Preliminary Final
Adelaide v Hawthorn
Saturday, September 22 at 4:45pm (SA time)
MCG

Latest news
Hawks recall key pair
Hawthorn has recalled Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young. The midfield duo, who missed the Club's Qualifying Final win over Collingwood, replaces Brendan Whitecross (knee) and Tom Murphy.


Out of action (Estimates only)
Jordan Lewis (hamstring) - Test
Clinton Young (calf) - Test
Brent Guerra (hamstring) - TBC
Brendan Whitecross (knee) - Season
Stephen Gilham (quad) - TBC
Michael Osborne (knee) - Season
Andrew Boseley (shoulder) - Season
Luke Lowden (wrist) - Season
Alex Woodward (knee) - Season

Hawthorn’s recent form
Qualifying Final, Hawthorn 20.15 (135) d Collingwood 15.7 (97), MCG
Round 23, Hawthorn 14.11 (95) d West Coast 10.10 (70), MCG
Round 22, Hawthorn 15.12 (102) d Sydney 14.11 (95), SCG
Round 21, Hawthorn 19.15 (129) d Gold Coast 10.5 (65), MCG
Round 20, Hawthorn 24.15 (159) d Port Adelaide 13.9 (87), Aurora Stadium

Recent form against Adelaide
2012, Round Three, Hawthorn 21.14 (140) d Adelaide 12.12 (84), MCG
2011, Round One, Adelaide 16.9 (105) d Hawthorn 12.13 (85), AAMI Stadium
2010, Round 12, Hawthorn 19.10 (124) d Adelaide 11.11 (77), Aurora Stadium
2009, Round 20, Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Hawthorn 9.13 (67), MCG
2009, Round 10, Adelaide 16.10 (106) d Hawthorn 12.7 (79), AAMI Stadium

Team
B: Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Ben Stratton
HB: Matt Suckling, Ryan Schoenmakers, Shaun Burgoyne
C: Xavier Ellis, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis
HF: Isaac Smith, Lance Franklin, Jack Gunston
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: David Hale, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
INT: Clinton Young, Paul Puopolo, Liam Shiels, Shane Savage (sub)

IN: Jordan Lewis, Clinton Young
OUT: Brendan Whitecross (knee), Tom Murphy (omit)

Stats that matter
Adelaide has won three of its past five matches against Hawthorn. However, the Hawks won the most-recent meeting between the two sides in Round Three this season.

Hawthorn is the most efficient kicking team in the AFL, hitting a target with 69.7 per cent of their disposals by foot. The Hawks are ranked No.1 in the League for short kicks and No.2 for long kicks.

The Crows have previously played in six preliminary finals (Essendon in 1993, Western Bulldogs in 1997 and 1998, Collingwood in 2002, and West Coast in 2005 and 2006) for two wins (97 and 98).

Hawthorn is last in the competition for contested marks, but ranked first in marks inside 50m.

Adelaide has not lost consecutive games this season.

Saturday’s Preliminary Final will be a battle of the two most efficient scoring teams this season. The Hawks are ranked No.1 in percentage of scores per inside 50m (55.5%), while the Crows are ranked second (53.8%).

Taylor Walker has kicked the equal-second most goals (six) in the 2012 Finals Series so far. Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich leads the way with seven goals from two finals. Jack Darling (West Coast) and Travis Cloke (Collingwood) have also kicked six in the opening fortnight of finals.

The Hawks are the best in the League at keeping the ball inside their forward half, and are second in total time in possession.

The Crows and Hawks have met twice in finals. Adelaide’s first-ever final was in an elimination final against Hawthorn at the MCG in 1993. The two teams met again in an elimination final in 2007, when Lance Franklin kicked a late goal to snatch a three-point win for his side.

News bites
Hawks recall key pair
Hawthorn has recalled Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young. The midfield duo, who missed the Club's Qualifying Final win over Collingwood, replaces Brendan Whitecross (knee) and Tom Murphy.

Hawks wary of Crow talls - Hawthornfc.com.au
Simpson conceded though, 21-year-old Schoenmakers is no guarantee to be handed the job on Taylor Walker, with fellow defender Josh Gibson also in contention to take on the in-form Crow. That equation is complicated by Walker’s forward partner, Tippett, who too looms as a danger for the Hawks.
But Simpson has full confidence in the Hawks’ defensive pair.

“He’s such a competitive beast and he loves playing on the big dogs,” Simpson said of Gibson.

“(But) we haven’t spoken about the specific match-up. Our back six are going to play a very important role because it’s not just about Walker and Tippett, there’s other players there as well.”

Grab your chances: Roughead - AFL.com.au
WITH Hawthorn just one win from the Grand Final, big man Jarryd Roughead has spoken of his desperate determination to succeed.

Lewis, Young set to return - AFL.com.au
HAWTHORN vice-captain Jordan Lewis and midfielder Clinton Young should return from injury against Adelaide in this Saturday's preliminary final at the MCG, Hawks football manager Mark Evans says.

I'm ready: Lewis - AFL.com.au
JORDAN Lewis has declared himself fit for Hawthorn's preliminary final clash with Adelaide on Saturday. The important midfielder missed the Hawks' first final with hamstring soreness.

"The body is feeling good," Lewis said on Monday.

"I obviously had the week off against Collingwood and the boys won, so that allowed me to have an extra week [of rest]. I trained all last week and I feel really good, and ready to go. There are no problems at all."