HAWTHORN 4.2 6.4 9.7 14.12 (96)
ADELAIDE 4.2 9.4 10.6 12.10 (82)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Puopolo 2, Burton 2, Henderson 2, Burgoyne 2, O'Brien 2, Hartung, Roughead, Mitchell, Langford.
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Greenwood 2, Walker 2, Otten, B. Crouch, Cameron, Betts, Lynch.
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Henderson, Birchall, Langford, Duryea, Burton.
Adelaide: M. Crouch, B. Crouch, Atkins, Greenwood, Jacobs, Sloane.
UMPIRES: Simon Meredith, Dean Margetts, Leigh Fisher.
CROWD: 45,312 at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide: In a classic Thursday night scrap, Hawthorn belied their second-to-bottom ranking to cause a huge upset against Adelaide on their home turf.
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Just three rounds ago, the Hawks failed to kick a goal in the first-half against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, and when they took just 42 seconds to goal on Thursday night there was an ominous warning this wasn't going to be easy for the Crows as most anticipated.
After an incredibly tight three quarters, Hawthorn tore the Crows apart. It was a most-deserved and well-orchestrated performance.
It was an amazing, thrilling win packed with sheer courage and the ability to work the ball out of their backlines far better than the Crows who hurt themselves badly with poor decision-making.
This was about succumbing to brutal pressure.
Maybe neither side took the cleanest of possessions on a bitterly cold night, and kicks went astray at times causing a flurry of turnovers. But when it came to two quality sides on the night having a "dip" – fighting tenaciously for every possession – it was a great contest.
Compared with recent form, the Hawks displayed more control and pressed better as a team, and it was no coincidence we saw the return of four senior Hawks – Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, Luke Breust and Ryan Schoemakers with an incredible 792 games between them.
The tightness of this game, particularly in the first-half, reinforces this competition is as tight as ever.
Taking on the Crows so well for most part wasn't entirely a case of them being off their game, but what team commitment can be achieved regardless of their table ranking.
The Hawks were terrific at the stoppages, often stealing taps as they ran through, and were precise under pressure with their hands. Their defence also worked hard, and were disciplined in getting back to create two-on-one situations, especially on Eddie Betts who generally had a tough night.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson used James Sicily in defence, and after a shaky start played well. Daniel Howe, in his 24th game, had the now common job of tagging Rory Sloane, and the Adelaide midfielder did well to win a greater share of possessions compared with recent form.
A turning point in the game seemed to come in the dying moments of the first-half when Josh Jenkins worked hard to create opportunities and kicked two goals within 65 seconds. After a level first term, it gave Adelaide an 18-point half-time lead, and given the Crows generally strong finishes it was easy to assume they would assume greater control in the third quarter. The Hawks didn't think so.
While Adelaide continued to kick inside-50 to a pack and watch the opposition take too many uncontested marks, the Hawks intensified the pressure and created goals.
When Tim O'Brien goaled, and Ryan Burton continued to show his class with two brilliant goals to steal the lead while holding the Crows goalless late into the third term, belief swept the Hawks camp. A huge upset was imminent. Most of the 45,312 crowd were stunned.
To rub it into the Crows even more, leading this gritty fight was their former player Ricky Henderson. He was outstanding, almost as good as Tom Mitchell, but his effort was no surprise.
In another telling closing moment to a tough quarter, it took Hugh Greenwood, in just his fifth game, to steady what already appeared a sinking ship. He is an incredibly exciting player – a brilliant basketballer before returning to football – and his skilful and robust approach to winning the hard ball was inspirational. But far too many of his experienced teammates were found wanting.
The question now was, would his goal 69 seconds before the three-quarter time siren that gave the Crows a five-point lead get his side back into top gear. The Hawks just got stronger. They never relented with their workrate and attack on the ball, while Adelaide merely continued to blast out of their backlines.
The top side didn't lost this tough game; the second-to-bottom won it. Great stuff.
VOTES
T. Mitchell (Haw) 9
R. Henderson (Haw) 8
G. Birchall (Haw) 8
M. Crouch (Adel) 7
B. Crouch (Adel) 7