The win is Adelaide’s fourth from the last five games (two of which have come against teams placed higher on the ladder) whilst the loss for the Hawks means they drop out of the top four for the first time since round one.
The Crows opened in ominous form after the Hawks won the toss and amazingly gave them first use of what was a very stiff breeze. They kicked 5.2 to 0.0 in the first quarter and never looked back running out victors 13.13.91 to 8.5.53.
Andrew McLeod kicked two goals on the run in the opening term to help set up the Crows' lead in what was a must win game for both sides. The Crows went inside their attacking 50 metre zone nine times more than the Hawks as well as having 16 more possessions.
Hawthorn did not score its first goal until almost 13 minutes into the second quarter when John Barker goaled with a 30-metre snap. The Crows managed to contain the Hawks to just two goals as they kicked with the wind whilst also scoring one of their own to maintain a 25 point lead at half time.
The Adelaide defence was superb, particularly Nathan Bassett on Nathan Thompson, Ben Hart on Aaron Lord, Evan Hewitt on Trent Croad and Nigel Smart on the dangerous John Barker.
Bassett and Hewitt were also able to help drive Adelaide into attack on several occasions in hard-working games. Their run from the half back line helped the Crows once again take advantage of the wind in the third term kicking four goals to two to lead by 38 points at the final change.
Brett Burton was highly productive on the half-forward line throughout the game, while Mark Ricciuto gathered a huge number of possessions in the midfield. The Hawks were well beaten in this area and badly missed injured Daniel Chick and suspended Shane Crawford.
Hawthorn also struggled to find a winning forward, with Thompson taking the first mark for his team inside the forward 50 metre zone six minutes into the third quarter.
Darren Jarman, playing in what could be his last game at Football Park led the victorious Crows from the ground but it was the forward work of Simon Goodwin who kicked four goals in a best afield performance that helped set up the victory.
The loss was the Hawks third from the past four games and they will need to have a big win against St.Kilda next week to take some sort of momentum into the finals.
One shining light from the game was the return of injured ruckman Shaun Rehn who was the Hawks best player in his first return to Football Park to take on his old side.
Scoreboard:
ADELAIDE 5.2 6.4 10.7 13.13 (91)
HAWTHORN 0.0 2.3 4.5 8.5 (53)
Goals: Adelaide: S Goodwin 4 M Stevens 2 A McLeod 2 K Johnson 2 A
Eccles R Biglands D Jarman.
Hawthorn: A Lord 2 N Thompson J Barker N Lonie K Barlow M Osborne S Greene.
Best: Adelaide: S Goodwin B Burton N Bassett M Stevens M Ricciuto E
Hewitt.
Hawthorn: S Rehn J Hay J Rawlings L McCabe N Thompson K
Barlow.
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: A Coates M Nash D Goldspink
Crowd: 42,827 at Football Park
