Australian Football

Match Report

In a normal season, Hawthorn's win over Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night would be described as an upset result. The Hawks were, after all, second-last on the ladder and taking on the top team at its home ground. But so bizarre has this season been, Hawthorn's win, once it unfolded, was almost regarded in hindsight as to have been expected - just another surprise in a year that is producing surprises at a regular rate.

Surprise or no surprise, it was a very impressive win, with Hawthorn keeping pace with the Crows in the first quarter, falling behind in the second, clawing its way back into contention in the third, and ultimately looking the clearly superior side in the final quarter as it broke away to kick five goals to two for the term and ultimately finished thew match 14 points clear. 

It was clear from the outset that the Hawks were 'switched on', with forward line pressure producing an errant handball from Crow Rory Sloane which resulted in a snapped goal to Shaun Burgoyne within the first minute. Two minutes later skipper Jarryd Roughead marked uncontested and converted, and Hawthorn was ahead by two goals. Adelaide settled from there, and a lovely goal from Charlie Cameron put the home side on the board at the eight-minute mark, with Eddie Betts following up soon after to level the scores. Tim O'Brien snapped a goal to put the visitors back in front but Hugh Greenwood responded for the Crows as the match looked like becoming a shoot-out. The two sides added another goal each before the quarter-time siren and went to the break level at 4.2 apiece.

Adelaide opened up the second term with a classic long goal from near the boundary line from skipper Taylor Walker but Hawthorn responded with a roving goal from Paul Puopolo. A goal to Brad Crouch after a free kick put the Crows seven points clear but the Hawks answered again, this time through Billy Hartung, and the home side was ahead by just two points midway through the quarter. Adelaide finally began to get on top late in the term, with two goals to Josh Jenkins followed by another to Walker seeing the Crows break away to an 18-point half-time lead.

A standard script would have had Adelaide gradually getting on top of the Hawks in the third term but 2017 has demonstrated that there is virtually no such thing as a standard script. As such, it was Hawthorn which looked the stronger side after half time, the defence holding up magnificently to keep the Crows goalless for almost the entire term, while O'Brien, Ryan Burton and Burton again added majors to give the visitors a two-point lead. Hugh Greenwood finally got Adelaide on the board with a goal almost on the stroke of three-quarter time, and the home side took a slender five-point lead into the last end-change.

A rushed behind early in the final term saw Adelaide's lead increased to an even goal but a handball from Isaac Smith to ex-Crow Ricky Henderson who kicked truly saw scores level after two minutes. The Crows regained the lead with a point to Jenkins but a goal to Tom Mitchell had Hawthorn ahead by five seven minutes in. Andy Otten marked and goaled to restore Adelaide's one-point lead at the nine-minute mark but a missed set shot from Mitchell had scores level again soo after. 

The Hawks added to further behinds to one to eke out the narrowest of leads, before Puopolo marked and goaled to extend the margin to seven points. With the match on the line, it was Hawthorn which rose to the occasion, and further majors to Henderson and Shaun Burgoyne saw the visitors out to a match-winning 19-poin lead at the 26-minute mark. Jenkins managed a final major for Adelaide but that was a mere consolation, the Hawks hanging on for a famous 13-point win.

Against his old side Rick Henderson played an outstanding game for the victors, collecting 30 disposals and taking eight marks, while Tom Mitchell (38 possessions, five tackles) continued his fine season. For the Crows, Matt Crouch (35 touches, eight tackles) stood out, while Rory Sloane, while still collecting 23 possessions, struggled again with a heavy tag, Hawk Daniel Howe doing a good job of shadowing the Crow star.

While the Crows are still very well placed, second on the ladder with a 9-4 record and a very healthy percentage, they are no longer seen as the virtually invincible force they were perceived to be by many early in the season. They will take on Carlton (15th, 5-8) at the MCG on Saturday. The Hawks' win saw them jump one place to 16th, their 5-8 record keeping them theoretically in the finals hunt. They will host Collingwood (13th, 5-8) at the MCG on Sunday. 

GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3; Walker, Greenwood 2; Cameron, B.Crouch, Betts, Lynch, Otten
Hawthorn: O’Brien, Burton, Puopolo, Henderson 2; Roughead, Langford, O’Brien, Hartung, Mitchell, Burgoyne

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: M. Crouch, Greenwood, Laird, Talia, Lynch
Hawthorn: Henderson, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Birchall, Burton, Hardwick

BEST - THE AGE
Adelaide: M. Crouch, B. Crouch, Atkins, Greenwood, Jacobs, Sloane
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Henderson, Birchall, Langford, Duryea, Burton

INJURIES
Adelaide: Milera (knee), Brown (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil

UMPIRES: Fisher, Margetts, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Wayne Carey, Mark Soderstrom