Hawthorn will return to their first preliminary final in a decade after a win over Adelaide in South Australia on Friday night.

The Hawks flew out of the gates in enemy territory, booting the opening three goals of the contest in just over two minutes to set the tempo. After the Crows fought back to level the scores midway through the first quarter, the game was Hawthorn's from there.

Sam Mitchell's men won all four quarters of the game, often finding an immediate response to anything the Crows threw their way.

Veteran goalkicker Jack Gunston kicked five goals from eight scoring shots and 16 disposals, including three majors in the third term.

Hawthorn's Mr. September, Jai Newcombe, continued his stellar finals form, collecting 28 disposals, eight clearances, 10 score involvements, six intercept possessions and a goal while moving the ball at 92.9 per cent efficiency. 

Newcombe's six centre clearances rivalled Adelaide's tally for most of the game, with the Crows ending their evening with 10. 

The loss for the Crows saw them become the first side since 1983 to lose in straight sets after claiming the minor premiership.

Here's how the semi-final unfolded...

MATCH STATS >>> ADELAIDE VS HAWTHORN MATCH CENTRE

Crows vs Hawks LIVE:

 2025-09-12T09:40:00Z 
Hawthorn WON BY 34 POINTS
Adelaide Oval
ADEL   
67
FT
101
   HAW
    #AFLCrowsHawks
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   

Quarter 4

Adelaide: 10.7. 67
Hawthorn: 14.17.101

4:38 - A late goal that comes with a silent crowd that's slowly dropping in numbers for the home fans. Rachele pops up for another ripping goal, but it's too late to get excited about. 

9:18 - The Hawks ice it with half a quarter remaining. Newcombe caps off another big final with a long-range set shot, and it seems the Crows don't have the legs to keep up now. 

12:13 - Josh Weddle emerging as a danger man up front late for the Hawks, this time assisting Sam Butler's second for the night. The goal puts the lead out to 39 points. 

16:46 - Rachele makes an impact in his return, kicking the ball off the ground near the pocket to try and keep the Crows in this one. Still an uphill battle but not out of the question for Adelaide. 

18:50 - Gunston gets his fifth after finding space out the back and winning a front-on contact free kick in a marking contest atop the goal square. Not the start to the fourth term the Crows were after. 

Quarter 3

Adelaide: 7.7.49
Hawthorn: 11.13.79

The Hawks have remained on top of this one, with every response the Crows wrestle for often receiving a reply of its own by the Hawks, and then some. Jack Gunston continues to wind back the clock, booting four goals for the game and three in the third term. 

1:20 - The back and forth continues as Thilthorpe gets his third of the night, reducing the Hawks' lead to 30 points. 

2:44 - And it's the Hawks with the response once more, with a tricky ball forward dropped by the Crows to allow Butler an easy chance 20 metres out.

3:59 - Adelaide's pressure gives them a momentum starter, as Pedlar pings Jiath holding the ball near the goal square. The young Crow is quick to grab the ball and bend it through to give his side a heartbeat before the last break.  

6:10 - Gunston gets his third for the term as he pulls this game away from the Crows. His latest goal being a long-range set shot to deny Adelaide the chance of two in a row. 

10:03 - A much-needed major for Adelaide, who set up a chance through Darcy Fogarty. The clean-kicking Crows forward slots a long set shot to reduce the gap to under five goals. 

SUB MADE - Mitch Lewis has been replaced by Changkuoth Jiath (tactical). 

12:17 - Hawthorn are beginning to take this one out of reach of the Crows, with Macdonald the latest to add to the goalkickers column with a chance out the back of a front-half contest. Hawks by 33. 

16:33 - The Hawks return serve through Gunston once more after Worpel creates some space and lowers his eyes to find the sharpshooting forward in a similar spot to his last goal. Gunston's conversion was a carbon copy of his earlier major. 

17:53 - A quick reply from the Crows through Thilthorpe, who calmly converts a not-so-simple set shot from just inside 50 on a tough angle. 

18:59 - The Hawks get the half started on the right foot, with a Karl Amon entry inside 50 finding the hands of Jack Gunston. The veteran spearhead kicks his second of the night from 35m out on a slight angle. 

SUB MADE - Mitch Hinge has been subbed out of the game with an ankle injury. Josh Rachele has taken his place. 

Quarter 2

Adelaide: 3.6.24
Hawthorn: 6.7.43

Both sides were inaccurate, but the Hawks can be left feeling frustrated that they're not ahead by more. The travelling side have been strong at centre clearance, having won eight of the first nine for the game. The Crows have cost themselves with some poor ball use at both ends of the field, struggling to get a hold of any momentum on offer. 

2:39 - An error in defence from the Crows sees Jai Newcombe pounce on a dropped ball, with the Hawks' hard nut getting a handball to Dylan Moore on the run for an easy goal. 

3:49 - Walker misses his second shot on goal this term with a snapping set shot that fails to find the target. That makes it one goal and six behinds for the quarter from both sides. 

INJURY WATCH - Crows defender Mitch Hinge has come to the interchange with a lower leg concern following a marking contest. 

Note - The Crows are managing to hold up the Hawks' attacking onslaught, just. Milera and Worrell with 11 intercepts between them, helping keep Hawthorn to 10 scores from their 24 inside 50s so far. 

14:08 - The Hawks snap the deadlock in the second term, with a transition run through the middle seeing a long ball forward to a fairly open forward 50, where Josh Weddle is waiting to fly at the footy. His strong grab sets up a straight forward set shot and goal. 

Note - Some missed chances at both ends of the field has slowed the scores, but pressure between the arcs has lifted.

Quarter 1

Adelaide: 3.2.20
Hawthorn: 4.4.28

The Hawks started the term in style, booting the first three goals in just over two minutes. The Crows steadily turned the game back toward some parity before Nick Watson's second goal put the buffer out past a major.

Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe has continued his stellar September form, collecting six clearances, seven contested possessions, 187 metres gained and two score involvements from his 11 touches at over 90 per cent efficiency. 

2:32 - Some magic from 'The Wizard', who was pressed towards the right side boundary line but manages to bend one through the big sticks on the run. Hawks by 7. 

7:34 - Peatling wins a high free kick after a tackle attempt from James Sicily, who vents his frustration with the umpire and even Lloyd Meek. Peatling, from 30m out on a 45-degree angle, kicks truly. 

12:27 - The Crows get their first of the night after moving through the middle of the ground and hitting up Riley Thilthorpe 40 metres from goal. His set shot is pinpoint and gets the crowd out of their seat. 

Hot hand - Jai Newcombe is already kicking his feet up on the interchange, having three clearances and four contested possessions from his four disposals in the opening few minutes.  

17:50 - Make that BANG! BANG! BANG! The Hawks get a free kick 70m out on the boundary and look inboard, finding Amon, who launches one from distance and converts the Hawks' third.

A hot start for the Crows, who have quickly gotten on top in the middle and have consistently been a threat in the front half. Their talls are looking too much for Adelaide's defenders, while the ground ball game is likely to favour Sam Mitchell's men. 

19:25 - BANG! BANG! The Hawks get another in a flash via Nick Watson. The clearance goes the Hawks' way once more, with a bouncing entry ball popping up for 'The Wizard', who delivers from 30m out. 

19:41 (remaining) - BANG! It takes the Hawks just 19 seconds to get the first goal of the game. A free kick in the middle of the ground gets the away side some real estate, with a crumbing Lloyd Meek finding Jack Gunston by hand, with the veteran snapping truly. 

Pre Game

Adelaide have named Josh Rachele as their tactical sub for tonight, with the Hawks electing Changkuoth Jiath as theirs.

As for team selection for the week, the Crows have welcomed the return of Rachele following his extended absence with a knee injury. The lively forward has replaced shutdown defender Hugh Bond. indicating a return to the backline for Max Michalanney.

The Hawks were forced into their sole change for tonight's game, with young, tall Calsher Dear ruled out of this week's action at least with a hamstring injury. Sam Mitchell has called on recently axed forward Mitch Lewis, who is set to play his seventh game of the year following recovery from an ACL injury.

The two sides last met in August, with the Crows handling the Hawks on their home deck to the tune of 14 points, while the result was reversed in Round 14 when Hawthorn clinched a close win over Adelaide in Tasmania.