Crows no hope, say TAB punters

PUNTERS give Adelaide no chance of reaching the grand final, pushing the Crows out to the second-biggest preliminary final roughie in 25 years.

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PUNTERS give Adelaide no chance of reaching the grand final, pushing the Crows out to the second-biggest preliminary final roughie in 25 years.

Latest TAB markets have the Crows as $5.75 rank outsiders to upset Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

The Hawks' $1.14 is the second-shortest price the TAB has offered a preliminary final side since Geelong justified the $1.10 dealt by the bookies in their 2008 prelim against the Western Bulldogs.

Amazingly, the Hawks' modest $1.14 has failed to deter punters - for every dollar invested on the Crows the TAB has taken $40 on Hawthorn. "Money is running about 40 : 1 for the Hawks against the Crows and, at this rate, the $1.14 might not last much longer," TAB's Adam Hamilton said.

"Hawthorn is already the second shortest-priced preliminary final favourite since we started keeping records in 1987."

Even with a 36.5-point start, Adelaide remains a $2 outsider this Saturday. Hawthorn has been backed in from $1.90 to $1.80 to win by 37 points or more.