Adelaide Crows climb off canvas to out-gun Hawthorn
ADELAIDE has again shown it can lose a key soldier but still win the war, coming back after being on its knees early to break a six-year hex against the Hawks on the vast surrounds of the MCG.
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ADELAIDE has again shown it can lose a key soldier but still win the war, coming back after being on its knees early to break a six-year hex against the Hawks on the vast surrounds of the MCG.
A week after they seamlessly managed to whip flag fancy GWS without captain Taylor Walker the Crows refused to flinch after losing key forward and back-up ruckman Josh Jenkins in the eighth minute, recording another champagne win for a perfect start to the season.
Sam Jacobs took charge of the ruck and the game in front of 37,420 punters on a perfect afternoon and when he needed a spell, another chapter was added to the comeback story of Andy Otten as the defender helped out at ball-ups and with a presence in attack.
The Crows had been shell-shocked to begin with, but in the final quarter it was Adelaide that was irresistible as the Hawks slowed to a saunter.
The pace of Riley Knight and David Mackay became more important as the shadows grew longer and the game opened up and there was no sign of the Crows tiring despite being one man short.
One of the most impressive aspects of the win was Adelaide’s contested marks — here is a side that can back itself in old-fashioned contest-to-contest kicking at any time, and it finished a long way in front of Hawthorn in that category.
Among those who took eye-catching pack grabs were Jacobs, Mitch McGovern, Walker and Otten.
They Crows had to survive a massive scare, because it was one-way traffic to begin with.
Dual Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge was back after a club-imposed suspension kept him out of the Hawks’ surprise loss to Essendon ... and his team was back in business as well.
Hawthorn was back to its old trick — get the ball and refuse to give it back.
Before the Crows could gather themselves, Hawthorn had six goals to two on the MCG scoreboard and was threatening to build an unassailable buffer.
It was obvious to the eye, which kept seeing the ball in the Hawks’ hands, and the stats men, who recorded 10 more contested possessions, that Hawthorn was well on top.
The Hawks had vastly superior efficiency rate — as they hit their targets — and an even more one-sided lead in the uncontested ball count, which meant they were happy to chip it around.
To make matters worse, forward and pinch-hit ruckman Josh Jenkins was off to hospital for tests after copping an elbow to the ribs as he and Hawthorn debutant Teia Miles collided while chasing a loose ball.
As he hobbled through the car park there were fears for his ribs, lungs or internal organs. Regardless, he wasn’t coming back.
It left a mountain of work for Jacobs, the Crows’ No. 1 ruckman, and the Hawks cleverly sought to tire him out by sharing ruck duties between Ben McEvoy and former Tiger Ty Vickery.
Jacobs seemed to relish the challenge and “Sauce” was pouring himself into every corner of the ground: taking overhead marks, kicking a crucial goal, helping out to defend and exploiting the lack of smarts Vickery had in the defensive side of his ruck craft.
Others were crucial as the Crows found a way to bring themselves back into the game. Tom Lynch had been prominent from the first quarter and Rory Sloane dived into contest after contest.
There were treats of brilliance from both sides as the Crows clawed back both the margin and the contested ball column on the stat sheet.
Charlie Cameron kicked a peach of a goal when he snapped with his left foot around the body from 50m, Betts finished a coast-to-coast play after out-bodying a bigger opponent, and former Norwood player Paul Puopolo took a hanger of the year contender when he climbed over a pack.
A cracker last term seemed to be in the offering, with Adelaide going in four points up.
But the game broke open, and on the siren, Adelaide’s 24-point deficit at quarter time seemed a distant memory.
Crows fast five
By Chris McDermott
1. The Crows win proved beyond any doubt their fitness levels are elite. Arguably the best in the competition. David King called them the new “Premiership favourites’ after the win over Hawthorn and with their fitness levels and new express pace from their youngsters, it is hard to argue.
2. The Crows look very good early with two wins from their first two games, while the Hawks seem a meagre shadow of their former selves. If history is any indication, the Hawks’ 2017 premiership hopes are over ... but they ae not alone. No team this century has lost its first two games and won the flag. That means not only Hawthorn, but Sydney and Collingwood are done too.
3. Is it time for a decision review? The free kick paid to Paul Puopolo against David Mackay for in the back — which resulted in a goal — was one of the worst decisions ever paid. There must be an avenue to appeal these stinkers.
4. The Crows’ pressure was the difference in this game. The Hawks kicked sensationally well early but as Adelaide increased its pressure the kicks started to miss and the Crows began to dominate.
5. Josh Jenkins injury creates a significant problem that is not easily addressed heading into next week’s Showdown. The loss of Jenkins is only part of it but the impact on Sam Jacobs is another. He must be carefully managed or he may well break down. Another genuine tap ruckman is a must in their 22 from this moment on.
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 2.2 5.8 11.14 16.17 (113)
HAWTHORN 6.2 8.3 11.10 13.11 (89)
GOALS: Adelaide — Betts, Mackay 3, Walker 2, Sloane, Lynch, Jacobs, Cameron, McGovern, Otten, Atkins, Brown. Hawthorn — Breust 4, Puopolo 3, Roughead 2, Mitchell, Rioli, Shiels, Vickery.
BEST: Adelaide — Jacobs, Lynch, Smith, Sloane, Crouch, Walker, Betts. Hawthorn — Mitchell, Hodge, O’Meara, Burton, Puopolo
CROWD: 37,420 at the MCG
Originally published as Adelaide Crows climb off canvas to out-gun Hawthorn
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