Can Adelaide really beat Hawthorn?
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Hawthorn is the favourite for the flag. Shocking revelation, I know. And as much as I hate to admit it, the Adelaide Crows have a very big task in front of them.
After a loss to Sydney at home followed by a largely unconvincing win against Fremantle, Adelaide have been quite underwhelming as of late, something you don’t want to bring into a preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Meanwhile, the Hawks cruised into a preliminary final after comfortably accounting for Collingwood in a Qualifying Final two weeks ago.
They’re rather contrasting preparations for a preliminary final, aren’t they?
The bottom line is that the Crows need a fast start. Their biggest deficiency over the last month has been attacking pressure early in the game, and they have to turn it all around in one week against the best team in the land.
Adelaide also needs to utilise its tall forwards against Hawthorn’s shorter defence and ferociously attack the ball like their lives depend on it.
And much like telling your girlfriend that her and her mother are basically the same person, taking Hawthorn for granted is something you just shouldn’t do. Ever. And the ramifications will be similar as well – you may have the living bejesus beaten out of you before you can even blink!
I spent the weekend in Melbourne about three weeks ago and while I was there, I attended the Hawthorn v West Coast match and got to see Hawthorn’s magnificent play first hand.
They move the ball so well, they choreograph their set plays and tactics like ballet dancers, follow instructions like a concerto orchestra strings section and they play together as a team much like 22 best mates in a league team in the South Australian countryside.
All of those things spell -’premiership team’.
And Hawthorn won’t be happy with anything but a premiership.
The Crows, on the other hand definitely want to win.
However, if they lose, a third or fourth placed finish after a dismal 2011 season will be a positive.
Next year will be bigger and better for the Crows, actually the next five years should bring some silverware to the City of Churches. So they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Hawthorn has everything to lose. Most have pencilled them in for the premiership, and I find it hard to disagree, even though I hope like hell the Crows can beat the Hawks.
So, I don’t really know what to make of it all. What do you guys reckon? Can the Crows defeat Hawthorn?
I’m sure I already know the answer.
- Explore:
- Adelaide Crows, AFL, Hawthorn Hawks
September 22nd 2012 @ 7:34am
TJ from Vanuatu said | September 22nd 2012 @ 7:34am | Report comment
Everyone has all but written off the Crows for today’s match and it’s just a question of how big a thumping that they’re going to get. I’m not so sure. Adelaide has arguably the best ruck man, a red hot midfield (with Dangerfield & Thomson in the All Australian & both up for Brownlow contention) & a hard to handle forward line with Tex, Tippett, Petrenko, et al. Much has been made in the media of the of the weakness in Adelaide’s defence because of the absence of Rising Star Talia & Shaw but the experienced defenders in Truck, Radar & Dogger will be playing today and have been in good form. I remember watching the 1998 Grand Final at a gathering of Aussies in Port Moresby. I was the only Crows fan in the room and i remember at half time that everyone had written the Crows off. Even the North Melbourne players had that look of smugness on their faces. But the Crow boys came out to play in the second half and proved everyone wrong to lift the silverware. This week I am visiting Port Moresby for work & will again be watching the Crows. I might just place a lazy bet on the Crows as I can sense an upset is on the cards!!
September 22nd 2012 @ 8:02am
Joely said | September 22nd 2012 @ 8:02am | Report comment
I agree with you Tj you could just imagine hawks already think they could win and thinking about next week we have got a good chance of causing a major upset
September 22nd 2012 @ 8:06am
Willow mused said | September 22nd 2012 @ 8:06am | Report comment
Dreaming TJ. Rarely does sport provide the perform storm as it has now for hawks this season. Form, game style, skills, star players, fit list, ferocious intent. It is an absolute certainty that hawks will take care of business today. Crows effectively had their GF last week – with a finals victory and a prelim appearance more than a pass mark for an impressive year. Hawks by plenty
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September 22nd 2012 @ 8:27am
swannies05 said | September 22nd 2012 @ 8:27am | Report comment
I can’t see the Crows winning but I can see them getting a lot closer than the bookies reckon. They play hard and contested footy and will surely take this up a notch with what is on the line today, their problem is that Hawthorn will too… and then some. The only way the Crows can win if they get quick ball going forward and give Tex, Tippet, Porplyza and co the chance to outmuscle the much smaller Hawks back 6. I just can’t see this happening though with the numerous tough nuts the Hawks have in the middle of the ground. Expect Lewis and Sewell to throw their bodies at contests as though they are made out of rubber and make sure every disposal the Adelaide midfield get they well and truly earn.
I think it will be pretty close until 3/4 time but the Hawks to take home the biccies after their week off and their class prevailing in the last term.
September 22nd 2012 @ 8:58am
TJ from Vanuatu said | September 22nd 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
“I have a dream”
September 22nd 2012 @ 9:06am
Dingo said | September 22nd 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
I’m sure Hawthorn won’t turn up expecting that is all they need to do to win, but if they do, they could be in trouble. Personally, I think the Hawks will win by a comfortable margin.
To say that the Crows have been a bit underwhelming of late due to a loss to Sydney and a tough game against Freo, unfairly detracts from those two sides imo.
As long as it is a high standard, close, hard game that will do me.
September 22nd 2012 @ 9:32am
Pete from the weaty said | September 22nd 2012 @ 9:32am | Report comment
I believe the hawks are favourites, but the rubbish in the media and betting agencies is getting a bit hard to take. This evening at the MCG two teams will go out to battle for the last spot in this years grand final, the two teams that finished at the top of the home and away season ladder. The question I ask myself, is why do the odds resemble those that were given on the Carlton vs Gold Coast match a few short weeks ago. It’s a two horse race, just like it was in 97 and 98,I’m off to pay Tom the bookie a visit.
September 22nd 2012 @ 9:38am
Pete from the weaty said | September 22nd 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Two teams, one game, one spot, bring it on.
September 22nd 2012 @ 10:45am
TJ from Vanuatu said | September 22nd 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Pete from the Weaty you are spot on mate. Couldn’t help but notice that these two teams have played each other 32 times and that the Crows record isn’t all that shabby (Crows 18: Hawks 14).
September 22nd 2012 @ 11:18am
Justin Curran said | September 22nd 2012 @ 11:18am | Report comment
History would suggest that the Crows are at least in with a chance. Geelong were supposed to beat Hawthorn in the 2008 Grand Final. Geelong were supposed to beat Fremantle in week 1 of the finals series this year. And that game was the perfect example of what can happen to a team that shows up expecting to win. Hawthorn have consistently been tipped to beat Geelong in the last few years, and failed to get over the line. In the preliminary final last year, they were unable to hold their nerve and win a game that was theirs for the taking. Sure, Hawthorn will probably win, but they better make sure they come to play.
September 22nd 2012 @ 11:31am
TJ from Vanuatu said | September 22nd 2012 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Another piece of trivia – the Hawks have been beaten this year by the Cats (twice), the Eagles, Sydney & the Tigers. Adelaide recorded wins this year against the Cats, the Swans, the Eagles and the Tigers. I think I’ll put another bet on the Crows. Anything can happen in a prelim final