Adelaide has roared home after a tardy start to defeat Hawthorn for the first time since 2011, confirming its credentials as a contender in 2017.

It leaves Hawthorn winless after two rounds for the first time since 2009, the year after their first premiership under Alastair Clarkson and the most recent year they missed finals.

After the Hawks kicked five of the first six goals in the first 15 minutes, the Crows kicked 15 goals to Hawthorn's eight to run out 24-point winners, 16.17 (113) to 13.11 (89).

The comeback was even more meritorious as the Crows had lost key forward Josh Jenkins at the 10-minute mark of the opening term following a big collision that put him in hospital.

The Five: Crows v Hawks

Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs led the fightback, dominating his opponents in the air taking six contested marks while Rory Sloane lifted the pressure around the ball making a Club-record 16 tackles.

With the game in the balance in the third quarter, the dancing feet of Eddie Betts went to work and Taylor Walker began to lead at the ball and keep his feet when all around him were falling.

Betts kicked two brilliant goals in the third quarter, either side of marking machine Mitch McGovern, who put the Crows in the lead for the first time at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter.


Betts was running in off the back of the square, losing his opponent in traffic and then bobbing up inside 50.

There were many highlights in the game and the occasional lowlight too.

Paul Puopolo put in an early entry for mark of the year in the second quarter, Betts' banana goal will be nominated for goal of the week, and an umpire laid claim to the worst decision of the year when he inexplicably paid a free kick to Puopolo for in the back midway through the third quarter, right in front of goal.

The Hawks had begun in classic style with 36 uncontested marks in the first quarter but could not maintain the rage, with the Crows keeping them to under 20 uncontested marks in the second half as they closed down their space.

Adelaide coach Don Pyke was rapt with the players' ability to turn things around.

"I thought at half-time the game had swung and we were back playing a little bit more how we wanted to," Pyke said.

"Credit to the players: they were able make that adjustment in the game and bring a bit more energy around the ball.”

More from Don Pyke

Jaeger O'Meara was impressive with a personal-best 36 disposals, including a remarkable 30 handballs, while Tom Mitchell battled hard.

Luke Hodge had little impact in his return game while Ty Vickery had an ordinary performance being regularly outmarked and lacking confidence.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said mistakes eventually proved costly after a good start.

"We just couldn't get the game played on our terms as we would have liked against a pretty handy side like Adelaide," Clarkson said.

"The Champion (Data) stats suggest we had 46 clangers or ineffective handballs compared to their 22. That gives a potential turnover to the Adelaide side on 24 occasions, and when you lose the inside 50 count by four against a side like Adelaide, then it's going to really hurt you.”

Once Adelaide began to win the ball on the inside it dominated on the outside using the pace of Charlie Cameron and the evasive skills of Curtly Hampton.

It had too many contributors whereas Hawthorn relied on too few and they have some work to do if they want to play in their eighth consecutive finals series.

NEXT UP
Hawthorn heads to Metricon Stadium to try to steal a win from Gold Coast who will be desperate to knock off the Hawks while Adelaide goes into the Showdown against Port Adelaide in brilliant form.

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Grant Birchall copped a knock to the jaw early in the game but he played on only to head off to hospital after the game for scans. Clarkson said it was brave effort from the veteran but he was uncertain as to its severity. "He's been assessed for a knock to either his cheekbone or jaw," he said. Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels suffered corked legs in the second half. 

Adelaide: Josh Jenkins went to hospital after copping a knock to the ribs at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter. Jenkins had trouble breathing and was taken to Richmond's Epworth Hospital for further assessment but initial scans have not shown any structural damage.


HAWTHORN   6.2   8.3   11.10   13.11 (89)
ADELAIDE      2.2   5.8   11.14   16.17 (113)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Puopolo 3, Roughead 2, Mitchell, Shiels, Vickery, Rioli

Adelaide: Betts 3, Mackay 3, Walker 2, Lynch, Jacobs, Cameron, Atkins, McGovern, Otten, Sloane, Brown 

BEST 
Hawthorn: Mitchell, O'Meara, Puopolo, Gunston, Burgoyne
Adelaide: Jacobs, Sloane, Smith, Mackay, Crouch, Betts, Talia

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Shiels (left leg), Smith (leg), Birchall (jaw)
Adelaide: Jenkins (ribs)

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Margetts, Nicholls, Mitchell

Official crowd: 37,420 at the MCG