Adelaide  1.4   5.9   8.9   11.12  (78)                  
Hawthorn  5.2   6.5   9.8   13.11 (89)         

Goals: Adelaide: Jenkins, Dangerfield, Kerridge, Thompson 2, Douglas, Jacobs, Vince
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Hill, Breust 2, Hodge, Lewis, Puopolo, Smith, Osborne, Roughead

Best: Adelaide: Dangerfield, Talia, Reilly, Sloane, Thompson, Vince
Hawthorn: Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis, Gibson, Breust, Smith, Gunston

For the second week in a row, Hawthorn secured a thrilling win to extend its winning streak to five to start the 2013 season.

It was a hard fought win against a gallant Adelaide outfit out to prove it is still a force in season 2013 despite losing its star forward, Taylor Walker to injury.

But it was Hawthorn who outlasted the Crows in a thrilling final quarter despite the Crows playing on their home deck.

Overall, the Hawks had more polish inside 50 than Adelaide and when it was winning the contested footy inflicted maximum damage on the scoreboard.

Adelaide’s inaccuracy, Hawthorn’s efficiency in the first

The Crows controlled the game for the majority of the opening quarter but failed to put score board pressure on Hawthorn. Key forward Josh Jenkins was the main culprit, having three shots on goal in the opening term but failing to record a major.

It wasn’t until Patrick Dangerfield kicked a goal from 55m despite being called to play on in the final minutes of the first term that Adelaide registered their first for the game.

In stark contrast, Hawthorn was accurate in front of goals and found themselves leading midway through the opening term despite Adelaide being in control of the game.

Because of the score board pressure Hawthorn was able to apply though, they found themselves in a commanding position as the siren sounded to end the first quarter.

The Hawks were able to wrestle back ascendency and control the game in the latter stages of the first term by winning the contested ball (37-30) and smashing the Crows at the clearances (15-7).

With a quarter time lead of 22 points, it seemed the Hawks were on their way to a solid victory away from home.

Time and space

It was a completely different game in the second quarter as Hawthorn allowed the Crows too much time and space to use the football.

Dangerfield was doing the damage through the middle, using his speed and skills to spot teammates in scoring positions.

Hawthorn pride themselves on their ability to pressure their opposition and close down space, but the quick ball movement and play on at all costs approach from Adelaide was challenging Alastair Clarkson’s men.

In fact, the Crows were beating Hawthorn at their own game, closing down their time and space and hurting them on the rebound.

The Crows had 123 uncontested possessions compared to 107 at half time and a disposal efficiency of 74.2 compared to 69.5.

But, the most telling stat of the second term was the number of effective kicks the Crows had because the Hawks gave them too much space.

Adelaide had 50 effective kicks in the second term while Hawthorn had just 23. Given the elite skills of the Hawthorn side, that was a huge win for Brenton Sanderson’s side.

The Hawks look rushed

Despite the tackle count being quite low for a game between two sides who pride themselves on their forward pressure and ability to dispossess their opposition, the tackle count was 28-29 at half time and finished at 54-50 in favour at Adelaide at the final siren.

Despite that though, Hawthorn looked rushed with their disposal in the second and third quarters as the Crows implemented a zone defence from its kick ins and out of its forward 50 when it didn’t score.

That defence was troubling Hawthorn and forcing it to rush its possessions and the stats tell the tale.

Players who usually have their disposal efficiency up at 80per cent or more were well down on their season averages.

Sam Mitchell’s efficiency was arguably the most notable as he went at 69 percent, while Josh Gibson went at 74, Grant Birchall 67 and Shaun Burgoyne 62.

The team as a whole too, was down on its kicking efficiency, finishing the game at 61.8 per cent.

Hawthorn’s composure in the last quarter

Luke Breust said after the game the Hawks were able to keep their composure and use the footy better out of its defensive 50 and that helped it secure a crucial win on the road.

But, it wasn’t just the composure out of its back 50 that was telling, it was also the team as a whole’s ability to stay calm when the Crows hit the lead two minutes into the final term.

The Hawks didn’t panic when the Adelaide crowd found full voice and the Crows had all the momentum.

Five minutes after Scott Thompson put Adelaide in front, the Hawks had wrestled back the lead through a soccer goal from Jarryd Roughead.

Then, a further five minutes later, the Hawks were in front by three goals thanks to two Luke Breust goals in 60 seconds.

By the midpoint of the final term, the Hawks had kicked 4.2 to 0.2 in seven minutes as Jack Gunston put his side 25 points in front at the 15-minute mark of the final term.

The Hawks had more polish up forward and stood tall in pressure situations when the Crows fumbled and sprayed shots wide.

Birchall tagged, Franklin goalless

Grant Birchall was effectively tagged out of the match for the second week running. This time, it was Sam Kerridge who kept the Hawks half back to 18 touches and three inside 50s.

Pleasing for Alastair Clarkson though, was the fact that Birchall’s defensive teammates filled the void as his influence on the game was restricted.

Josh Gibson rebounded from the back 50 on seven occasions, while Luke Hodge was instrumental in the midfield and off half back with 29 disposals and seven inside 50s.

Sam Mitchell was also prominent and one of the best playing across half back with 29 disposals, six rebound 50s and six inside 50s.

For the second week in a row, Lance Franklin was held goalless for the first time since his debut season in 2005.

The Hawks spearhead kicked 0.2 and was well held by last year’s rising star winner, Daniel Talia.

Such is Hawthorn’s scoring power though, it has been able to find other avenues to goal, with Jack Gunston the most effective forward on Saturday with three goals.

What the coaches said

Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: “They're tough to beat in Adelaide, they've been under the pump, it was Truck's (Ben Rutten) 200th game … they would have been really fired up and wanted to give a good account of themselves.

"To win in those circumstances, no matter what the margin is an outstanding result for our club.”

Adelaide’s Brenton Sanderson: “The effort's there, the boys crashed and bashed, and there should be some players at our footy club that would be really proud of their performance tonight.

"We gave it everything we had and unfortunately came up short."