time Amy McDonald the unfortunate Cat giving chase.

Ponter lost control on her fourth bounce with 30 seconds to go, but was reprieved when Morrison's handball in the dying moments just missed its target.

Suns beat Blues to keep finals hopes alive

Gold Coast have overcome a goalless first half to keep themselves in the AFLW finals hunt with a hard-fought 27-point win over Carlton.

The Suns struggled in an early arm wrestle but took control after the main break to post a 6.6 (42) to 2.3 (15) victory at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.

Charlie Rowbottom (26 disposals), Alison Drennan (24), Kalinda Howarth (18, one goal) and Courtney Jones (two goals) were all influential for the home side.

The result put Gold Coast level on points with North Melbourne (seventh) and the Western Bulldogs (eighth), who both have a game in hand.

To play finals, the Suns will have to beat GWS in round 10 and hope other results fall their way.

They will be confident of holding up their end of the bargain after recovering from a slow start to overpower Carlton.

It was a slog in slippery conditions up to half-time and a solitary goal from Blues forward Poppy Schaap was all that separated the sides at the main break.

But the second half belonged to the home side.

Howarth kicked the first goal of the third quarter within 25 seconds of the restart, scooping up a ground ball and snapping on the turn to level the scores.

Jones put the Suns in front against her old side and Kaylee Kimber added a third major for the quarter to give them breathing space.

Jones had eight disposals and four inside-50s in the third term as a key driver in Gold Coast's surge.

Tara Bohanna and Tahlia Meyer kicked goals early in the last quarter to make it five in a row for the Suns as they cruised to victory.

Lucy McEvoy (24 disposals), Mimi Hill (23) and captain Kerryn Peterson (18) all fought hard in a losing cause for the Blues, who are out of finals contention.

Gold Coast travel to take on GWS in the last round of the home-and-away campaign, while Carlton could do them a favour by knocking off the Bulldogs at Pirnces Park.

AAP