The Crows conceded the first five goals of the game but slammed on 13 of the next 17 to run away with a 13.16 (94) to 9.13 (67) victory.
Adelaide’s 12th win of the season takes them level on points with the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs, although the Dogs still have a game in hand.
There were positives aplenty for the victors.
Beating the reigning premiers at the MCG was good enough but the return of Trent Hentschel playing as a deep forward was the cream on the cake.
Their consistent midfield and defence was St Kilda-like, which is a big compliment.
They stifled the life out of the Hawks who looked particularly uncertain trying to find a way forward.
Hawthorn enjoyed patches of brilliance from Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin but was clearly beaten in the midfield.
They can still make the top eight depending on other results, despite losing four in a row.
The game looked like it was going all their way when the Hawks burst out of the blocks with the first five goals of the game.
Rioli lit the fuse with a stunning tackle to set up the opening goal of the game then booted the second himself off the ground from 25m.
There were just 15 seconds left in the first quarter when Adelaide got their one and only goal for the term through Scott Thompson.
Hawthorn’s lead was 25 points and the Crows needed to change the game. Swinging 33-year-old Andrew McLeod into the middle proved the answer.
McLeod gave the dash and daring and the rest applied vice-like pressure as they wore the Hawks down.
Just at the tick of time-on, Trent Hentschel threaded the needle from outside the boundary 40m out to give the Crows the lead.
By the long break Adelaide had booted six unanswered goals and turned the five-goal first-quarter deficit into a nine-point lead.
Ben Rutten had kept Franklin to just two kicks and no goals in the opening half but it took Franklin just a minute in the third term to get on the scoreboard.
He went on to add another two for the quarter himself but those were the only three goals Hawthorn kicked for the term.
At the other end, Hentschel matched Franklin’s three for the quarter but he had a few goalkicking mates as well.
Adelaide won the quarter six goals to three to take a 23-point margin to the last change.
It could have been one goal more if Brent Reilly had dished off to an unmarked Kurt Tippett in the goal square instead of taking a set shot in the shadows of three-quarter time.
Reilly’s shot missed everything and it gave the Hawks a sniff if they were good enough.
Franklin’s fourth, and 300th career goal got the Hawks to within 19 points but a clanger at half forward ended the run there.
A backwards chip from Josh Kennedy missed the target and landed with McLeod who helped set up Chris Knights straight in front.
Both sides looked weary in the last 15 minutes and it was no surprise that the Hawks didn’t have the energy to launch one last challenge.
Hawthorn 5.3 5.5 8.10 9.13 (67)
Adelaide 1.2 6.8 12.9 13.16 (94)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Lewis, Sewell, McGlynn, Rioli, Morton
Adelaide: Hentschel 4, Thompson 2, Porplyzia 2, Tippett, Vince, Doughty, Douglas, Knights.
BEST
Hawthorn: Lewis, Franklin, McGlynn, Mitchell, Bateman.
Adelaide: McLeod, Hentschel, Doughty, Vince, Thompson, Edwards, Johncock.
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Campbell (hand)
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Chamberlain, Meredith
Official crowd: 32,583 at MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
