On Friday night at Adelaide Oval, Hawthorn stunned the Crows by 34 points, 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67), ending Adelaide’s season and continuing a wild September run for the eighth-placed Hawks. It was a performance built on pressure, efficiency, and a midfield that rose when it mattered most.
For Adelaide, it was a complete collapse. The Crows, minor premiers after a brilliant home-and-away season, are now out of the finals in straight sets — the first team to do so since 1983. Across two finals, they failed to win a single quarter.
Hawthorn were hungrier, sharper, and far more composed. They set the tone with three goals in the first four minutes, then outscored Adelaide in every quarter.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 12: Sam Berry of the Crows under pressure from Jai Newcombe of the Hawks and Josh Ward of the Hawks during the AFL First Semi Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on September 12, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Jai Newcombe was best on ground. He had 28 disposals, 8 clearances, and a goal. He bossed the contested ball early, giving the Hawks a midfield advantage they never surrendered. James Worpel (25 disposals) and Josh Ward (24) supported with clean hands and pressure acts.
Jack Gunston was clinical up forward, kicking 5 goals from 10 disposals. His positioning and leadership steadied the forward line. Luke Breust added 2 goals and 6 score involvements.
Adelaide’s problems started at the coalface. Their usual midfield leaders — Rory Laird, Jordan Dawson, and Matt Crouch — were mostly subdued. Despite Crouch finishing with 29 touches, many were under pressure or ineffective. The Crows lost clearances by 12 and never matched Hawthorn’s forward 50 efficiency.
Up forward, Darcy Fogarty kicked 3 goals, but was starved of supply. Adelaide managed only 8 marks inside 50, struggling to connect their ball movement with scoreboard impact. Their forward efficiency rate was 47%, compared to Hawthorn’s 60%.
Coach Matthew Nicks now faces an off-season full of tough questions. How does a team that finishes first look this flat when it matters most? The pressure, the pace, and the moment got to them — and there was no one to drag them back into the fight.
Meanwhile, Sam Mitchell’s Hawks are rolling. Their defensive pressure, structural discipline, and finals polish have now taken down both GWS and Adelaide in back-to-back weeks.
The result wasn’t just an upset — it was a blueprint for how to win in September: get the basics right, win the contest, and don’t blink.
Hawthorn now face a Preliminary Final with momentum and belief. For Adelaide, it’s back to the drawing board — and back to square one.
