Ruthless Hawks Crush Lacklustre Crows To Secure Preliminary Final Spot

Five goals from seasoned Jack Gunston and different Jai Newcombe midfield masterclass person powered Hawthorn to a stirring 34-point semi-final triumph against Adelaide.

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The Hawks will meet fierce rivals Geelong successful a preliminary last aft their 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67) triumph victory astatine Adelaide Oval connected Friday night.

The play is complete for nan Crows, nan first VFL/AFL insignificant premiers to exit nan finals successful alleged consecutive group losses since 1983.

Hawthorn’s Gunston booted 3 of his 5 fields successful nan 3rd 4th and on-baller Newcombe again was nan spark pinch 28 disposals, 8 clearances and 1 goal.

Jack Gunston of nan Hawks celebrates a goal. Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP

Newcombe’s midfield mate Josh Ward (31 touches) was superb, and Nick Watson’s 2 goals featured an outrageous effort from nan bound line.

Hawthorn, pinch Sam Butler besides kicking 2 majors, precocious to their first preliminary berth since their 2015 premiership play aft a dream start.

The visitors logged 3 goals successful nan first 4 minutes and 15 seconds of nan crippled and ne'er relinquished power against a lacklustre Adelaide.

Crows guardant Riley Thilthorpe booted 3 goals and Josh Rachele two, but it was telling that nan location side’s champion players were each defenders – Josh Worrell (33 touches), Wayne Milera (23) and Rory Laird (30).

The 33-year-old Gunston, who played for Adelaide successful 2010/11, triggered nan opening onslaught pinch nan opening extremity aft conscionable 23 seconds.

The lively Watson added different a infinitesimal later, past a agelong Karl Amon explosive gave nan visitors a 19-0 advantage.

The Crows rallied pinch nan adjacent 3 majors, and erstwhile James Peatling converted a group shot, scores were locked astatine 20 apiece.

But Hawthorn’s Watson soon lived up to his nickname “Wizard’’ pinch a magical snapped extremity nether terrible unit from a bound line.

The Hawks, revelling successful a 7-0 centre clearance advantage - 5 of them from Newcombe - led by 8 points astatine quarter-time, 4.4 to 3.2.

Hawthorn, pinch goals from Weddle and Dylan Moore accrued their lead to 19 points astatine half-time, 6.7 to 3.6, arsenic nan panicky Crows blew a bid of scoring chances successful their goal-less quarter.

The location broadside couldn’t incorporate Hawthorn’s premier mover Newcombe, who enhanced his estimation arsenic a finals standout pinch 15 disposals – including 10 contested possessions – 7 clearances and 5 inside-50s for nan half.

Adelaide substituted Mitch Hinge astatine nan break owed to an ankle injury, pinch Rachele returning for his first outing since suffering a knee wounded connected 16 July.

But Gunston ensured nan Hawks kept their momentum rolling pinch 3 much goals successful nan 3rd term.

The Hawks added 5 goals to Adelaide’s 4 successful nan word for a decisive 30-point advantage astatine three-quarter time, 11.12 to 7.7.

Gunston past killed disconnected immoderate chance of an Adelaide revival pinch his 5th extremity a tick complete a infinitesimal into nan last quarter.