The Adelaide Crows will confront the Hawthorn Hawks in a pivotal AFL semifinal at the Adelaide Oval, where both teams have everything to play for. The Crows locked away their status as minor premiers during this season. Yet now, they must contend with the possibility of a sudden departure from the finals series. At a complete opposite end of the spectrum, eighth-placed Hawthorn look to extend their fairytale run into a shot at the premiership.
As the two teams get ready for their rematch, the race is still just as heated. The winner of this semifinal will face Geelong in a preliminary final, placing added pressure on both teams. Adelaide enjoys the home-ground advantage as well, which helps make the atmosphere at Adelaide Oval an electrifying experience. This tidal wave of enthusiasm is sure to be a huge boost to the Crows!
Adelaide’s Challenge
History doesn’t necessarily favour the Adelaide Crows as minor premiers – they have work to do yet. They’ll need to immediately address their failures following a dismal showing in their most recent game. The forward line trio of Thilthorpe, Walker and Fogarty didn’t set the world on fire, and combined with other areas, this was a team searching for a spark. Key player Izak Rankine needs to step up and deliver. He will have to take the captaincy reins if Barlow’s men hope to put in a better performance than last week against Hawthorn.
As their coach, Matthew Nicks, has frequently stated, executive improvement is vital to their game plan. We just have to come out stronger,” he said. “We know what’s at stake and how crucial this game is for our season.” Rachele will make a perfect replacement for the Crows. This tactical play can provide them the strategic upper hand later in the game.
Hawthorn’s Road to Victory
Hawthorn comes into this semis with the understanding that they need to go the hard way home in order to claim the premiership. The team had been incredibly resilient all season long. They come out of the gate prepared to take advantage of any chink in the armor their adversaries show. Mabior Chol is also likely to feature heavily in Hawthorn’s plans. The versatile forward can provide attacking options as well as defense.
The Hawks would know they have the ability to turn any momentum earned from the past few weeks’ performances to put the Crows on the back foot. The new head coach has done a wonderful job cleaving an extreme assurance within his crew. He insists that they are able to test Adelaide, even at their home base. Changkuoth Jiath will wear the vest for Hawthorn, signalling his emerging role as an important part of the team’s plans on- and off-field.
The Importance of Momentum
As we get closer to the match, the importance of momentum can’t be overlooked. Teams usually have an upper hand in finals if they come in with the momentum of previous wins. The Crows start as the $1.48 favourites at home for the second week in a row. They have to get the doubt about their past performances out of their minds.
While the road hasn’t always been smooth for Hawthorn, their experience has fostered an invaluable resilience within the team. Like any good rivalry match, both teams know that this semifinal will likely make or break each squad’s season. With a grand final date against Geelong on the horizon, no player can afford a poor performance.
