Fast-finishing Adelaide pip Hawthorn in AFL thriller

Perth Now

3 days ago

Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
Izak Rankine has helped the Crows overcome Hawthorn in Adelaide to go top of the ladder. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP
Adelaide spearhead Riley Thilthorpe has slotted four goals in a comeback 14-point win over Hawthorn which returns them to top of the AFL ladder.
The fast-finishing Crows kicked six goals to two in the last quarter for a gutsy 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87) triumph in a Friday night thriller.
The Crows slipped 32 points down late in the first term before a sell-out 50,654-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval.
They recovered to take the lead, only to lose it and trail by eight points at three-quarter time.
The Crows, with stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker kicking two goals each in a final term, then finished with a flourish.
Walker converted two long-range set shots to seal victory - he kicked three goals for the game, as did Rankine.
Adelaide sit top with a 15-5 win-loss record but Collingwood could reclaim pole position with a victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
Hawthorn (13-7) remain in fifth - only a win ahead of ninth spot - and hold fresh concern over influential midfielder Will Day, who limped from the field late.
The Hawks were gallant but ultimately overpowered by the Crows who were well-served by Irish-born defender Mark Keane (21 disposals, six marks), halfback Wayne Milera (19 touches) and winger Dan Curtin (20).
Key forward Thilthorpe's four-goal haul was complemented by Rankine and Walker while captain Jordan Dawson kicked two majors from his 21 disposals.
Hawthorn stalwart Jack Gunston booted four goals and Jack Ginnivan (19 disposals) two.
Hawk duo Massimo D'Ambrosio (25 possessions) and Karl Amon (23) were standouts and skipper James Sicily dominated in the air with 11 marks.
In a wildly fluctuating fixture, Hawthorn raced to a 32-point lead late in the first quarter.
The Crows hit back with 6.6 to nothing in the second term for a 16-point advantage at halftime.
Adelaide went 18 points up before a steely response from the Hawks returned six of the next seven goals as the visitors edged eight points clear at the final change.
The Crows then jumped 12 points up before two goals from Gunston, both from holding free kicks, out the Hawks one point up.
Adelaide responded with the last three goals of the game, with Walker's two long bombs sending the sell-out crowd into raptures.