Adelaide have come away with four points to stay on top of the ladder as they defeat Hawthorn by 24 points at the MCG.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Hawthorn Hawks 13.11.89
Adelaide Crows 16.17.113
Saturday afternoon at the MCG welcomes the Hawthorn Hawks and top of the ladder Adelaide Crows. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:40pm AEDT.
Both clubs could not have started in polar opposite ways. Hawthorn fell short by 19 points to the returning Bombers, while over the border Adelaide easily put in the performance of the round by smashing the premiership favourites the GWS Giants by 56 points.
Even though Hawthorn lost they had many positives to take from the game. Tom Mitchell in his first game for the club had 37 possessions and looked to continue on his form from his former club.
Captain Jarryd Roughead returned from his cancer battle and played his part. He is only bound to improve from that performance.
Other high profiled recruit Jaeger O’Meara had spurts of brilliance and will improve also after having not played for almost 18 months.
Hawthorn have swung the axe this week, four players you’d expect to be in the best 22 with Billy Hartung, Ryan Schoenmakers, James Sicily and Taylor Duryea all dropped.
Former captain Luke Hodge returns to the team after his club imposed one-match suspension which will bolster the squad and give everybody a lift.
Where to begin with Adelaide. They ran rampant after half and they had great performances all over the park, none more so then half back Rory Laird who amassed 40 possessions and was the driving force.
People questioned Adelaides midfield depth but with the likes of Rory Atkins, Charlie Cameron and Wayne Milera all playing well they certainly look dangerous.
They welcome back fearless leader Taylor Walker to the side this week who will definitely assist them.
Prediction
Its only been 1 round but on form its hard to go past Adelaide in this contest but over the years you are a very brave soul to tip against Hawthorn at the MCG.
If Adelaide’s lesser known mids play as good as they did last week with their speed and skill it hards to see Hawthorn keeping up.
Adelaide by 23 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:40pm AEDT.
John Uhr-Henry
Guest
Yes Hawthorn did not play well after half time, and really everything they did was fumbled and their usual superior ball handling and kicking to position was well astray. They will learn a lot from this hiccup and prepare better for their next games. I don`t necessarily agree that Don Pike is the best coach going around just now as has been suggested, but when any club finishes in front every coach is classed as the best in the business. I don`t think Clarko has any thing to prove as a coach but he was certainly beaten by Don Pike yesterday,although our team collectively let Clarko down. Also missed chances at goal by Hawthorn when easy goals were there to be had, and bad kicking is bad football but Adelaide slotted them all through the second half and showed the hawks how its done. It was a great result for the crows but don`t write the hawks off any time soon. They have many talented players there but a few of the old timers like Josh Gibson and a couple more seem to be on their last games on their present form.. Next weeks game will tell us a few more things about where we are going in 2017. Hawthorn need a stronger back line to go anywhere this season.
Nev
Guest
It's SEO. Hawthorn hawks searches better on Google
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
0-2, Hawthorn not looking good at all.They are lacking tall forwards.Tye vickery will be dropped next week because he is lazy and a lemon.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report The Roar AFL MVP 3-Rory Sloane 25 disposals and 16 tackles for the main man in Adelaide. As always being at the bottom of every pack getting clearances. Elite pressure numbers. Will be a strong brownlow contender again this year. 2-Tom Lynch 31 Disposals and 14 marks for the half forward. As usual he was the link up man all throughout the day setting up many of Adelaides attacks. 1- Tom Mitchell in a losing side he manages 38 possessions once again to continue his strong start to the season.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Didn't we have this discussion pre match on another article about how much the umpires favour the Dogs and Hawthorn? Happily despite the free kick disparity it hasn't affected the result but the margin would have been greater. That's not always been the case in tight games. The Crows have come back well after being down 5 goals to 1 in the first quarter and losing Jenkins. The Hawks have been the Crows bogey team for some time but maybe those days are over.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
A bi scalp for the Crows who now have put two tough opponents to the sword. Thanks for the call, Mat.
Paul2
Guest
A little pedantic, but, why is the Roar referring to Hawthorn as the 'Hawthorn Hawks'? It's the Hawthorn Football Club; the 'Hawks' an official nickname.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Hawthorn 13.11.89 def by Adelaide 16.17.113 Adelaide have come away with the 4points today to stay on top of the ladder as they defeat Hawthorn by 24points. Hawthorn Dominated the first term with Breust kicking 3 goals and Mitchell having 12 disposals had them out to a 24point quarter time lead. It looked very much like the Hawthorn of old. Josh Jenkins copped a knock to the ribs and looked in real trouble being helped off the ground and was sent straight to the hospital. In the 2nd quarter it was all adelaide with them dominating the inside 50s and general play. Arguably should have been closer then the 13point half time margin was if they didnt miss so many chances. Isaac Smith got a really bad corked thigh and was done by 3 quarter time. The 3rd quarter was all the Eddie Betts show with some absolute brilliant moments. Selling James Frawley some candy to then slot it on his left from 40. Then receiving a handball over the top and kicking a checkside from the boundary. Hawthorn stayed in touch and were only 4points down going into the last break. Sadly they got another injury with Shiels also getting a corked hip and having to be assisted off the ground as his day was done also. With the lack of interchanges and a rampant Adelaide it was always going to be hard for Hawthorn to stay in touch. As expected they dropped off as un-sung hero David Mackay kicked 3 final quarter goals to seal the game. Thanks for Joining me at The Roar for todays game. Feel free to hit me up on twitter @dats0nn for any sort of chat.
Bruce
Guest
Crows have kicked 14.15 to 7.9 since quarter time....what a flogging.
Bruce
Guest
Your prediction is looking spot on!
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWTHORN Breust kicks his 4th for the game as Gunston spots him. 1minute left in the game Q3 HAW 13.11.89 ADE 16.16.112
Charles Knob
Guest
umpires only umpired for one team
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
That's quite a disparity.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
21 frees to 11. Crows might have won by 40-50 points without umpires meddling with the result.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Hawks away - the Crows will be happy to have this one in the bank.
XI
Roar Guru
I like the sly "gets it out somehow" description of those "disposals"
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Don Pyke has to be the best coach in the league right now. The Crows are mostly no-names but Pyke has everyone playing on the same page.
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Luke Brown takes a nice mark 15m out over Henderson and he kicks truly. Q3 HAW 12.11.83 ADE 16.16.112
Mat Datson
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWTHORN Roughead kicks a goal from 40m and if you are a Dwayne Russell believer you would think the Hawks could still win it. Q3 HAW 11.11.83 ADE 15.15.106
Bruce
Guest
Strong effort by the Crows today.....well done.