Match

Adelaide Crows vs Hawthorn

Commentary / 12 Sep 2025

Pre Game

00:00

The Hawks have allowed their opponents to launch 23 per cent of their scores from their forward 50, the highest rate of any side. Last week, Adelaide failed to score from forward 50 chains, only the fourth time it has done that ever in a game.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:28

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

00:37

It takes just three disposals for Hawthorn to kick the opening goal of the match through Jack Gunston. The goal was Gunston's 66th of the year, the best season of his career.

01:39

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Nick Watson)

01:57

Jai Newcombe has the first two clearances and inside 50s of the match and Hawthorn has kicked its second goal of the match from just their fifth disposal.

03:27

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (James Worpel)

04:17

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Karl Amon)

04:33

Hawthorn have the first seven inside 50s of the match in just over four minutes, as well as the first three clearances. The Hawks have generated four scores from their seven entries, a strike rate of 57 per cent.

07:11

Hawks Interchange - James Worpel off due to an injury.

10:01

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

12:28

Riley Thilthorpe puts Adelaide's first major on the board. The Crows have settled into the game, registering the last six inside 50s of the match after conceding the opening seven. They haven't been able to match Hawthorn's scoring efficiency with just two scores from their six entries.

14:07

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Blake Hardwick)

14:19

Jai Newcombe has all four centre bounce clearances to start the match. Hawthorn lead the clearances six to three.

15:43

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Jordan Dawson)

16:03

Josh Worrell has been important for Adelaide to start the match with eight disposals and five intercept possessions. Worrell is ranked third in the AFL for intercepts, averaging 7.9 per game.

18:05

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)

18:44

Adelaide kicks its second goal of the match, this one courtesy of a forward 50 stoppage. Last week, the Hawks conceded three goals from forward 50 stoppage for the sixth time this season. They concede the most points to their opposition from this source this season.

20:47

SCORE GOAL - Crows (James Peatling)

27:15

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

28:42

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Nick Watson)

29:04

Both teams have been dangerous from stoppage in the opening quarter. The Hawks lead the clearances by five, courtesy of six first quarter clearances to Jai Newcombe. Both sides have kicked two goals from this score source, with the Crows leading scores from forward 50 stoppage 2.1.13 to 1.0.6.

30:44

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Rushed)

32:55

Hawthorn also holds an advantage in the forward half game. While they have won seven forward half intercepts to Adelaide's eight, the Hawks have outscored the Crows 2.2.14 to nil from this score source.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:17

Adelaide have retained possession from just two of their 14 inside 50 entries, a retention rate of 14 per cent. Conversely, the Hawks have retained possession from 10 of their 18 entries, a retention rate of 56 per cent.

02:39

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Mabior Chol)

04:31

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

07:43

Hawthorn have taken five marks inside 50 to just one for the Crows. Both the Hawks and Adelaide backlines have been excellent restricting marks inside 50 to their respective oppositions this season, the Crows ranked No.1 in this area and the Hawks ranked second.

09:45

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

14:32

Hawthorn's pressure has been first class in the second quarter, recording a pressure rating of 197 to Adelaide's 158.

17:44

Crows Interchange - Mitchell Hinge off due to an injury.

19:06

Hawthorn leads the inside 50 count by five this quarter, but the Crows have held up relatively well, only being outscored 1.1.7 to 0.3.3.

20:20

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Rushed)

21:45

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)

23:10

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Dylan Moore)

23:57

Hawthorn are making the Crows pay on turnover, outscoring Adelaide 4.4.28 to 1.3.9 from this score source.

27:26

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Nick Watson)

28:29

After being the highest rated player on the ground in each of his first three finals, Jai Newcombe is once again the highest rated player on the ground at half time. The Hawk midfielder has 15 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven clearances and five inside 50s to date.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:04

A costly turnover from Reilly O'Brien in what should have resulted in an inside 50 to Adelaide rebounds and results in a goal to the Hawks. Hawthorn have won 10 intercepts from half back, resulting in six inside 50s and 2.2.14 on the scoreboard.

03:07

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)

03:42

Riley Thilthorpe responds with Adelaide's first goal in 44 minutes of game time. He has two of Adelaide's three marks inside 50 for the match.

05:33

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

07:32

Jack Gunston has four marks inside 50 for the match, with three coming this quarter. Adelaide have just three for the match.

07:47

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Connor Macdonald)

08:48

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Lloyd Meek)

09:52

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Nick Watson)

11:21

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

12:43

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Connor Macdonald)

12:53

After conceding 72 inside 50s last week against the Giants, Hawthorn have been determined to play more of a front half game. They lead the inside 50s by 11 tonight and have outscored Adelaide 6.4.40 to 2.3.15 from forward half chains.

16:58

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)

18:04

Hawthorn continues to dominate contested possession, leading this area by 20. Coming into tonight's game, the Crows had only lost contested possession by more than 13 on one occasion this season.

19:08

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

22:19

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

22:49

Hawthorn have turned 21 forward half intercepts into 4.2.26. Conversely, Adelaide have turned just 12 forward half intercepts into one solitary behind.

24:49

Jack Gunston has blown the game open in the third quarter with seven disposals, four marks inside 50, five score involvements and three goals.

25:26

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Luke Pedlar)

27:29

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Nick Watson)

28:01

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Sam Butler)

29:50

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

30:33

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)

30:49

Both sides have generated scores at will from their inside 50s this quarter. Hawthorn have kicked 5.6.36 from 15 inside 50s, a scoring rate of 73 per cent, while Adelaide have kicked 4.1.25 from 10 inside 50s, a scoring efficiency of 50 per cent.

33:17

Hawthorn have won 15 of 18 games this season when they have led at three quarter time. Adelaide have won three of seven games when they have trailed at the last change.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:18

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Gunston)

02:52

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Josh Weddle)

03:58

Hawthorn lead forward 50 tackles 12 to five and within their own forward 50, they hold an advantage of five in groundball.

05:15

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)

06:38

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Nick Watson)

10:03

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Josh Weddle)

11:16

Hawthorn leads the inside 50 count by 20. They have won 10 and lost two games this season when they have won the inside 50 count.

11:53

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Sam Butler)

13:03

This season, the Crows defence has been rated in the top few in most metrics. Tonight, they have already conceded 29 shots at goal to Hawthorn, tying the most that they have given up this season. They conceded 18.11.119 to Geelong in Round 5.

14:03

Hawks Interchange - Jack Ginnivan off due to an injury.

15:40

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jai Newcombe)

16:39

Jai Newcombe looks likely to finish his fourth final as the top rated player of the match once again. Despite a quieter second half, Newcombe has still amassed 27 disposals at 93 per cent efficiency, 15 contested possessions, eight clearances, six inside 50s, nine score involvements and a goal.

18:51

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Josh Weddle)

20:22

Hawthorn's largest ever contested possession differential in a final was 26 in the 2012 Grand Final against Sydney. They currently lead Adelaide by 32 in this area.

21:54

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)

27:26

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Jake Soligo)

28:13

Hawthorn has outscored Adelaide 10.12.72 to 4.4.28 from intercepts tonight. This represents the second highest score that Adelaide has conceded from this score source all season, eclipsed only by the 75 points they gave up to Geelong in Round 5.

29:01

Hawthorn won the contested possession count by 31 tonight, its largest ever differential in a final. They dominated territory, winning the inside 50s by 21, their fourth biggest inside 50 differential in a final.