In a classic at the Adelaide Oval, defending champs Hawthorn defeated Adelaide by a nail-biting three points. Jai Newcombe provided the special moment to win it, hitting a game-winning goal in the final minute. The match, marked by a tense final quarter, saw lead changes and intense pressure as both teams vied for crucial points in the season. With this victory, Hawthorn moved to 9-5 on the season.
It was Jai Newcombe who emerged as the day’s unlikely hero. He scored a critical goal with under four minutes remaining on the clock! A tap-on from Mabior Chol set up the decisive action. Jack Gunston’s handball put Newcombe in on the goal line. He did, took full advantage of the opportunity and scored his team’s go-ahead goal. This left Hawthorn with a three-point lead, with only seven minutes left in the match.
Newcombe ended the game on only 15 disposals and three clearances. What he meant during the most important stretches was inarguable. He had a tough first half, recording just five disposals to half time. Sam Berry wasn’t giving him an inch, restricting him to two disposals for the entire first quarter. After a slow beginning, Newcombe showed growing oomph and circumspection as the game went on.
To say that the last quarter was exhilarating would be an understatement. For 44 nervous moments, no one knew who would emerge victorious from this gridlocked battle. Both teams twice traded the lead in less than a minute. Jarman Impey’s surge forward set up Macdonald for a major, igniting the scoring frenzy that culminated in Newcombe’s winning goal.
Hawthorn maintained their composure after Newcombe’s goal, successfully holding off Adelaide’s attempts to regain the lead for the remaining six minutes of play. By going 3-0 with this victory, Hawthorn scored a key morale boosting victory. It did reveal Newcombe’s knack for delivering in tense moments.
“I think that would have been a very tough penalty to pay in that scenario, but that’s certainly the case Thilthorpe’s trying to make here.” – Alister Nicholson
Evenly matched, the story of the game reflected both teams’ determination and struggle as they battled for a crucial victory. As the final minutes ran off the clock, the realization sank in – Hawthorn really had hit their stride at the perfect time. The crowd went wild as Newcombe’s goal confirmed their destiny, showcasing the unique rollercoaster ride that is Australian rules football.
