Hawthorn makes AFL history as Adelaide becomes laughing stock

The Adelaide Crows entered the finals full of hope after finishing on top of the ladder, but it all ended in truly humiliating scenes.

Hawthorn has toppled the minor premier Adelaide Crows to book their spot in a preliminary final.

At Adelaide Oval the Hawks put their rivals to the sword and proved far too strong as they secured the 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67) victory.

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The result means the AFL record books have been rewritten with Hawthorn becoming the first ever team that finished eighth on the ladder knocking off the team that finished on top.

For Crows fans it means the season that delivered so much promise has come to a humiliating end in straight sets with both losses coming at their home ground.

The third highest scoring team in the league throughout the home and away season simply couldn’t find a way to score in the heat of September and they’ll now have the summer to figure out where it all went wrong.

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The Hawks won the battle of the birds . Picture: Michael Klein

For the Hawks they’ll soar into the MCG next weekend for a showdown with long-time rival Geelong after the Cats dismantled Brisbane in week one.

After bursting out of the blocks, the Hawks held a slender eight-point lead at the first break but then flexed their muscles for the remainder of the contest.

The Crows never looked in the contest after quarter time as the Hawks piled on 10 goals to seven across the final three quarters.

While the Hawks faithful celebrated, the knives came out for the Crows after they were sent packing having not won a single quarter across two finals games.

NewsWire’s Ronny Lerner wrote on X: “This is unbelievable. Adelaide have been the No.1 attack all year but haven’t been able to kick a score in either final against 2 of the top 3 defences. It might be midway through Q3, but the Crows are right up against it now. Like deer in the headlights.”

The Herald Sun’s Al Paton wrote: “Jordan Dawson has had an amazing year. But he has been a complete non-factor in his team’s two home finals.”

Michael English wrote: “Genuinely, is this the worst set of finals performance ever from Adelaide? They have been nothing short of atrocious.”

The Age’s Peter Ryan wrote: “Disappointing is an understatement when it comes to Adelaide’s finals. Have not challenged their opposition either week.”

Another added: “This is probably the biggest waste of a season I have ever seen in the history of football. Minor premiers out in starlight sets. They will never be in this position again for the next 50 years.”

Crows fans storm out of Adelaide Oval

The straight sets finals defeat also means Izak Rankine will serve the final match of his four-match ban in the opening round of the 2026 season.

For the Hawks they’ll return to Melbourne and will turn their attention to Geelong in a dream match for the AFL powerbrokers.

The two rivals will lock horns at the MCG in a contest that will attract a monster crowd with a place in the Grand Final on offer.

The second preliminary final will see Collingwood take on the winner of the second semi-final between the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns.