THE CROWS have surrendered fourth spot on the AFL ladder after suffering a heartbreaking four-point loss to Hawthorn, 11.10 (76) to 10.12 (72) at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide led at every change in the low scoring affair and had one more scoring shot than their highly fancied opponents, but a goal from Hawks vice-captain Luke Hodge at the 22-minute-mark of the final term sealed an unlikely victory.

The Crows defence was resilient and Nathan Bock restricted Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who was reported for a head high bump, to just one goal, while racking up a career-high 35 possessions in the process.

In-form midfielder Scott Thompson was superb with 33 touches and Nathan van Berlo picked up 30. Tyson Edwards, Jason Porplyzia and Bernie Vince were also important contributors.

Hodge (28 possessions), Sam Mitchell (25) and Jarryd Roughead (three goals) were the main destroyers for the visitors.

The city of Adelaide caught a case of Buddy fever during the week, but the emerging superstar didn't even get a sniff in the opening minutes of the first term.

The Crows, determined to make amends for their round-four capitulation to Hawthorn, dominated the first six minutes and amassed 24 possessions and 2.2 before the Hawks even touched the ball.

Last week's hero Thompson and the impressive Porplyzia both missed early opportunities to get the Crows on the board and it was left to Bernie Vince to capitalise on the home side's dominance with the first goal.

The enigmatic Luke Jericho extended Adelaide's lead minutes later and the league-leading Hawks appeared shell shocked.

The Crows effectively persisted in their strategy of switching the ball to avoid Hawthorn's cluster and Bock restricted Franklin to two behinds.

It was the Hawks' other key forward, Roughead, who finally ignited the visitors with a hand in two goals to Michael Osborne and Cyril Rioli.

Andrew McLeod signalled his return to form with a spectacular chase to prevent a certain Franklin goal and the resulting behind reduced Adelaide's lead to one point at quarter time.

Defender Nathan Bassett (shoulder) cast a forlorn figure on the Crows bench at the start of the second quarter, but he would have liked what he saw from his team. Veteran Tyson Edwards helped the home side to another fast start with a strong mark and goal in the opening minute.

The Crows, through Ivan Maric and Jon Griffin, dominated the clearances (9-3) and Scott Thompson and Nathan van Berlo got first hands on the ball.

Richard Douglas, who was entrusted with the job on Chance Bateman before the Hawks' livewire pinged a hamstring, extended Adelaide's lead to 13 points with his first goal from a 50m penalty.

Hawthorn regained some momentum in the tight, low scoring affair and some swift ball movement saw sharpshooter Mark Williams with a shot inside 50m.

He converted and silenced the parochial crowd before Franklin became involved in a passage of play likely to receive plenty of airplay over the next few days.

Franklin put his Brownlow Medal hopes in jeopardy midway through the second term when he was reported for making high contact on Crows midfielder Michael Doughty.

Doughty got to his feet, but the incident rattled Franklin, who put his next shot on goal just minutes later out on the full.

Roughead and Williams again combined to keep the Hawks within reach before Porplyzia restored Adelaide's two-point lead just before half time.

Franklin floated up the ground at the start of the third term in a bid to get involved in the game, but it was his opponent Bock who racked up the touches with 10 for the quarter.

Both sides flooded inside their defensive 50m zones and the game fell into a stalemate.

Goals to Hawks skipper Sam Mitchell and another to emerging Crow Douglas continued the arm wrestle.

Porplyzia threatened to break the game open with two goals in a minute, but two in return to the dangerous Roughead brought the margin back to three points at three-quarter time.

Skipper Simon Goodwin missed a chance to extend Adelaide's lead to eight points early in the final term, but thankfully for Crows fans his vice-captain Edwards did not.

Franklin, who was held goalless by Bock for three quarters, finally found the middle of the big sticks and again the margin was back to two points.

Vince and Porplyzia held firm in the pressure cooker environment and set up a second to Jericho, but the Hawks responded again through a 60m bomb from Osborne.

Super cool Luke Hodge gave the Hawks an unlikely lead with a crucial goal at the 22-minute mark and the Crows just couldn't muster another effort as Hawthorn played tempo football and iced the game.

Adelaide 2.4 5.7 8.10 10.12 (72)
Hawthorn 2.3 5.5 8.7 11.10 (76)

GOALS

Adelaide: Porplyzia 3, Edwards, Jericho, Douglas 2, Vince. Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Williams, Osborne 2, Rioli, Mitchell, Franklin, Hodge

BEST

Adelaide: Bock, Thompson, Edwards, van Berlo, Vince, Porplyzia, Johncock. Hawthorn: Roughead, Mitchell, Osborne, Morton, Hodge

INJURIES

Adelaide: Bassett (shoulder), Reilly (hamstring) replaced in side by Otten. Hawthorn: Bateman (hamstring), Clarke (hamstring), Croad (hip) replaced in side by Murphy

Reports: Franklin reported by umpire Vozzo for making high contact on Doughty in the second quarter.

Umpires: Vozzo, Wenn, Mollison

Official crowd: 44, 559 at AAMI Stadium