HEAD TO HEAD: Adelaide 17 wins, Hawthorn 13 wins
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 19.10 (124) d Adelaide 11.11 (77), round 12, 2010 at Aurora Stadium
TV: Network Ten - (Melbourne 7:30pm, Adelaide 7:30pm, Sydney/NSW 11:30pm)
RADIO: Melbourne: 3AW, Triple M, ABC774 Adelaide: Triple M, ABC 891, Fiveaa Perth: 6PR, ABC720, NIRS Hobart: ABC936 Darwin: ABC105.7 Regional: CROC
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
BETFAIR ODDS: Betfair odds - Hawthorn 1.85, Adelaide 2.14
FORM: Adelaide: N/A Hawthorn: N/A
SUMMARY
The opening-round clash at AAMI Stadium will pit two teams tipped to be big improvers this season.
The Hawks, recognising that their style of play was outdated, tinkered with their game plan over summer and are under pressure to capitalise on their enormously talented list with a top-four finish.
The injury-hit Crows also underachieved last season and despite the retirements of several club stalwarts are expected to rebound in 2011.
Both clubs could be without key players for the round-one clash, with star Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett (ankle) already ruled out and new Hawks skipper Luke Hodge (Achilles) in doubt.
The match marks the 20-year anniversary of Adelaide's first-ever game against Hawthorn at Football Park in round one, 1991.
The Crows staged an upset that night and are a good chance to repeat the dose in a big weekend for the club.
QUESTION MARKS
Will the Hawks risk their captain? Clubs will be more reluctant to field underdone players this season following the introduction of the substitute rule but Hawthorn might be willing to make an exception for Hodge.
How will the sub rule play out? It's the single-biggest question surrounding the opening round of the season and it will be interesting to see how both Neil Craig and Alastair Clarkson approach it.
Will a relatively injury-free summer translate into a better start on the scoreboard for Adelaide? The Crows blamed a disastrous pre-season for their 0-6 opening in 2010 but the club will have no excuse this year after completing its best pre-season in recent memory.
PREDICTION
Adelaide by 11 points.
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Adelaide forward Taylor Walker reveled in Tippett's absence against Richmond in round four of the NAB Challenge, bagging seven goals and renewing speculation he performs better without Tippett in the team. Walker averaged 98 points a game in the NAB Cup/Challenge and could be in line for another big score as the go-to man in Adelaide's forward line on Saturday night. The new substitute rule could also catch Dream Teamers out this week, with Hodge and popular pick Andy Otten both mentioned as possible candidates for the role.
Follow afl.com.au’s live coverage of the game in the AFL Match Centre, and join the conversation on Twitter using #aflcrowshawks
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
