EFNL 2025: Resurgent Rowville ends East Ringwood's unbeaten run
What a way to arrest a form slump.
Rowville sent its Eastern league Premier Division flag rivals a resounding warning on Saturday, handing East Ringwood its first loss of the season.
Fresh off a 138-point demolition of Mitcham, the Hawks' 13.10 (88) to 8.11 (59) victory puts their season back on track following a three-game losing streak.
Rowville senior coach Ben Wise said the mid-year bye served to refresh his battle-weary side after losses to Blackburn, Berwick and Doncaster East.
'Since the break we've come back a different side – the break came at a good time for us … we were a bit battered and bruised,' he said.
'They've come back well, and then to come up against the benchmark … we had a plan that we thought if we stuck to it, we'd be able to get them.'
The evergreen Matt Davey finished best afield with three goals as the Hawks pulled ahead by 15 points by three-quarter time.
'He's getting better with age,' Wise said.
'He's such a fit bugger, attacks the contest fiercely, create something out of nothing and was really crafty forward of centre. He was able to fly for his marks and then convert in front of goal.
'He's been super this year – he's missed three games which were our three losses, so he thinks he's the difference at the moment.'
Matt Evans, Lachlan McDonald, Anthony Brolic, Joshua Clarke and Jesse Eickhoff rounded out the Hawks' best.
Meanwhile, the back six kept arguably the league's most potent forward trio – Josh Fox, Riley Weatherill and Remy Maclean – to a combined five majors.
Young gun Cal Verrell stood the towering Fox, who finished with two goals.
'They've (East Ringwood) got some weapons up there which was always going to be my concern … my boys were a bit undersized and (were able to) bring it to ground,' Wise said.
The coach also lauded debutant Lachlan Toomey, who earned a call-up after booting four goals in the reserves last round.
'We needed a hybrid third tall and he came in and played that role – he kicked a goal and he was playing on a good player (Callum Norris), so he did well,' Wise said.
'It's just good to promote another kid against good opposition and give him a taste of it.'
The result lifted the Hawks to a 6-3 record for third spot ahead of their Round 10 away clash with Noble Park.
Wise said his side's recent form slump was 'more above the shoulders'.
'We just had to get back to what we know is our best and that's playing team-first, strong on defence and attacking the contest really strongly,' he said.
'We're under no illusion that it's going to be tough, but we have obviously shown that having anywhere close to our full-strength side and play our way, we're going to be hard to beat, I believe.'
East Ringwood remains first on the ladder with an 8-1 record.
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Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Live scores, updates, blog, stats, start time AEST and how to stream
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Adelaide has climbed into first place on the ladder and moved another step closer toward a top-two finish after outlasting a gutsy Hawks outfit in a topsy turvy, Friday night classic at Adelaide Oval. A contest filled with twists, turns and several lead changes, the Crows stormed home with six goals — two to Izak Rankine — in the final quarter as Matthew Nicks' side claimed a 14-point win, 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87). Rankine's clutch fourth term helped turn the game, with the Crows star racking up seven disposals (four contested) along with his two goals and setting up another to Taylor Walker, who nailed two important late majors himself. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Meanwhile Riley Thilthorpe (four goals) and Jordan Dawson (21 touches, 12 tackles, two goals) also starred as the Crows charge towards their first finals campaign since 2017. 'There's a lot to like about what's going on with the Adelaide Football Club,' Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy post-match. 'There's every reason to think they can go deep into September. They're growing in confidence and belief and that's important. 'Because from where they've come from, they haven't had this belief before. But they've committed to the path, they're seeing the fruits of the labour, it pays handsome dividends. 'You look on each line and think: 'There are players here who can get us where we need to go'.' It came after Hawthorn started the game on fire with a five-goal first quarter, before Adelaide returned serve with a six-goal unanswered second term in wild momentum swings. It was the Hawks turn to fightback with a six-major third term — capped off by a brilliant Jack Ginnivan left-foot finish — to set up an epic finish as the visitors led by eight points at the final change. But Adelaide had the answers in the final stanza, despite a big scare when Jack Gunston kicked consecutive goals from free kicks to briefly get the Hawks the lead back, until Rankine and Walker guided the hosts to victory. It saw the Crows improve to 15-5 to currently sit first on the ladder and continue the club's extraordinary rise, though Collingwood can regain top spot if it can defeat Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday night. But Adelaide has consolidated a top two spot ahead of matches against West Coast (Optus Stadium), Collingwood (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) to finish its home and away campaign. Hawthorn meanwhile fell to 13-7 and is suddenly in jeopardy of missing the top eight ahead of clashes with Collingwood, Melbourne (both MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) on its run home. Izak Rankine of the Crows celebrates a goal during the round 21 AFL match between Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on August 01, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by) The 3-2-1 (via Jack Jovanovski) ... 3. 'EXTRAORDINARY SEQUENCES' AS SKIPPER, SPARKPLUG STEER 'TREMENDOUS' FIGHTBACK It was Jordan Dawson who spearheaded the initial comeback after quarter-time, but fourth-quarter matchwinning moments from Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker ensured the Crows overturned an eight-point three-quarter-time deficit to win by 14 points and temporarily claim top spot on the ladder. The spectacle well and truly lived up to its Friday night billing, with the visiting Hawks throwing everything they had at the hosts in the first and third quarters, but Adelaide again proved why it's shaping as an almighty premiership threat eight years on from the false dawn of 2017. The Crows entered having won 10 of 11 games at Adelaide Oval this year, but it was the visitors who took centre stage at the outset. Hawthorn kicked five goals before the Crows managed their first major via Darcy Fogarty. But while they'd been undone by the Hawks at stoppage, a calm and rational Matthew Nicks recalibrated his group at quarter-time before his troops issued a stark response. Captain Jordan Dawson was at the forefront of Adelaide's fightback, with key spearhead Riley Thilthorpe also bearing the fruits of its second stanza dominance. 'It's a skipper-led comeback, isn't it? Four possessions, a clearance and a couple of goals already in this second term — more than anyone else on the ground. That was head-to-head with Jai Newcombe … and he was just too good,' AFL legend Jason Dunstall said on the Fox Footy broadcast. Demons icon and former captain Garry Lyon added: 'I loved what he did at the start of the second quarter. Will Day was outstanding (in the first quarter), and (Dawson) just went to the centre square and … stood right beside him as if to say 'OK, we know we've got work to do, let me lead the way here, and I'll take the most dangerous'.' Dunstall added: 'This has been a tremendous surge by the Crows.' Thilthorpe kicked three goals in the quarter, and all in all, it was eight unanswered goals between late in the first quarter and early in the third. Dunstall said at the main change: 'They've had a dominant second term where they were just controlling every single category, (the) ball living in their forward half, (and) defence completely on top on the rare occasions the Hawks did go forward. This is impressive.' In the second quarter alone, the Crows were +9 for inside-50s and +22 for contested possessions. But for a team that has looked as defensively stout as any in the competition bar Collingwood this year, the Crows allowed a second run of five unanswered goals as the visitors took an eight-point lead into the final change. But as you almost would have predicted, the way this game was going, the Crows had yet another resurgence in them, booting the first three majors of the final term. 'I've never seen a night like this, the way this has swung around,' Lyon said in the final quarter as Adelaide got on top by 12 points. Caller Anthony Hudson added: 'These extraordinary sequences are continuing in this game.' A piece of Izak Rankine brilliance from a boundary throw-in ensured the Crows got their noses back in front after a couple of Hawthorn goals. Rankine was doing the business for Adelaide in the final 30 minutes, notching seven disposals, two goals and five score involvements. 'He's had seven touches in the last quarter, five of them result in scores, he's kicked two himself, and he's had about three different opponents … sometimes you've just got to dip your lid, and Izak Rankine is the one.' Dunstall said: 'This is a team that's got some matchwinners. This man here, Izak Rankine, is worth his weight in gold. He can turn a game in the space of 10 minutes.' Rankine finished his night with an equal-game-high nine score involvements to go with his three goals. Two massive Taylor Walker set shot goals provided the Crows the buffer they needed to close out the deal. Walker also posted seven score involvements for the evening. 'They (the Hawks) came out firing and we didn't bring our best contest, but unbelievable effort from the boys to fight back in that second quarter, and then from there on, it was just an arm wrestle,' Dawson told Fox Footy after the final siren. Of Nicks' message at quarter-time, Dawson said: 'I mean, we haven't had too many quarters like that this year. He was really calm, really measured, (just talking about getting) back to our process, to keep trusting each other in our roles — which we've been doing the whole year — but we got away from that, we got a little bit too sucked into the contest. Unbelievable to turn it around, and it just shows the maturity of the group.' James Sicily of the Hawks after the loss during the 2025 AFL Round 21 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on August 1, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 2. HAWKS' BLOW IN FINALS RACE AS SCRIPT BRUTALLY FLIPPED AMID 21-YEAR FIRST It was a Hawthorn blitz early in proceedings at Adelaide Oval, and it was all about its work at clearance. The Hawks were comprehensive at the source, winning the first-quarter count 15-5 to give themselves quality scoring chances. Evergreen forward Jack Gunston booted two of the first three goals for the Hawks, who hit hard off counterpunch, characteristically looking to go through the corridor as they piled on five unanswered majors before Adelaide's first to lead by 26 points at the first change. 'They were on fire. Perfect what-to-do on the road is get off hard, win the clearances, win the contested ball, tackle hard and put Adelaide on the back foot,' Adelaide Crows icon Mark Ricciuto assessed on Fox Footy. Dunstall added the Hawks' clearance ascendancy was a rarity this season: 'Fifteen to five for clearances … that's an advantage they've rarely enjoyed this season. And then that translates to a territory advantage … the defence stood up; they conceded 1.1 from 11 inside-50s.' The Hawks finished the opening term +20 for points from clearance. Six of their clearances came via Will Day, with that being the best effort in a quarter by a Hawthorn player this season. But in the second term, the script was completely flipped on its head as the home side got to work. The Crows went on an unanswered run of eight goals to strike fear into the hearts of the Hawks, lifting their intensity to a critical level. It was the first time the Hawks had been held scoreless in a second quarter since Round 22, 2004. 'It was an extraordinary first quarter from the Hawks — they fired their best shot — and the Crows just said 'I see that and I'll raise you',' Dunstall said at half-time. Hawthorn allowed Adelaide 23 more contested possessions in the second quarter alone. The Hawks still had nine more clearances at half-time, but they'd been overtaken for territory, with the Crows generating four more entries. 'Hawthorn can't allow 22 (contested possessions) against (in the third), because then it's not going to matter what they do in front or behind the ball, it's not going to be enough,' Buckley said. 'We'll see — Dawson and Day, we'll see Newcombe and Berry; we'll see these matchups through the middle of the field … those contests are going to be instructive.' Conor Nash broke Adelaide's run of eight-straight goals at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, before the Hawks incredibly went on another rampant run of majors — booting five in a row for the second time on Friday night. Lyon said the response from Mitchell's charges was 'fantastic' after giving up the first goal of the term to trail by as many as 22 points, generating their scores off the back of 10 intercept marks in the quarter. 'Let's just put this in perspective. They gave up 20+ contested possessions in the second quarter, so to go in and gather yourself, give up the first goal of the third quarter, and then bang five in a row — fantastic response,' Lyon said. But inaccuracy was problematic in the final stanza, with the Hawks managing a measly 2.4 to Adelaide's 6.2 as they surrendered their eight-point three-quarter-time lead. The loss means the Hawks could finish the round as low as seventh on the ladder, with daunting matchups with Collingwood and Brisbane among its last three games of the home-and-away season. And in a year where it appears 15 wins might be necessary to guarantee a place in September, Hawthorn will simply have to win one of those Pies and Lions games to get to that number and give themselves a chance. 1. SAM'S FORWARD GAMBLE FALLS FLAT Sam Mitchell's bold selection call to play four tall forwards justifiably prompted plenty of media attention in the lead-up. They hadn't done it all year, so why now? Mabior Chol was the man recalled on Friday night after missing with a groin complaint, lining up alongside Jack Gunston, Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis. Speaking pre-game, the senior coach told Fox Footy his reasoning: 'A bit of availability, we play three a lot of the time on the field — and you'll only see three on the field at once — it (also) fixes a bit of second-ruck issues for us. It'll be good to get 'Mabs' back, he's been important for us all year.' Chol bagged an early goal — an impressive set shot — to settle nerves, but from that point on, there was basically nothing to note from himself and the likes of Dear and Lewis. Typically, Gunston was the one consistently presenting a threat, kicking two in the first half and finishing the night with four majors and seven score involvements. Halfway through the third quarter, Mitchell made his move — an admission of sorts — tactically removing Dear from the contest after the young high-marker went scoreless with no marks and just three disposals in 67 per cent game time. 'It's an interesting one, (subbing) Calsher Dear. Lewis is the one that can't really get to the contests at the moment,' Lyon said of the move. Mitchell's choice to name James Worpel the sub initially looked a perplexing one on paper, but you got the sense it was to rebalance the side if the plan to field four talls didn't bear fruits. Lewis kicked his first of the night with a snap at the 23-minute mark of the third, capping his night with seven disposals and four marks. Lewis, Dear and Chol combined for two goals. Again, it was the small who went to work for Hawthorn, with Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan combining for 12 score involvements, and Dylan Moore adding five of his own and a goal. Re-live live coverage of Adelaide vs. Hawthorn in our blog below! Originally published as 'Extraordinary': Crows edge Hawks in thriller as clutch hero leads stunning AFL flag push
Courier-Mail
4 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Live scores, updates, blog, stats, start time AEST and how to stream
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Adelaide has climbed into first place on the ladder and moved another step closer toward a top-two finish after outlasting a gutsy Hawks outfit in a topsy turvy, Friday night classic at Adelaide Oval. A contest filled with twists, turns and several lead changes, the Crows stormed home with six goals — two to Izak Rankine — in the final quarter as Matthew Nicks' side claimed a 14-point win, 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87). Rankine's clutch fourth term helped turn the game, with the Crows star racking up seven disposals (four contested) along with his two goals and setting up another to Taylor Walker, who nailed two important late majors himself. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Meanwhile Riley Thilthorpe (four goals) and Jordan Dawson (21 touches, 12 tackles, two goals) also starred as the Crows charge towards their first finals campaign since 2017. 'There's a lot to like about what's going on with the Adelaide Football Club,' Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy post-match. 'There's every reason to think they can go deep into September. They're growing in confidence and belief and that's important. 'Because from where they've come from, they haven't had this belief before. But they've committed to the path, they're seeing the fruits of the labour, it pays handsome dividends. 'You look on each line and think: 'There are players here who can get us where we need to go'.' It came after Hawthorn started the game on fire with a five-goal first quarter, before Adelaide returned serve with a six-goal unanswered second term in wild momentum swings. It was the Hawks turn to fightback with a six-major third term — capped off by a brilliant Jack Ginnivan left-foot finish — to set up an epic finish as the visitors led by eight points at the final change. But Adelaide had the answers in the final stanza, despite a big scare when Jack Gunston kicked consecutive goals from free kicks to briefly get the Hawks the lead back, until Rankine and Walker guided the hosts to victory. It saw the Crows improve to 15-5 to currently sit first on the ladder and continue the club's extraordinary rise, though Collingwood can regain top spot if it can defeat Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday night. But Adelaide has consolidated a top two spot ahead of matches against West Coast (Optus Stadium), Collingwood (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) to finish its home and away campaign. Hawthorn meanwhile fell to 13-7 and is suddenly in jeopardy of missing the top eight ahead of clashes with Collingwood, Melbourne (both MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) on its run home. Izak Rankine of the Crows celebrates a goal during the round 21 AFL match between Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on August 01, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by) The 3-2-1 (via Jack Jovanovski) ... 3. 'EXTRAORDINARY SEQUENCES' AS SKIPPER, SPARKPLUG STEER 'TREMENDOUS' FIGHTBACK It was Jordan Dawson who spearheaded the initial comeback after quarter-time, but fourth-quarter matchwinning moments from Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker ensured the Crows overturned an eight-point three-quarter-time deficit to win by 14 points and temporarily claim top spot on the ladder. The spectacle well and truly lived up to its Friday night billing, with the visiting Hawks throwing everything they had at the hosts in the first and third quarters, but Adelaide again proved why it's shaping as an almighty premiership threat eight years on from the false dawn of 2017. The Crows entered having won 10 of 11 games at Adelaide Oval this year, but it was the visitors who took centre stage at the outset. Hawthorn kicked five goals before the Crows managed their first major via Darcy Fogarty. But while they'd been undone by the Hawks at stoppage, a calm and rational Matthew Nicks recalibrated his group at quarter-time before his troops issued a stark response. Captain Jordan Dawson was at the forefront of Adelaide's fightback, with key spearhead Riley Thilthorpe also bearing the fruits of its second stanza dominance. 'It's a skipper-led comeback, isn't it? Four possessions, a clearance and a couple of goals already in this second term — more than anyone else on the ground. That was head-to-head with Jai Newcombe … and he was just too good,' AFL legend Jason Dunstall said on the Fox Footy broadcast. Demons icon and former captain Garry Lyon added: 'I loved what he did at the start of the second quarter. Will Day was outstanding (in the first quarter), and (Dawson) just went to the centre square and … stood right beside him as if to say 'OK, we know we've got work to do, let me lead the way here, and I'll take the most dangerous'.' Dunstall added: 'This has been a tremendous surge by the Crows.' Thilthorpe kicked three goals in the quarter, and all in all, it was eight unanswered goals between late in the first quarter and early in the third. Dunstall said at the main change: 'They've had a dominant second term where they were just controlling every single category, (the) ball living in their forward half, (and) defence completely on top on the rare occasions the Hawks did go forward. This is impressive.' In the second quarter alone, the Crows were +9 for inside-50s and +22 for contested possessions. But for a team that has looked as defensively stout as any in the competition bar Collingwood this year, the Crows allowed a second run of five unanswered goals as the visitors took an eight-point lead into the final change. But as you almost would have predicted, the way this game was going, the Crows had yet another resurgence in them, booting the first three majors of the final term. 'I've never seen a night like this, the way this has swung around,' Lyon said in the final quarter as Adelaide got on top by 12 points. Caller Anthony Hudson added: 'These extraordinary sequences are continuing in this game.' A piece of Izak Rankine brilliance from a boundary throw-in ensured the Crows got their noses back in front after a couple of Hawthorn goals. Rankine was doing the business for Adelaide in the final 30 minutes, notching seven disposals, two goals and five score involvements. 'He's had seven touches in the last quarter, five of them result in scores, he's kicked two himself, and he's had about three different opponents … sometimes you've just got to dip your lid, and Izak Rankine is the one.' Dunstall said: 'This is a team that's got some matchwinners. This man here, Izak Rankine, is worth his weight in gold. He can turn a game in the space of 10 minutes.' Rankine finished his night with an equal-game-high nine score involvements to go with his three goals. Two massive Taylor Walker set shot goals provided the Crows the buffer they needed to close out the deal. Walker also posted seven score involvements for the evening. 'They (the Hawks) came out firing and we didn't bring our best contest, but unbelievable effort from the boys to fight back in that second quarter, and then from there on, it was just an arm wrestle,' Dawson told Fox Footy after the final siren. Of Nicks' message at quarter-time, Dawson said: 'I mean, we haven't had too many quarters like that this year. He was really calm, really measured, (just talking about getting) back to our process, to keep trusting each other in our roles — which we've been doing the whole year — but we got away from that, we got a little bit too sucked into the contest. Unbelievable to turn it around, and it just shows the maturity of the group.' James Sicily of the Hawks after the loss during the 2025 AFL Round 21 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on August 1, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 2. HAWKS' BLOW IN FINALS RACE AS SCRIPT BRUTALLY FLIPPED AMID 21-YEAR FIRST It was a Hawthorn blitz early in proceedings at Adelaide Oval, and it was all about its work at clearance. The Hawks were comprehensive at the source, winning the first-quarter count 15-5 to give themselves quality scoring chances. Evergreen forward Jack Gunston booted two of the first three goals for the Hawks, who hit hard off counterpunch, characteristically looking to go through the corridor as they piled on five unanswered majors before Adelaide's first to lead by 26 points at the first change. 'They were on fire. Perfect what-to-do on the road is get off hard, win the clearances, win the contested ball, tackle hard and put Adelaide on the back foot,' Adelaide Crows icon Mark Ricciuto assessed on Fox Footy. Dunstall added the Hawks' clearance ascendancy was a rarity this season: 'Fifteen to five for clearances … that's an advantage they've rarely enjoyed this season. And then that translates to a territory advantage … the defence stood up; they conceded 1.1 from 11 inside-50s.' The Hawks finished the opening term +20 for points from clearance. Six of their clearances came via Will Day, with that being the best effort in a quarter by a Hawthorn player this season. But in the second term, the script was completely flipped on its head as the home side got to work. The Crows went on an unanswered run of eight goals to strike fear into the hearts of the Hawks, lifting their intensity to a critical level. It was the first time the Hawks had been held scoreless in a second quarter since Round 22, 2004. 'It was an extraordinary first quarter from the Hawks — they fired their best shot — and the Crows just said 'I see that and I'll raise you',' Dunstall said at half-time. Hawthorn allowed Adelaide 23 more contested possessions in the second quarter alone. The Hawks still had nine more clearances at half-time, but they'd been overtaken for territory, with the Crows generating four more entries. 'Hawthorn can't allow 22 (contested possessions) against (in the third), because then it's not going to matter what they do in front or behind the ball, it's not going to be enough,' Buckley said. 'We'll see — Dawson and Day, we'll see Newcombe and Berry; we'll see these matchups through the middle of the field … those contests are going to be instructive.' Conor Nash broke Adelaide's run of eight-straight goals at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, before the Hawks incredibly went on another rampant run of majors — booting five in a row for the second time on Friday night. Lyon said the response from Mitchell's charges was 'fantastic' after giving up the first goal of the term to trail by as many as 22 points, generating their scores off the back of 10 intercept marks in the quarter. 'Let's just put this in perspective. They gave up 20+ contested possessions in the second quarter, so to go in and gather yourself, give up the first goal of the third quarter, and then bang five in a row — fantastic response,' Lyon said. But inaccuracy was problematic in the final stanza, with the Hawks managing a measly 2.4 to Adelaide's 6.2 as they surrendered their eight-point three-quarter-time lead. The loss means the Hawks could finish the round as low as seventh on the ladder, with daunting matchups with Collingwood and Brisbane among its last three games of the home-and-away season. And in a year where it appears 15 wins might be necessary to guarantee a place in September, Hawthorn will simply have to win one of those Pies and Lions games to get to that number and give themselves a chance. 1. SAM'S FORWARD GAMBLE FALLS FLAT Sam Mitchell's bold selection call to play four tall forwards justifiably prompted plenty of media attention in the lead-up. They hadn't done it all year, so why now? Mabior Chol was the man recalled on Friday night after missing with a groin complaint, lining up alongside Jack Gunston, Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis. Speaking pre-game, the senior coach told Fox Footy his reasoning: 'A bit of availability, we play three a lot of the time on the field — and you'll only see three on the field at once — it (also) fixes a bit of second-ruck issues for us. It'll be good to get 'Mabs' back, he's been important for us all year.' Chol bagged an early goal — an impressive set shot — to settle nerves, but from that point on, there was basically nothing to note from himself and the likes of Dear and Lewis. Typically, Gunston was the one consistently presenting a threat, kicking two in the first half and finishing the night with four majors and seven score involvements. Halfway through the third quarter, Mitchell made his move — an admission of sorts — tactically removing Dear from the contest after the young high-marker went scoreless with no marks and just three disposals in 67 per cent game time. 'It's an interesting one, (subbing) Calsher Dear. Lewis is the one that can't really get to the contests at the moment,' Lyon said of the move. Mitchell's choice to name James Worpel the sub initially looked a perplexing one on paper, but you got the sense it was to rebalance the side if the plan to field four talls didn't bear fruits. Lewis kicked his first of the night with a snap at the 23-minute mark of the third, capping his night with seven disposals and four marks. Lewis, Dear and Chol combined for two goals. Again, it was the small who went to work for Hawthorn, with Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan combining for 12 score involvements, and Dylan Moore adding five of his own and a goal. Re-live live coverage of Adelaide vs. Hawthorn in our blog below! Originally published as 'Extraordinary': Crows edge Hawks in thriller as clutch hero leads stunning AFL flag push
The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
Ginnivan takes on Adelaide Oval crowd, but Crows have the last laugh with stunning win
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell bolted down from the box to the boundary to seek answers as to why 23 of the 28 goals were scored to the Cathedral end in his side's topsy-turvy, and at times bizarre, 14-point loss to Adelaide on Friday night. In a match punctuated by wild momentum swings, the Hawks burst spectacularly out of the blocks, were held to a total standstill in the second quarter, gained the upper hand in the third, and then were edged out down the stretch. Historians in years to come will assume a mid-winter gale was howling in from the south all evening, but the flags atop Adelaide Oval's heritage-listed scoreboard never budged. 'I actually ran down to the bench to see if there was any breeze at all,' Mitchell said. 'But no... no answers for why they were all kicked at one end. 'It's very rare that one team has the momentum for the whole game. 'They were a little bit cleaner and more clinical when it really mattered.' Will Day was the key figure early, racking up more first-quarter clearances than the Crows' entire shell-shocked team, piloting Hawthorn to a 5.3 to 0.1 ambush which hushed the 50,654-strong crowd into stunned silence. It was easily Adelaide's worst quarter of the season. They responded with perhaps their best. With Jordan Dawson stepping up in the engine room and Riley Thilthorpe getting hold of Tom Barrass, the Crows suddenly started scoring at will out of their back half, keeping the Hawks scoreless while marching to a shock but spectacular 16-point half-time lead. Adelaide's run of goals was eight unanswered before Hawthorn's interceptors James Sicily, Jack Scrimshaw and Josh Battle ran amok behind the footy in the third term to get the visitors back on top. The home side's backline, conversely, was suddenly frazzled, both with and without the footy. Ex-Crow Jack Gunston's back-to-back fourth-quarter goals to the River end handed the Hawks the lead, before Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker – who split Adelaide's last four majors – sealed it for the top-two bound Crows. Cheeky Hawks antagonist Jack Ginnivan responded to some feedback from the fans as he walked down the visitors' race post-match by kissing his left middle finger and showing it to the crowd. 'That'll be a pocket lightener,' Alistair Nicholson said on Channel Seven. 'It pretty much is always followed by a fine,' co-commentator James Brayshaw said. Ginnivan had earlier gestured to the Adelaide crowd after booting a telling goal, and after the match replied to an Instagram post of vision of him flipping the bird as he walked down the race, commenting simply: 'best coin spent'. Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks feels the ladder-leading Crows passed a stern finals-like test, the likes of which they appear destined to face deep into September. 'To reset the way we did and the maturity our boys showed, led by Daws [Dawson] at quarter-time ... to be able to bring the game to even keel at half-time, I thought was another way to win,' he said. 'Another way in what was a finals atmosphere and our opposition were finals standard.' Nicks was a picture of calmness during that quarter-time reset, such is the confidence he had in his players to be able to spin the contest around – which they did, emphatically. 'We trust our playing group completely,' he said. 'They trust us, so in that moment [quarter-time] there is no need for yelling and screaming. 'You go back three or four years, you'll probably find me yelling and screaming at a quarter-time break. 'I look back on that I think that's me not necessarily trusting that we're all on the same page - and maybe then we weren't. 'It took us time to get to that and show that maturity.'
