Adelaide Crows star Danielle Ponter kicked a club record five goals in her team's 26-point win over Hawthorn at the weekend.
The Marranungu and Anmatjerre woman was at her scintillating best in the 9.4 (58) to 5.2 (32) win at Thomas Farms Oval in Adelaide.
Ponter gathered 22 disposals, five clearances and gained 476 metres to guide the home side to their third win of the season and remain unbeaten.
The midfielder-forward kicked the Crows' first three goals of the match before adding goals in both the third and fourth quarter in Sunday's win.
Her five goals is a career-best, after previously tallying four-goal performances against the Gold Coast in 2021 and Geelong in 2020.
Speaking to media post-match, Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke was full of praise for Ponter, labelling her game as a "great performance".
"I thought obviously the goals were outstanding but some of her work around the contest and stoppages was equally good," Clarke said.
"Obviously we've known that she is a very talented player for a very long period of time and she has stood up for us in some really big games, so it was good for her to have a day out."
Ponter has established herself as one of the most damaging players in the AFLW competition and at just 24 years old, has already created an enviable football CV.
After being selected by Adelaide with pick 48 in the 2018 AFLW Draft, Ponter has played 61 games and kicked 72 goals.
She is a two-time premiership player and two-time leading goalkicker at the Crows, and last year was named in the forward pocket of the AFLW All-Australian team.
Ponter finished the 2023 season with a career-high 20 goals despite spending increasing time in the midfield, where she has proven to be an excellent around the stoppage player.
Having coached Adelaide since 2019, Clarke has had a front row seat to Ponter's development as a footballer.
"Her first two AFLW games I played her in the backline, can you believe that?," he said.
"(She has) sublime skills and really good game awareness – she understands the game really well and makes really good decisions so it's been a lot of fun to watch her play."
Clarke has been happy with the Crows' start to the season as they currently sit second on the AFLW ladder, trailing top-of-the-table St Kilda on percentage.
"Ultimately, we're pretty happy with the start," Clarke said.
"We've said a few times, AFLW is a really short season and therefore the ability to get a couple of on the board early in the season is very important.
"(So) to have three wins on the board is great."
Adelaide will host an Essendon team coming off an eight-point loss to the Saints on Sunday in Round 4.
