The Crows led by 18 points at the final change but had to overcome another potentially match-winning final quarter from last year’s elimination final destroyer Lance Franklin (four goals) to clinch a 2.13.11 (107) to 1.11.9 (84) victory.
However, youngsters Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia (two goals) saved the day for Adelaide, with the pair combining for three goals in the dying minutes of the game.
Brett Burton was at his high-flying best with three majors, while Scott Thompson (two goals), Nathan Bock and Brad Symes (two goals) were frequently in the thick of the action.
The Crows made amends for their slow start last week with four unanswered goals to open the first term, and while Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton started on the bench, Tyson Edwards and Scott Thompson ensured they weren’t missed.
Edwards got the Crows on the scoreboard with a goal in the opening minute of the game, while Thompson picked up ten touches and booted two goals of his own – the first of which was unlucky not to be awarded nine-points.
Adelaide’s early pressure was fierce and the fumbling Hawks offered little resistance as the home side streaked further ahead.
Thompson nailed his second goal of the term courtesy of a Hawthorn turnover and when Brad Symes was awarded a 50 metre penalty, which brought him within scoring range, the Crows were 26 points up.
It was left up to Hawks’ draftee Cyril Rioli to get the visitors on the board with a classy left-foot shot from just inside the arc, before Lance Franklin made it two-in-a-row after finding himself on the end of an unconvincing chain of handballs.
The Crows’ tall forwards were also causing headaches at the opposite end with Kurt Tippett and Ken McGregor competing in the air with resident high-flyer Brett Burton.
The quarter-time stats sheet only credited Tippett with one touch, but the young big man showed plenty to suggest why he’s rated so highly at West Lakes.
The athletic Queenslander crumbed his own spilled mark and showcased some quick thinking by shovelling the ball out to Burton who put Adelaide 21 points up at the first break.
The Hawks started the second term in the best possible way with a Brent Guerra nine-pointer, before Symes steadied the home side with his second goal.
Staring down the barrel of a four-goal deficit, the Hawks came to life courtesy of their sharp-shooting forwards.
Tim Boyle overcame a sprained ankle to nail his first, which triggered three more quick Hawthorn goals.
Rookie Cameron Stokes showed some dash with a clever crumbing goal and vice-captain Luke Hodge was equally brilliant with a classy snap before Michael Osborne’s first goal levelled the scores at halftime.
The Crows burst out of the blocks again in the third quarter, and finished with a three-goals-to-nil term.
McGregor added his name to the list of goal kickers with a clever trap and snap, but it was forward line teammate Burton who was the star of the quarter.
Burton booted two goals for the term, with his second coming from a trademark hanger over young Hawk defender Zac Dawson.
Adelaide went into the final term with an 18-point buffer, but three quick goals to Hawthorn’s twin towers Jarryd Roughead and ‘Buddy’ Franklin saw the Hawks claw within a point.
Chris Knights gave the Crows some breathing space with a supergoal, before Hawthorn came again through Franklin, offering a colossal effort which sparked memories of a Brendan Fevola winner from a few years back.
However, it was all in vein as the Crows grabbed the last three goals, assuring their passage to the final and a date with the Saints.
Adelaide 1.4.3 1.7.5 1.10.8 2.13.11 (107)
Hawthorn 0.2.3 1.7.5 1.7.8 1.11.9 (84)
GOALS
Adelaide: Supergoals: Symes, Knights. Goals: Burton 3, Thompson 2, Porplyzia 2, Symes, Edwards, McLeod, Sellar, McGregor, Tippett
Hawthorn: Supergoals: Guerra. Goals: Franklin 4, Rioli 2, Boyle, Stokes, Hodge, Osborne, Roughead
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Burton, Van Berlo, Porplyzia, Edwards, Bock
Hawthorn: Sewell, Hodge, Franklin, Mitchell, Rioli
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Adelaide: Nil. Hawthorn: Muston (knee)
Umpires: Margetts, Donlon, Ryan
Official crowd: N/A at AAMI Stadium
