Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the AFL semi-final between Adelaide and Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval. The winner of this clash will meet Geelong in a preliminary final at the MCG next Friday night. No small task. But you gotta be in it, to win it.
Adelaide need to bounce back from a disappointing return to finals after an eight-year absence but as minor premiers have the luxury of taking their second shot back on their home deck. The pressure has quickly mounted on the Crows as they seek to avoid a straight-sets finals exit as well as a couple of unwanted slices of history. They will not want to become the first team in the AFL-era to finish on top of the ladder then be bundled out in two finals, or to be the first minor premiers to lose to an eighth-place side in a final.
Hawthorn would be undermined by too much focus on their eighth-place finish, especially as they were playing off for a top-four spot in the last round of the home and away season. They then showed how narrow the margins are between the top sides this year, when they were too good for GWS Giants last week. The Hawks have the benefit of being to this same stage before as they played a semi-final at Adelaide Oval last year. That was against the Power, rather than the Crows, and ended in chaos as a James Sicily shot at goal at the death crashed into the post and sparked wild scenes after the siren that temporarily overshadowed the gut-wrenching defeat. But it should give the Hawks a hint of motivation that it is a scenario they will not want to repeat.
First bounce will be at 7.10pm local time in Adelaide / 7.40pm AEST. I’ll drop in the team news shortly. Meanwhile, let us know your thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!