In a moment of heartbreak and inspiration, Adelaide Oval rose as one as injured Crows star Erin Phillips was carted off the ground.
Phillips collapsed late in the third quarter during Sunday's grand final, clutching at her knee and in obvious pain.
As Phillips stayed down, the bumper crowd of 53,034 fell silent before umpires pulled up the contest, with Adelaide leading comfortably.
It had already been a match of high attrition - while Adelaide had dominated the match, the Crows had already lost Chloe Scheer to an apparent knee injury earlier in the day.
RECORD: Bumper crowd packs into Adelaide Oval for AFLW grand final
Carlton star Tayla Harris also received treatment after she copped a bang to her knee.
However, the deepest sorrow was reserved for 2017 grand final winner Phillips, with pain written over her face as she was helped onto the medicab.
The crowd stood and applauded as teammates and opponents approached Phillips, and as the medicab neared the boundary, Phillips sat up, in tears, and acknowledged the crowd before she went down the race.
Watch the heartbreaking moment below.
Incredible respect from both teams and the crowd as Erin Phillips gets taken off the field. 💛#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/ql50X7BabF
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 31, 2019
Phillips returned just prior to the final siren on crutches as fans warmed to her before she joined teammates on the bench.
Speaking after the match, Phillips - who was later named best-on-ground for the second time after her 2017 brilliance - confirmed she had done her ACL.
A bitter-sweet day for Erin Phillips as she becomes a dual #AFLW Premiership player, but confirms she's suffered an ACL injury. ❤️#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/joVlNtDf96
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 31, 2019
"It's bittersweet, but I'm so proud of this group," she said.
"It's been an amazing season, and to finish off the way we did today is unbelievable, and in front of 53,000 people in Adelaide. That's a dream come true.
"It's ACL. It's something I've done before... unfortunately, that's just sport.
"That's how it is. That's the risk you take when you play contact sport, and myself and Chloe will get better and hopefully be back next season."
