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The Brisbane Lions will host the AFLW grand final after defeating the Adelaide Crows by 23 points in Carrara.
- The Lions will host the grand final at their new training base in Springfield
- It will be their fourth appearance in an AFLW season decider
- Dakota Davidson, Courtney Hodder and Jesse Wardlaw kicked three goals each for the Lions
The Lions produced a dominant performance to end the Crows' premiership defence with a 7.4 (46) to 3.5 (23) victory in Friday night's first preliminary final.
They will play either Melbourne or North Melbourne in the grand final, which will be held on November 27.
The season decider will be played at Springfield Central Stadium in Ipswich — the Lions' new training base — after the AFL confirmed its grand-final venue arrangements earlier on Friday.
The newly-laid surface was given the all-clear just hours before the Lions booked their spot in the grand final.
The Lions will be chasing their second AFLW premiership, having claimed their first flag in 2021. It will be their fourth appearance in an AFLW grand final.
Their win over the Crows was built on swarming pressure and a clinical first half.
Emily Bates (22 disposals) played with purpose for the Lions in her first outing since a controversial snubbing from the 42-strong All-Australian squad.
Jesse Wardlaw (two goals) helped out in the ruck, while Courtney Hodder's two-goal second quarter broke the match open.
Cathy Svarc (10 disposals, six tackles, four inside 50s, one goal), Breanna Koenen, Ruby Svarc (11 tackles) and Nat Grider were typically stoic for the Lions.
The Lions — who finished on top of the ladder following the home-and-away season – were superb in the first term with 11 inside 50s to four, but had only Svarc's steady set-shot to show for their dominance.
Four goals in the second term helped the Lions establish a 29-point lead at half-time, with Wardlaw and Hodder both kicking two majors.
The Lions were humming when Dakota Davidson threaded a right-footed banana kick through from the pocket to begin the second half.
But the Crows rallied, with Caitlin Gould and Danielle Ponter kicking the visitors' first two goals to cut the Lions' lead to 23 points late in the third term.
The Lions steadied though, with an even final quarter proving to be small consolation for the Crows given the hosts' early damage.
Anne Hatchard finished with a match-high 25 disposals for the Crows.
ABC/AAP