SO MUCH for writing off Hawthorn.
The Hawks – sitting second-last on the ladder before the start of round 14 - produced one of the biggest upsets of the season, stunning top of the table Adelaide by 14 points at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
Trailing by 18 points at half-time, the Hawks dominated the second half with eight goals to three to quieten the crowd of 45,312.
Hawthorn is now a perfect 3-0 against the Crows at Adelaide Oval after the 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82) victory.
Click here for full match details and stats
Hawks recruit Ricky Henderson (30 disposals, two goals) got the last laugh over his former side in his 100th game, Shaun Burgoyne (26 possessions with 17 contested) was outstanding and Rising Star nominee Ryan Burton produced two clutch goals in the third term.
Veteran Grant Birchall (28 disposals) was also influential in his return from a knee injury while Tom Mitchell continued on his merry way with a game-high 38 disposals.
The Hawks kept Crows star Rory Sloane (23 touches) in check.
A late goal to impressive midfielder Hugh Greenwood gave the Crows a five-point lead at the final change, but the Hawks couldn't be stopped.
After a couple of close calls, goals to Paul Puopolo and Henderson sealed the deal and ensured the Hawks (5-8) have a finals heartbeat.
"It was just about persevering," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"Those sort of scramble balls that were 50/50 or favouring Adelaide in the first half, with perseverance those scramble balls started to fall our way.
"I thought we played terrifically well the whole game, but particularly in the last quarter, when the game was on the line.
"Considering the opposition, the hostile crowd, we were able to hang in the contest and drive the ball forward and give ourselves a chance to win."
Ryan Burton steps around Taylor Walker and bangs it home. #AFLCrowsHawks pic.twitter.com/Edn8EcpiE1
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2017
The Crows (9-4) have now lost four of their past seven games after winning six straight to start the season to put their premiership credentials in doubt.
"It was a disappointing night," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
"For whatever reason, our execution tonight was miles off the level that we've experienced.
"Even at half-time, talking to the playing group, a lot of the indicators were trending our way, we were in front on the scoreboard, and unfortunately in the third quarter it continued.
"We never really got into gear."
It took the Hawks just 42 seconds to kick more goals than they did in the entire first half of their previous visit to Adelaide Oval three weeks ago.
That night, they were kept to just 0.3 in the first two quarters against Port Adelaide in a one-sided encounter.
The Hawks got off to the perfect start, thanks to Shaun Burgoyne. #AFLCrowsHawks pic.twitter.com/PbODtZbKPU
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2017
But with a quartet of premiership players in Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, Luke Bruest and Ryan Schoenmakers back in the team and bringing 796 games of experience with them, the Hawks were an entirely different proposition.
They slowed the Crows down, didn't allow them to break from half-back and made the most of their own attacking opportunities.
Nothing separated the two sides at quarter-time with the scoreboard locked at 4.2 (26).
SHOWREEL: Hawks' midfield maestros lead in the last
Hawthorn followed the blueprint laid down by the rest of the competition in keeping Adelaide star Rory Sloane quiet.
Daniel Howe was given the job at the opening bounce of applying physical pressure to the club champion and last year's All-Australian vice-captain.
However, it wasn't just left to Howe, the Hawks applying a team defence philosophy with several players getting turns at annoying and pestering Sloane.
The Crows were being seriously challenged for one of the few times this season.
Five talking points: Adelaide v Hawthorn
Momentum swung their way in the final six minutes before half-time courtesy of two goals to Josh Jenkins and something special from skipper Taylor Walker.
A snap from Jenkins somehow bounced through without being touched courtesy of an Eddie Betts shepherd in the goal-square.
Jenkins then shoved Hodge out of the way to win the contested ball and snap truly for another, before skipper Taylor Walker marked, swung around and unloaded from 55m to give the Crows an 18-point lead at the long break.
Nice quarter from Josh Jenkins, with two late goals. #AFLCrowsHawks pic.twitter.com/eivCtBIdFi
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2017
Rory Atkins was outstanding in the second quarter with 13 touches after just five in the first.
The Crows had a huge advantage in Inside 50s (33-18) and were in front in contested possessions (a +14 differential), but the Hawks refused to go away.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: The Hawks reported a clean bill of health in another positive out of a tremendous night.
Adelaide: The biggest concern for the Crows is defender Luke Brown, who jarred his ankle and didn't finish the game. Winger Wayne Milera copped a knock to his knee, but the club doesn't believe it is serious.
NEXT UP
The resurgent Hawks have a 10-day break before they take on Collingwood at the MCG next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Crows have plenty of soul searching to do ahead of their clash with Carlton at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.
30 disposals, two goals and 120 @AFLFantasy points. Not bad from 100-gamer Ricky Henderson against his old club. #AFLCrowsHawks pic.twitter.com/zygYJGJ1uI
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2017
ADELAIDE 4.2 9.4 10.6 12.10 (82)
HAWTHORN 4.2 6.4 9.7 14.12 (96)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Walker 2, Greenwood 2, Cameron, B.Crouch, Betts, Lynch, Otten
Hawthorn: O’Brien 2, Burton 2, Puopolo 2, Henderson 2, Roughead, Langford, O’Brien, Hartung, Mitchell, Burgoyne
BEST
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Greenwood, Laird, Talia, Lynch
Hawthorn: Henderson, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Birchall, Burton, Hardwick
INJURIES
Adelaide: Milera (knee), Brown (ankle)
Hawthorn: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Margetts, Meredith
Official crowd: 45,312
Hawthorn upset the Crows to win their fifth game of 2017. The Hawks recorded 33 more disposals, 10 more contested possessions and five more goals than Adelaide after halftime.
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
BEHINDHawks (Jarryd Roughead)
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
The Hawks have recorded 26 more disposals than the Crows this quarter, including 20 more effective kicks.
GOALHawks (Shaun Burgoyne)
Hawthorn InterchangePaul Puopolo off due to an injury.
The Hawks have launched all four of their goals this term from their defensive half.
GOALHawks (Ricky Henderson)
BEHINDHawks (Jack Gunston)
BEHINDCrows (Tom Lynch)
Hawthorn has booted two goals from three kickins this term.
GOALHawks (Paul Puopolo)
Adelaide Crows InterchangeLuke Brown off due to an injury.
BEHINDCrows (Brodie Smith)
The Hawks have recorded the last four inside 50s but generated just three behinds from these.
BEHINDHawks (Will Langford)
BEHINDHawks (Rushed)
Hawthorn has scored 1.5 from set shots. The Crows have scored 6.1 from this shot type.
BEHINDHawks (Tom Mitchell)
GOALCrows (Andy Otten)
GOALHawks (Tom Mitchell)
BEHINDCrows (Josh Jenkins)
The Hawks generate just their fourth inside 50 from 36 chains originating in their defensive 50 and launch their first goal from this zone.
GOALHawks (Ricky Henderson)
Snap (0-15m, Left Side)
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
Q4 is now underway.
Hawthorn won the clearance count 137 in the third term and outscored the Crows by seven points from this source. The Hawks also won four more forward half intercepts than Adelaide and outscored the Crows by six points from this source.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
Brodie Smith wins his first intercept possession for the game and launches his team's fifth goal from this source. Smith has launched 81 points from his intercept possessions this season, the thirdmost points of any player in the competition.
GOALCrows (Hugh Greenwood)
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
Ryan Burton has now won 73 intercept possessions this season and launched 72 points from these, both ranked No.1 at the Hawks.
GOALHawks (Ryan Burton)
On the Run (40-50m, Left Side)
Adelaide Crows InterchangeWayne Milera off due to an injury.
GOALHawks (Ryan Burton)
Adelaide is absorbing the Hawks' attack, conceding just three behinds from 10 consecutive inside 50s.
BEHINDHawks (Jarryd Roughead)
BEHINDHawks (Will Langford)
BEHINDHawks (Jack Gunston)
James Sicily just grabbed his fourth intercept mark and is up to nine intercept possessions for the game, both gamehighs.
BEHINDCrows (Charlie Cameron)
The Hawks have outscored Adelaide by 19 points from one fewer forward half intercept possession. Luke Hodge has won three forward half intercept possessions and launched two goals from these.
GOALHawks (Tim O'Brien)
Jake Lever just won his seventh intercept possession, an equal gamehigh. Lever has won nine intercept possessions, including four intercept marks, per game this season, ranked No. 1 in the competition.
Q3 is now underway.
Tom Mitchell won a quarterhigh six groundball-gets, two more than any other player, as well as a team-high three clearances.
Rory Atkins recorded 13 disposals and gained 290 metres for his team, both quarterhighs.
The Crows recorded 30 more disposals than Hawthorn, including 21 more effective kicks, in the last 10 minutes of the second term.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
The Crows have grabbed 15 marks per game in their forward 50 this season, ranked No. 1 in the competition and two more than any other side. They have grabbed just two marks inside 50 in this game nearing halftime.
BEHINDHawks (Rushed)
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
Grant Birchall has grabbed a gamehigh three intercept marks, including the only two for his team this quarter.
BEHINDHawks (Shaun Burgoyne)
The Hawks have booted two goals from four clearance wins this term.
GOALHawks (Billy Hartung)
Rory Sloane has applied a quarterhigh four tackles, just two fewer than the Hawks.
BEHINDCrows (Eddie Betts)
With that goal to Brad Crouch, Adelaide has now scored 19 points from forward half clearances. The Crows have scored 18 points per game from this source this season, the thirdmost of any side.
GOALCrows (Brad Crouch)
Hawthorn continues to be efficient in its forward 50. The Hawks have generated a score from seven of their 11 (64 per cent) inside 50s, 19 per cent higher than their season average.
GOALHawks (Paul Puopolo)
BEHINDCrows (Eddie Betts)
Rory Laird wins his first intercept possession and launches his team's third score from this source. Laird has now launched 22 scores from intercept possessions this season, the equalmost of any player in the competition.
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
Q2 is now underway.
Hawthorn won two more intercept possessions in the forward half and outscored the Crows by 11 points from this source.
Adelaide won the clearance count by three in the opening term and outscored the Hawks by 12 points from this source.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
BEHINDHawks (Isaac Smith)
BEHINDCrows (Eddie Betts)
Matt Crouch has won a gamehigh seven grounball-gets with his seventh launching his team's second goal from clearances.
GOALCrows (Tom Lynch)
GOALHawks (Will Langford)
Shaun Burgoyne has won five groundballgets, four more than any other Hawk.
Despite winning one fewer clearance than the Hawks, Adelaide has generated the only two scores of the game from clearances, including that goal to Hugh Greenwood.
GOALCrows (Hugh Greenwood)
Hawthorn has now scored 18 points from intercept possessions won in its forward half, just 10 points shy of its season average.
GOALHawks (Tim O'Brien)
Eddie Betts kicks the second goal for the Crows, sourced from an intercept possession won in their forward half. Adelaide has scored 43 points per game from this source this season, ranked No. 1 in the AFL.
GOALCrows (Eddie Betts)
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
Charlie Cameron boots the first goal for his team, sourced from a kickin. Adelaide has generated a score from 11 per cent of its kick-ins this season, the seventh-highest percentage in the competition.
GOALCrows (Charlie Cameron)
BEHINDHawks (Ryan Schoenmakers)
The Hawks have booted both their goals from intercept possessions won in their forward half. Hawthorn has scored 28 points per game from this source this season, the sixthfewest in the competition.
GOALHawks (Jarryd Roughead)
Shaun Burgoyne boots the first goal of the game, sourced from an intercept possession won in his team's forward 50. The Hawks have won 67 intercept possessions in their forward 50 this season, the fifthmost of any side.
GOALHawks (Shaun Burgoyne)
Snap (15-30m, Left Side)
Q1 is now underway.
The Crows have generated a score from 53 per cent of their forward 50 entries this season, the highest percentage in the competition, while Hawthorn has conceded a score from 52 per cent of its opposition's inside 50s, the secondworst percentage.
Adelaide has won 10 more contested possessions per game than its opposition this season, the best differential of any side, while the Hawks have won 17 fewer contested possessions per game than their opposition, the worst differential.
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
Ins for Hawks: L.Hodge, G.Birchall, R.Schoenmakers, L.Breust
Outs for Hawks: J.Gibson, K.Stewart, B.Whitecross, J.Cousins
Ins for Crows: L.Brown
Outs for Crows: R.Knight
Welcome to Adelaide Oval for the Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn Round 14 clash.