SUMMARY

These two clubs began their finals campaigns from opposite ends of the top eight but arrive at the same semi-final as a pair of evenly-matched teams.

Adelaide returned to finals for the first time since 2017 after finishing as minor premier but looked shellshocked as Collingwood took command last week. A double chance and second home final can only help the Crows as they seek to avoid becoming the first team in 42 years to finish on top of the ladder then be bundled out in straight sets.

Hawthorn showed that it is one of the better teams to have finished in eighth place as it first overpowered Greater Western Sydney then withstood a gallant fightback. The Hawks broke a hoodoo on the Giants' home turf and will now have to rewrite history to become the first team to beat the minor premier from eighth place. In their second successive finals series, the Hawks will hope to take the learnings from being knocked out at the same stage and venue last year.

The Crows have recalled goalsneak Josh Rachele for the first time since he sustained a nasty knee injury in round 17, while Mitch Lewis comes in for the hamstrung Calsher Dear after booting four goals in a VFL final last week. 

Adelaide v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST

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SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Josh Rachele
Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath

CROWS v HAWKS Follow it live

Where and when: Adelaide Oval, Friday September 12, 7.10pm ACST

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Round 21: Adelaide 15.11 (101) d Hawthorn 13.9 (87) at Adelaide Oval

Adelaide climbed into top spot for the first time this season after finishing stronger than Hawthorn in a game of wild momentum swings. The Hawks booted the opening five goals before the Crows finally hit back just before the first change. The hosts caught fire in the second term when Riley Thilthorpe and Jordan Dawson kicked five majors between them as part of the Crows' eight-goal blitz. The Hawks responded with the next five majors before the final term turned into an arm wrestle. Taylor Walker booted the last two goals of the game to finally settle a rollercoaster contest.

Round 14: Hawthorn 6.11 (47) d Adelaide 5.14 (44) at UTAS Stadium

Hawthorn chased down Adelaide to win its eighth consecutive game at its Tasmania fortress as both sides failed to take their opportunities in a hard-fought slog. The Hawks and Crows booted 13 consecutive behinds between them during the second half before Connor Macdonald broke the horror stretch to snatch the lead for the hosts with seven minutes remaining. Izak Rankine responded almost immediately but Hawks onballer Jai Newcombe had the final say with what would be the last goal of the game as his side hung on grimly for six more minutes.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

Adelaide

With strong pillars at either end, the Crows' rise back up the ladder has been powered by a strength in the air and they lead the competition for contested mark differential. But Adelaide paid a heavy price for allowing Collingwood to take 28 intercept marks last week. The lack of composure and connection between the Crows' midfield and attack meant the second-highest scoring finalist this year could only find eight goals from 50 inside-50 entries. 

Hawthorn

The Hawks had their kicking boots on against the Giants as they slotted their first seven set shots. The sharp-shooting helped the Hawks boot 11.3 from 24 forward 50 entries to the main break. While their small and medium-sized forwards did much of the damage early at Engie Stadium, the tall forward combination - that has the Hawks ranked No.2 among the finalists for marks inside 50 - is likely to be even more important against the Crows.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR ...

Adelaide

The Crows' forward line built around Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty has been among the most potent combinations all season but was too often found wanting as the finals heat rose against the Pies. Thilthorpe is the linchpin of the tall trio after a career-best season when he became one of the most imposing forwards in the game. But even this year's All-Australian full forward had moments against the Pies that he would like to take back, booting two goals but having little other influence on the game. The Hawks need no reminder of Thilthorpe's talents after the 201cm forward helped turn the game with four goals the last time they met. 

Hawthorn

The Hawks responded to their semi-final exit last year in bold fashion with the recruitment of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass to bolster the backline. The idea was to unleash James Sicily and his intercept-marking weapons, although his early injury concerns meant it took time for the new defensive set up to flourish. The Hawks captain's return to fitness coincided with his side's improved form on the run home and Sicily was important in marshalling the defence in the win last week over the Giants. The 30-year-old now needs to rise to occasion and guide the Hawks in front of a hostile crowd and at a venue where he came agonisingly close to being the match-winner on the same finals stage last year.

PREDICTION

The gap between Adelaide and Hawthorn during the home and away season was much closer than the final ladder might suggest and they played out a pair of tense tussles throughout the year. Little appears to separate the Crows and Hawks now with similarities between their forward lines based around a trio of talls with a reliable defence at the other end. The Crows were handed a reality check last week but it should not be forgotten that they won nine straight games before that and will again be playing in front of a parochial crowd. Adelaide by 11 points.

VETERAN Hawk Jack Gunston has helped his side spectacularly boot Adelaide out of this year’s finals series with a 34-point over the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

The two-time All Australian kicked five goals against his former side as the ferocious Hawks dominated from the first bounce to the last to win 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67) in front of a crowd of 52,005.

CROWS v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

Hawthorn’s midfield reigned supreme, in particular Jai Newcombe who had five centre bounce clearances in the first quarter to set the tone for the match. 

The Hawks’ 2024 best and fairest was arguably his side’s best, finishing the night with 28 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.

Hawthorn's forwards were unrelenting in front of goal, particularly Gunston who gave his direct opponent Mark Keane a night he’d prefer to forget. 

The 33-year-old’s hit-up leads continually caught the Irishman off guard, Gunston finishing with seven marks and 10 score involvements.

The loss means that Adelaide becomes the first minor premiers to bow out of finals in straight sets in over forty years, with North Melbourne the last side to do so in 1983.

It’s the second consecutive loss for Matthew Nick’s Crows, after falling to Collingwood by 24-points in the qualifying final last week, and they now turn their attention to 2026.

For the Hawks, they take another step forward in their premiership quest and will face arch rivals Geelong in a mouthwatering preliminary final at the MCG next weekend. 

It was a defining second term when Hawthorn was able to keep Adelaide goalless, whilst adding two of their own, giving the visitors a 19-point lead at half-time.

From there, Gunston kicked four second-half goals to extend the lead to 30 points at three-quarter time and 34 at the final siren.

Utility Josh Weddle created headaches for the Crows' wingmen, kicking a goal and taking seven marks, as did Josh Ward (31 disposals) and Nick Watson, who kicked two goals to continue his outstanding form in finals.

Adelaide big man Riley Thilthorpe was one of the Crows’ best, finishing with three goals on a low scoring night for the home side.

Adelaide’s other two key forwards had quiet nights, in particular Tex Walker who had just six disposals and two behinds in an entertaining battle against James Sicily. 

Sicily outplayed his Crows opponent and finished as one of the Hawks’ best with 21 disposals, nine marks and six intercept possessions.

A positive on what was otherwise a dour night for Adelaide was the return of livewire forward Josh Rachele, who kicked two second-half goals after starting as his side’s sub.

Rachele came into the game at half-time, replacing defender Mitch Hinge who was subbed out with an ankle injury.

Fellow Crows defender Josh Worrall (32 disposals, eight rebound 50s) tried hard all night, but was one of only a few Adelaide players to get on top of their opponent. 

Midfielder’s complete performance
Jai Newcombe set the stage for his side in Friday night’s semi-final. The midfielder put together an extraordinary four-quarter performance, but it was his first term that really laid the groundwork for the Hawthorn victory. In the first quarter alone, Newcombe had 11 disposals, six clearances (including five centre bounce clearances) and four inside 50s. The midfield bull’s ability to win clearances allowed the Hawks forwards to make the most of their entries, and five minutes into the game, Hawthorn had three goals on the scoreboard, whilst Adelaide was yet to register an inside 50. The 24-year-old finished the game 28 disposals (at 92.9 per cent disposal efficiency), a game-high 16 contested possessions and 10 score involvements.

Butler delivers
The young Hawk has played just five games this year, but in Friday’s semi-final you could see why Sam Mitchell put his confidence in Sam Butler. The 22-year-old was excellent in the 34-point win, collecting 15 disposals, kicking two second-half goals and finishing with a game-high nine tackles. You would suggest the Hawk will be a lock for next week’s preliminary final against Geelong.

ADELAIDE         3.2   3.6     7.7     10.7 (67)
HAWTHORN      4.4   6.7   11.13   14.17 (101)

GOALS
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 3, Rachele 2, Keays, Peatling, Fogarty, Pedlar, Soligo
Hawthorn: Gunston 5, Watson 2, Butler 2, Amon, Weddle, Moore, McDonald, Newcombe

BEST
Adelaide: Worrell, Dawson, Laird, Thilthorpe, Milera
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Gunston, Sicily, Ward, Worpel

INJURIES
Adelaide: Mitch Hinge (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Josh Rachele (replaced Mitch Hinge at half-time)
Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath (replaced Mitch Lewis in the third quarter)

Crowd: 52,005 at Adelaide Oval