Adelaide’s season has continued to spiral out of control, Hawthorn celebrating Shaun Burgoyne’s 350th AFL game with an emphatic 56-point win.
In their first visit to the MCG since losing last year’s grand final, the listless Crows slumped to a 6-7 record with their fourth loss in a row.
The Hawks led Saturday night’s dour contest by four points at halftime, but swept aside Don Pyke’s meek men with a seven-goals-to-nil third quarter in a 12.16 (88) to 4.8 (32) thumping.
Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara led the way with 39 and 30 possessions each, while James Sicily had 24 disposals and booted three third-term goals.
Milestone man Burgoyne had 24 touches and capped his big night with a last-quarter goal.
Bryce Gibbs was Adelaide’s best with 28 possessions and six clearances, but he was the best of a bad bunch.
The Hawks won’t mind how it looked but, if AFL chief Gillon McLachlan needed further evidence the game might need a nudge in the right direction, he need look no further.
The first half was exactly the sort of snail-paced, low-scoring, error-riddled, congested tedium that has the league investigating rule changes.
Case in point, Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs hadn’t kicked a goal in 12 games this season.
But he booted his side’s first two majors, which says a bit about how well Adelaide’s sputtering forward line was functioning.
Hawthorn’s forwards weren’t setting the ‘G alight either, with inside 50s at both ends met by swarms of players.
With three goals apiece at halftime, the inaccurate Hawks led by four points.
But Sicily kicked off a withering seven-goal burst and Adelaide surrendered.
Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak scored more goals on Saturday night than the Crows did in the third term, Adelaide going scoreless for just the seventh time in their 28-season history.
The margin was 48 points at three-quarter time and Burgoyne’s goal was the highlight of the last quarter.
The Hawks improved to a 7-5 record and it’s hard to see Adelaide making the finals.
The injury-ravaged Crows will face top-four sides, West Coast, Richmond and Geelong, when they emerge from their bye.
Hawthorn’s James Frawley was a late withdrawal with a migraine and was replaced by Kaiden Brand.
dan ced
Guest
Only a couple of players off the team that beat sydney in Sydney! So I definitely agree with this. It's not the personnel or injuries that's the core of the problem. It's trust in team mates, in the game plan etc. Maybe they'll snap out of it, maybe the returning players will get it back on track. The bar is so low now that any minor improvement will be welcomed with a cynical smirk from me.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Despite the Crows injury list, they have the depth to cover it and are underachieving.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
World Cup impacted everything else. The Wallabies were playing a test against Ireland at the same time as well. Crowd and viewer figures likewise dismal.
Penster
Roar Guru
A recent grand final appearance, out of the 8 on 4 points only (and a swag of % granted) whilst missing half the side is a crisis? The Saints would give up dwarf throwing for that kind of crisis.
Don Freo
Guest
Consistency sustains an argument.
Paul D
Roar Guru
You’re such a purple headed warrior Don. Never change. Oh that’s right. You don’t.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Who is your mob rob
Rob
Guest
Try waiting 12 years mate - and knowing your about to see what should be a drought breaking era get flushed down the toilet because you coach has no plan b. Your mob is closer to a flag than mine.
Dustboot
Guest
Not impossible to win 6, but based on current form, Lions might be licking their lips! Carlton still in their David Parkin era rebuild, so you'd chalk that one up. The Blues would struggle to beat some VFL sides at the moment. Crows at their best could beat all of those teams (maybe not Tigers @ MCG) but they are playing well below that. Losing to Freo without Fyfe, Sandi, Hill brothers and questions have to be asked.
Defender
Guest
Im a crows supporter and am so very dissappointed and angry with the lack of effort from the players and lack of changes from the coach. Pyke needs to stop all this bullshit talk in press conferance and take actions, words can only take you so far, there are about 12 players that should be dropped for lack of effort, bring in the sanfl players, i know there not great players but its time to send a message. There is also a lack of tqking responsibility and acknowledging what they are doing tothe fan base. I believe there is some kind of an internal issue at the club between players or between coach and playing group.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Carlton only has injuries to 4 significant players (and you could argue about their significance) . Frep has 9 first 22 out, Adelaide, 7. Since Collingwood strated getting players back, things have improved. Carlton is a non-player in this article's ideas. Injuries are not why they are off the pace. They have less than most. Adelaide are not a cot case once they gets some talent back on the field. You made a similar point earlier in this thread but changed your tack when you saw my name and went into gainsaying mode. That's when you join the Maccas, the Jonboys and the anons of Roar world. You'll recover, I'm sure.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I like your attempts at amateur psych but the simple truth I was at cricket today so had to keep my comments brief. Try and understand - above you’re excusing Adelaide gws dogs Freo west coast for injuries while on another topic on the same day you’re flaying Carlton and ignoring their injury list. It lacks intellect and frankly I think I am allowed to write whatever I like about afl on an afl forum? You have routinely detoured off topic in the past.
Don Freo
Guest
Not as many as The Crows. Why Carlton? This is Crows article. Something went wrong last night. You are very angry.
Paul D
Roar Guru
What a dribbling old hypocrite you are - look at how many Carlton have out
sammy
Guest
steady on...I won't be pencilling in any wins the way they are playing. Carlton and the lions will be eyeing those games and thinking we can get something here
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
It certainly looks like thier season is over. They will need at least 6 wins from their remaining 9 games. There are only two games which you can pencil in as wins against BL and CARL. Then they will have to find 4 wins against WCE, RICH, GEL, MEL, PWR, GWS, and NTH. The next three games against WCE (AO), RICH and GEL (AO) will tell the tale.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
only downside was the meagre crowd of 26k for Burgoyne's 350th and the team reunions for the 1978, 1988 and 2008 flags. of course the weather and Socceroos game may well have contributed to it.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
agreed Paul - a bit of perspective from some posters would be good
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I wonder if the 'crisis' cowboys ever look at an injury list and think," Hmmm! They will do better when some of their key personnel return." It's the same with the Doggies. GWS get back a few and look at the difference it makes for supply to Cameron. WC lose Darling and Barrass and it re-shapes a result. Freo gets back Fyfe, Sandi, Hill, Apeness...and everyone is able to settle better into their plans and their roles. Critics should look at the outs before they claim disharmony or something more sinister.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Crows in crisis please They just played in the grand final last year. Tell me when your team hasn’t made finals for 9 years and counting then we can talk crisis Also afl reporting on here is garbage and should avoid pointless adjectives