Adelaide vs Hawthorn, Thursday Night 7:50pm, Adelaide Oval
The bye came at the right time for both these teams, Adelaide in Round 10 holding off an usually barnstorming Carlton and the Hawks dispatching the Saints at Etihad.
Thursday night will give us an indication of what both teams spent their week off focussing on. Of course rest and relaxation would have been top of the agenda, but both have had their fair share of misfires in the first half of their seasons.
The Crows whilst at times playing brilliant footy, slipped on a few ‘banana peels’ that an aspirational top 6 side would regret tripping over. Losses to the Bulldogs and GWS were the two standout poor-performances from the opening half of the year, with coach Phil Walsh having no hesitations to punish his players for the missteps.
What the focus has to be from Adelaide’s point of view, is that not only is every win vital in the top 8 log jam, it’s about concentration and consistent application. There is still a feeling of vulnerability that surrounds them and what they’re capable of. Seeing off Carlton was a start, but against a better quality of opponent, that level of resistance may not hold.
The Hawks on the other hand would be disappointed with their start to the year, but it’s fair from season over. A range of players with injuries and niggles are likely to be at full fitness again and the draw opens up after this.
Their last trip to Adelaide was a car crash for the forty-five minutes, so there is some motivation to course-correct and place destiny in their own hands when fighting for a top two spot.
Key Match Ups
Josh Jenkins vs Brian Lake
Lake has had an interesting ride at the Hawks – won a Norm Smith, had some behavioural indiscretions and battled injury. He’s also played some good footy, which he’ll need to quieten the Crows’ rising star in Jenkins.
Brad Hill/Isaac Smith vs Rory Sloane
Should be a fantastic battle between two (or three) excellent ball carriers. Sloane has the explosive pace and skills to cut the Hawks disciplined defence open, so the onus is on whoever gets the job to hurt the Crows the other way.
Result
It’s hard to go past the Hawks, but it’s not too bizarre to suggest the Crows could be in it for a long patch of the game. If the Crows can force a struggle, they’ll stay in it. If it’s freewheeling and open, the Hawks in a canter.
Hawks by 31.