IF anyone was going to be hotter than those fans sitting in the stands at Norwood Oval in 35C heat on Sunday, it was classy Crows midfielder Ebony Marinoff.

Continuing her dominant start to AFLW season three, Marinoff picked up 33 disposals (18 kicks, 15 handballs) in the Crows’ clinical 29-point win over Geelong.

And in doing so, she broke the AFLW’s record for the most disposals in a game reviously held by former Bulldogs player Emma Kearney who had 30 possessions in 2017.

media_camera Crows Ebony Marinoff tries to handball as Cats Rebecca Webster applies a tackle. Marinoff finished Sunday’s game with an AFLW-high 33 disposals. Picture: SARAH REED

Marinoff’s latest record-breaking effort comes after last year’s achievement in laying 21 tackles in a game – the most for the men or women.

She made six yesterday, and said after the match that she “was buggered”.

“It was a bit of a grind and we got away to a good start but we can go back and look at some things because we were playing some catch-up there,” Marinoff said.

“It was a hot day, but awesome to have the win.

“We had lots of hot nights down at West Lakes in pre-season and our first game was hot as well, so we’re well adapted to the heat.”

Coach Matthew Clarke praised his star performer.

“I’m not allowed to look at the stats sheet with Noffy,” he said. “I told her before the start of the season that I’d never look at the stats sheet until I’d watched the game back.

“But what I did see was her contest work and that was just outstanding.

“Last week she copped a heavy tag and had to manage that, so to come back out this week and get back into that vein of form is really pleasing.”

media_camera Crows players Sarah Perkins, Erin Phillips and Ebony Marinoff singing the club song after being Geelong by 29 points at Norwood Oval on Sunday, February 17. Picture SARAH REED

Clarke was also pleased with the even spread of her 18 kicks and 15 handballs.

“That’s important,” he said. “Obviously we know that she can win the ball. It’s very early on in her career and she has that capacity to keep adding composure and ball use as well as grunt, which she’s got plenty of.”

Clarke continued his strategy of using players all over the field as he sent Courtney Cramey from her usual spot in defence into attack. She had a handy game, laying the match’s equal highest tackle count of eight, with Geelong’s Madeline Keryk.

media_camera Geelong found Crows midfielder Anne Hatchard difficult to contain. Picture: SARAH REED

“Essentially, both ends of the field are still footy – you’ve still got to be able to win contests and use the ball and Courtney can clearly do that,” he said.

Geelong coach Paul Hood said his side couldn’t compete with Adelaide’s pressure, particularly through the midfield, with the Cats unable to contain Marinoff, Anne Hatchard and Erin Phillips.

“Today, Adelaide played fantastic footy and for periods we were able to compete, but at others they just ran us off the park and we’ll have a look and learn a lot from that,” he said.

In Sunday’s other ALFW game, Melbourne outclassed Brisbane in a 39-point thumping.