Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has notched up its third win in a row and moved up to fifth place on the ladder with a solid victory over the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. The Crows were by no means disgraced against the Hawks and were in touch until early in the last quarter before a run of four consecutive goals saw Hawthorn home by 29 points. 

A high-scoring first quarter was kicked off by a goal to Hawk Shaun Burgoyne in the first minute but the Crows hit back with majors to Richard Douglas and skipper Taylor Walker to take a six-point lead at the four-minute mark. Hawthorn then hit its straps and over the next 18 minutes scored goals via Taylor Duryea, Brad Hill, Isaac Smith and Paul Puopolo to lead by 20 points. The Crows hit back with goals to Douglas and Daniel Talia (well away from his usual post at full back) but the last goal of the term went Hawthorn's way to Liam Shiels giving the Hawks a 13-point break at the first change.

That lead was extended to 19 points when Hawk ruckman swooped on a loose ball and goaled within the first 17 seconds of the second term but Adelaide's Tom Lynch cut it back to 13 with a major 10 minutes later. As the scoring dried up, the next two goals went the way of Hawthorn via Matt Suckling and Luke Breust, but goals late in the term to Matthew Wright and Charlie Cameron saw the Crows back within 16 points at the long break. 

When play resumed in the second half, Cameron made it two in a row for him and three on end for Adelaide with a major at the four-minute mark to cut the difference to just nine points. Breust kicked his second soon after to restore a 14-point Hawthorn lead but the Crows owned the next 20 minutes of the match, holding the Hawks scoreless and adding 2.3 (with goals to Eddie Betts and Rory Laird) to take the lead. Jonathon Ceglar put the Hawks back in front with a goal but Patrick Dangerfield answered immediately and Adelaide was once again in front by a point. The tide then turned completely, and Hawthorn closed out the quarter by kicking 2.3 to nil, just as the Crows had done earlier in the term, and it was the Hawks by 14 at the last change of ends. 

Needing the all-important first goal of the last quarter, the Crows had a chance it secure it but a free kick to Cameron saw his kick sail to the left. From there Hawthorn took charge. Within a two-minute period, Smith, Cyril Rioli and Breust all goaled and the Hawks suddenly led by 31 points and had effectively killed the contest. Only two further goals were scored, one to each side and Hawthorn coasted to a 29-point win from there.

Captain Luke Hodge was outstanding for Hawthorn, with 25 possessions and eight marks, with Shiels (also 25 possessions and eight marks) and Smith (21 touches and two goals) also playing great games. Adelaide's best included Dangerfield (31 possessions, three tackles), Rory Sloane (29 touches and six tackles) and Scott Thompson (32 disposals, four tackles). 

Hawthorn's next task is to take on Essendon at the MCG on Saturday, the Dons having beaten the Hawks by two points in round two, while Adelaide - in seventh place with a 6-5 record - will travel to Brisbane to take on the Lions at the Gabba on the same day. 

GOALS
Adelaide: Cameron, Douglas 2; Walker, Talia, Lynch, Wright, Betts, Laird, Dangerfield, Jenkins
Hawthorn: Breust 3; Hale, Smith 2; Burgoyne, Duryea, Hill, Puopolo, Shiels, Suckling, Ceglar, Hodge, Rioli, Hartung

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson, Douglas, Laird, Cameron, Cheney
Hawthorn: Hodge, Shiels, Smith, Mitchell, Hale, Burgoyne, Gibson

BEST - THE AGE
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Sloane, Jacobs
Hawthorn: Hodge, Lewis, Burgoyne, Gibson, Mitchell, Hill

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Walker (corked hip)
Hawthorn: Gunston (dislocated finger)

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Matthew Crouch replaced Taylor Walker at three-quarter time
Hawthorn: Billy Hartung replaced Ryan Schoenmakers at three-quarter time

UMPIRES: Margetts, Meredith, Harris

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Leigh Matthews, Wayne Carey, Matthew Richardson