Game Day Round 21 MUST-win vs Hawks at AO

[CrowBloke]

At home, but unsettled by injuries against a strong Hawks side (but) which doesn't play well away.
Hawks will be rotating 4 talls so the key might be restricting supply and clogging lead-up holes in Hawks' I50.

It's the kind of game the Crows used to drop but I think our form and team-game energy will prevail.
Crows, by 10 points.

 

[daniel_4tw]

Favourites being talked up by the media and at home against quality opposition.

Let’s prove we’re a new Crows team and blow the Hawks away please.

 

[glengowan]

The Hawks look a lot stronger with Day, Lewis and Dear, even though they defeated us last time.

Not the end of the world if we drop this one. We could still finish top if we beat Collingwood (and presumably beat West Coast and North). However, drop this one and the Collingwood game and we probably miss top 4. The end to this season has 2016 all over it. 2016 we had a dream run with injuries, but had little depth. We seem to have better depth and are managing players better (i.e. Cummings managed last week and Laird this week).

The Hawks on the other hand could miss finals if they can't snatch a win against us, Collingwood next week or the Lions at the Gabba in the last round. They won't be thinking that though. They'll see it as opportunity to replace these teams at the top of the ladder.

It should be an absolute belter. This one and the Collingwood game are as big home and away games as you get. If the Crows can maintain their ruthless form, they should be good enough to beat Hawthorn. The Hawks and Magpies, both away, are the only games we've lost since the beginning of May.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Nervous. Think we are due for a bit of a let down. Prove me wrong Crows, please

 

[pjcrows]

Crows lock Top 4 and likely Top 2 with a win. But with the Bulldogs win last night, Hawthorn are essentially playing for their season now with a tough draw still to come. Mitchell will have a plan.

Two 6 day breaks in a row for us, in the wet last week, and Hawks coming off 8 days. Michelanney a big out, Hawks with Day back...

Based on the usual script this is a flat, sloppy, predictable Crows loss with dumb mistakes on the field and in the box. But we're re-writing the script in a lot of games particularly in the second half of the year.

Not sure how this one plays out. I'm worried about it, not gonna lie.

 

[davos44]

The Hawks have us, Magpies and Brisbane away in their run home. To them, this will be their must-win one especially with the dogs winning last night.

Last game we played was a bit of an outlier, Hawks were a bit undermanned but playing in Tas, our key forwards kicked 0.10 and guys like ANB and Rachele missed gettable goals from 40 out.

This game is the one to guarantee top 4.
and
To put any doubts to bed about us beating other top 8 and top 4 contenders.

Hawks have beaten North, Carlton and Port and lost to Freo away. Not super impressive in my mind.

 

[moogerfooger]

Wonder if one of their talls will be a late out. Playing four seems an extraordinary gamble for such an important game.

 

[FullyBigKPro]

We've been up for a while now and Mitchell is a real canny coach....

Nicks/Davis need to be right onto his moves and we need to turn up, cant have a Melbourne-esque performance.

Bright Friday lights youd think we will show up...

 

[Milo Cyrus]

This game will be won at the source IMO. Grunt and precision with a none shall pass wall will get it done.
ROB vs Meek is going to be enthralling.
Pluck the pricks!

 

[GreyCrow]

I think Crows are good enough by 3-4 goals

I recognise Hawthorn are playing for a spot in the 8 but we are also part of the logjam

GWS losing helps our cause but we still have Freo 52 Hawks 52 Geelong 52 and Brisbane 54 all breathing down our necks

A win puts a 2 game gap on the Hawks and keeps us ahead of the chasing pack

 

[Peter Doherty]

We have the edge in the midfield, not something you can always say.

Hawks will hang around all night, but think we'll hold them off.

 

[Pugsley]

Just get it done against that dirty mob.

 

[Hell Boy6669]

I know GWS were average but jeez that win against the doggies away looks good now, we completely outplayed them on their home deck.

If we bring what we’ve brought for the last month we will get the job done.

 

[chazwazza]

This is how I’ve seen Adelaide’s run home. So far they’ve met every challenge and taken every chance.
Sharp sticks!

 

[lacrow]

Honestly I know people are trying to keep the lid on, but based upon what I've seen lately I think we are going to completely smash Hawthorn just like we did to GC. Playing at home is a huge advantage to us, not to mention the completely ruthless and physical way we have destroyed our last 2 opponents.

Obviously I could be wrong, but I just have this feeling we will finally overcome this hoodoo and dominate them just like we did to Geelong in the 2017 Preliminary Final.

 

[Betts are off]

9th 10+ goal win of the season coming right up!!!

 

[1990crow]

This is for top 2 and a path to the grand final.

 

[CrowBloke]

I know GWS were average but jeez that win against the doggies away looks good now, we completely outplayed them on their home deck.

If we bring what we’ve brought for the last month we will get the job done.

Yes, the Dogs thrashing of GWS has franked our form.

I think some (many?) of us are still shell-shocked from the nightmares of the last 5 years --- I know I am --- but we have a strong team ethic and a nearly-impenetrable defence (both kudos to Nicks I have to admit).

I loved the way we finished off the ferals last week.
It would have been easy to take the foot off their throats in the conditions and with that big lead at 3/4-time.
Slamming on 8 in the last was a ruthless piss-off-Ken belting, the type of which I've dreamed of.

A strong, intense start will be vital to put the Hawks on the back foot early, hold them in the 2nd and 3rd quarters then run away, well, I hope.

 

[whattagun07]

bit worried about a Mitchell masterclass tonight. I like the Bond inclusion. Presumably he goes to Watson, but Moore and Ginnivan will also be dangerous with the ball on the deck.

 

[John Who]

Seems like going to be great footy weather today. This is going to be Finals-like in intensity, quite literally. The Hawks are our bogey team, along with the Pies in the recent years, so it will be a very pleasant feeling to overcome the bogey effect.

We’ve been fantastic at home this year so if we keep playing to our strengths the result should look after itself.

Crows by 23.

 

[Crow till I die]

A win for us and a win for collingwood v brisbane will all but guarantee us top 2 with games v west coast and north still to come. This has the makings of a veey significant weekend

 

[119others]

This is how I’ve seen Adelaide’s run home. So far they’ve met every challenge and taken every chance.
Sharp sticks!

Good scene, great movie.

But I reckon the TT vs Hawks defenders is ever better

 

[John Who]

Yes, the Dogs thrashing of GWS has franked our form.

I think some (many?) of us are still shell-shocked from the nightmares of the last 5 years --- I know I am --- but we have a strong team ethic and a nearly-impenetrable defence (both kudos to Nicks I have to admit).

I loved the way we finished off the ferals last week.
It would have been easy to take the foot off their throats in the conditions and with that big lead at 3/4-time.
Slamming on 8 in the last was a ruthless piss-off-Ken belting, the type of which I've dreamed of.

A strong, intense start will be vital to put the Hawks on the back foot early, hold them in the 2nd and 3rd quarters then run away, well, I hope.

We are a completely different team this year both with the starting line-up as well as the players’ mindset and beliefs. Also we should be judging the team more for what they’ve done in 2025, not looking at them fiercely from 2020-2024. Hope that helps!

 

[Crow54]

I just hope we don’t come back to earth with a big bump.

 

[Betts are off]

bit worried about a Mitchell masterclass tonight. I like the Bond inclusion. Presumably he goes to Watson, but Moore and Ginnivan will also be dangerous with the ball on the deck.

TBH I actually think Mitchell is equally at risk of outsmarting himself by bringing in the 4 talls to try and quell our intercept marking power. We saw how awkward the 4th tall plays when we tried to shoehorn Curtin on the HFF.

My prediction is our intercept marking is impacted, but their forward line entries will end up a mess. Lots of kicks to packs, with spoils followed by stoppage after stoppage, and their goals will end up being as hard to come by as Ports were last week. And by comparison our F50 entries will look like a hot knife through butter.