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ADELAIDE narrowly missed making NAB AFLW history but enhanced its top-two aspirations with a 70-point demolition of Gold Coast at Norwood Oval on Saturday.
The Crows won 13.7 (85) to 2.3 (15), the home side's score one point shy of the Western Bulldogs' all-time competition benchmark but their bigger concern came with a couple of injuries.
CROWS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats
Defender Nikki Gore was taken to hospital for X-rays after suffering a suspected fractured left ankle in the opening minute following an accidental collision with team-mate Marijana Rajcic.
And midfielder Hannah Button sat out the last quarter with her left arm in a sling and her shoulder iced after it popped out while she tried to tackle Alison Drennan in the dying moments of the third term.
Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said his side's win was "soured quite a bit" by the injuries.
"Nikki's off to hospital but hasn't got the scan back yet. We're waiting to see," Clarke said.
"Hannah's shoulder went out but it came back in cleanly.
"Hopefully that's not too bad. That was a strong performance, but the injuries do sour it quite a bit."
Gold Coast had its own injury worries when reigning best-and-fairest winner Jamie Stanton was stretchered off the arena five minutes into the contest after damaging her left ankle while tackling Anne Hatchard.
"It was a foot injury ... it was how she fell when she tackled young Hatchard," Gold Coast coach David Lake said.
"I don't know any more than that yet.
"I reckon she could stand in the goalsquare on one foot and have a crack anyway. She's a good competitor."
Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff proved too tough in the middle while Danielle Ponter (four goals) and Erin Phillips (two) provided the finishing touches in a clinical display.
The Suns' pressure and clearance work was admirable early but the Crows' defence wall proved impenetrable, Adelaide holding an opposition side scoreless in the first quarter for the fourth consecutive week.
Gold Coast lifted early in the second and got on the board through Leah Kaslar before the Crows, who threw Phillips into the middle for a centre-square cameo, rifled the next five goals to put the contest beyond reach.
The run was capped when Phillips goaled after being switched back to attack, holding off Cheyenne Hammond with one hand and marking with the other.
Kate Surman, who along with Alison Drennan and Lauren Ahrens had a real crack for the visitors, goaled on the cusp of half-time.
But the Suns were forced to wait until late in the fourth stanza before troubling the scorers again as the Crows dominated at both ends.
ADELAIDE 2.1 7.2 10.5 13.7 (85)
GOLD COAST 0.0 2.2 2.2 2.3 (15)
GOALS
Adelaide: Ponter 4, Phillips 2, Randall 2, Hatchard, Woodland, Martin, Scheer, Thompson
Gold Coast: Kaslar, Surman
BEST
Adelaide: Ponter, Phillips, Hatchard, Marinoff, Randall, Thompson
Gold Coast: Drennan, Ahrens, Surman, Groves-Little
INJURIES
Adelaide: Gore (ankle), Button (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Stanton (ankle)
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