Hawthorn has downed a plucky Adelaide on Thursday night, kicking away late to a 29-point win at Adelaide Oval in front of a 50,023-strong crowd.
The Hawks' clean possession sparkled in comparison to the Crows', who fought hard but whose errors hurt their cause.
The reigning premiers controlled the majority of the match and, even in the third term when Adelaide gave it everything, were able to keep up on the scoreboard.
Skipper Luke Hodge (25 disposals, one goal) led as we've come to expect, while Liam Shiels (25 disposals, one goal) and Isaac Smith (21 disposals, two goals) were both superb.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said it was an important win in the context of his side's season.
"They (Adelaide) challenged really seriously at a couple of stages, particularly through the third quarter and for us to just settle and get the game back on our terms a really good, grinding victory for our side," Clarkson said.
Scott Thompson (32 possessions), Rory Sloane (29) and Patrick Dangerfield (31 disposals, one goal) competed hard for the Crows and Kyle Cheney was reliable in his 50th senior game.
Five Talking Points: Crows v Hawks
As has become the norm, Adelaide's disposal efficiency was disappointing (ranked 16th in the League since round seven) early and the visitors threatened to tear the game open.
With the tackle count favouring the Hawks 25-12 at quarter-time, early signs weren't encouraging for the Crows.
Adelaide's intensity lifted in the second term and it fought hard to hang on, with Dangerfield, Sloane and Tom Lynch all doing what they could.
Their side just didn't have an answer and certainly couldn't equal the Hawks' cleanliness when in possession, yet goals against the flow to Lynch, Matthew Wright and Charlie Cameron kept the Crows within reach at half-time.
Cameron pounced on a loose ball in the goalsquare to nail his second – celebrating by 'stirring the pot' like NBA superstar James Harden.
The emerging forward then strung together two assists – the second put the Crows in front; and Adelaide was as hot as whatever Cameron was cooking in his celebration.
Having pushed through the second-quarter arm-wrestle the match again opened up as Jonathon Ceglar, Dangerfield and David Hale exchanged goals
For all their play in the third term, Adelaide was unable to make up ground with its four goals matched by four from the Hawks.
Victory was made even tougher when skipper Taylor Walker was forced into the subs vest, after the corked thigh he suffered in the second quarter tightened up.
The first goal of the final quarter was a necessity if the Crows were to prevail and Cameron had a golden chance to stir the pot again when he caught a ducking Ben Stratton holding the ball inside 50.
He missed, the ball made its way down Hawthorn's end and Smith made no such mistake; when Cyril Rioli snapped another just minutes later the match had its result.
Adelaide coach Phil Walsh said he had to continue to expose his side to pressure at training in order for it to improve its disposal efficiency.
"You've just got to show it to them, you've got to keep exposing them to it – it's as simple as that," he said.
"I'm not going to use it as an excuse…I'll show them some opportunities where they probably could have moved the ball a little bit quicker."
ADELAIDE 4.1 7.2 11.7 12.12 (84)
HAWTHORN 6.2 9.6 13.9 17.12 (114)
GOALS
Adelaide: Cameron 2, Douglas 2, Walker, Talia, Lynch, Wright, Betts, Laird, Dangerfield, Jenkins
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Hale 2, Smith 2, Burgoyne, Duryea, Hill, Puopolo, Shiels, Suckling, Ceglar, Hodge, Rioli, Hartung
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson, Douglas, Laird, Cameron, Cheney
Hawthorn: Hodge, Shiels, Smith, Mitchell, Hale, Burgoyne, Gibson
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
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Meredith, Harris
Official crowd: 50,023
