HAWTHORN      5.3   10.7   15.9   21.14   (140)                 
ADELAIDE        4.3   6.8      9.10   12.12   (84)    

The Crows’ emphatic start to 2012 has come screeching to a halt, being dealt a harsh lesson by early premiership favourites Hawthorn.

After winning the NAB Cup the Crows had accounted for the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs, but Hawthorn were out to prove a point after suffering a close loss to Geelong last time out.

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The Crows were in the game until half-time, when Hawthorn broke free and piled on 11 goals to six in the second half to run out 56-point victors with relative ease.

Adelaide applied heavy pressure in the first quarter with an immense show from Kurt Tippett, who kicked two goals and took marks around the ground. For most of the second quarter it was more of the same, with the margin never being out of Adelaide’s reach.

They will rue costly misses to Tippett and Taylor Walker as the Hawks pounced on the opportunity and slammed on three quick goals before the half to lead at 23 points.

Although Adelaide had been in the contest, the possession count was incredibly lopsided, with the Hawks having more than double the amount of the Crows.

Tippett failed to convert again, and once more the Hawks jumped at the opportunity and started the rout with a Cyril Rioli cameo. Josh Gibson was fantastic in defence, repelling Adelaide strikes with ease on his way to 29 possessions and 15 marks for the game.

Ian Callinan, Patrick Dangerfield and Sam Jacobs battled hard in the midfield, but it wasn’t enough as Hawthorn cruised home, with 13 individual goal-kickers for the game.

Sam Mitchell brought the crowd to its feet with a last quarter goal in his 200th game, icing off a win that should provide a bit of solace for Alistair Clarkson after the close loss to Geelong, but sadly it wasn’t all roses for the Hawks near the end of play.

Luke Bruest had found his kicking boots once again and booted 3 for the Hawks in the second half, but the match was to end on an ugly note for him.

Brodie Martin had come off the interchange and went to a marking contest, flying up and collecting Bruest front-on with his hip. He was stretchered from the ground and will hopefully be cleared to play this weekend.

Brenton Sanderson was left to lament the “patches” that Adelaide played in, leaving ample room for a quality side in Hawthorn to take them to pieces in bursts.

Votes:

3. Josh Gibson
2. Jordan Lewis
1. Brent Guerra

GOALS:
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Franklin 3, Suckling 2, Hale 2, Lewis 2, Rioli 2, Whitecross, Burgoyne, Cheney, Gunston, Osborne, Shiels, Mitchell.
Adelaide: Tippett 3, Callinan 3, Lynch 2, Porplyzia, Doughty, Vince, Reilly.

BEST
Hawthorn: Gibson, Lewis, Whitecross, Suckling, Guerra, Franklin, Hale
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Tippett, Callinan, Mackay, Thompson, Van Berlo

INJURIES
Hawthorn: McCauley (stomach virus) replaced in selected side by Young, Birchall (calf), Breust (concussion), Hale (dislocated finger).
Adelaide: Henderson (soreness) replaced in selection side by Kerridge.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Leppard, McInerney

Official crowd: 33,524 at the MCG