ADELAIDE has roared home after a tardy start to defeat Hawthorn for the first time since 2011, confirming its credentials as a contender in 2017.
It leaves Hawthorn winless after two rounds for the first time since 2009, the year after their first premiership under Alastair Clarkson and the most recent year they missed finals.
After the Hawks kicked five of the first six goals in the first 15 minutes, the Crows kicked 15 goals to Hawthorn's eight to run out 24-point winners, 16.17 (113) to 13.11 (89).
The comeback was even more meritorious as the Crows had lost key forward Josh Jenkins at the 10-minute mark of the opening term to a rib injury that put him in hospital.
Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs led the fightback, dominating his opponents in the air taking six contested marks while Rory Sloane lifted the pressure around the ball making a club-record 16 tackles.
With the game in the balance in the third quarter, the dancing feet of Eddie Betts went to work and Taylor Walker began to lead at the ball and keep his feet when all around him were falling.
Betts kicked two brilliant goals in the third quarter, either side of marking machine Mitch McGovern, who put the Crows in the lead for the first time at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter.
Betts was running in off the back of the square, losing his opponent in traffic and then bobbing up inside 50.
There were many highlights in the game and the occasional lowlight too.
Paul Puopolo put in an early entry for mark of the year in the second quarter, Betts' banana goal will be nominated for goal of the week, and an umpire laid claim to the worst decision of the year when he inexplicably paid a free kick to Puopolo for in the back midway through the third quarter, right in front of goal.
The Hawks had begun in classic style with 36 uncontested marks in the first quarter but could not maintain the rage, with the Crows keeping them to under 20 uncontested marks in the second half as they closed down their space.
Jaeger O'Meara was impressive with a personal-best 36 disposals, including a remarkable 30 handballs, while Tom Mitchell battled hard.
Luke Hodge had little impact in his return game while Ty Vickery had an ordinary performance being regularly outmarked and lacking confidence.
Once Adelaide began to win the ball on the inside it dominated on the outside using the pace of Charlie Cameron and the evasive skills of Curtly Hampton.
It had too many contributors whereas Hawthorn relied on too few and they have some work to do if they want to play in their eighth consecutive finals series.
NEXT UP
Hawthorn heads to Metricon Stadium to try to steal a win from Gold Coast who will be desperate to knock off the Hawks while Adelaide goes into the Showdown against Port Adelaide in brilliant form.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Grant Birchall copped a knock to the jaw early in the game but he played on only to head off to hospital after the game for scans. Isaac Smith hurt his leg during the third quarter but returned to the ground.
Adelaide: Josh Jenkins was helped off the ground after copping a knock to the ribs at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter. Jenkins had trouble breathing and was taken to Richmond's Epworth Hospital to determine whether he had a punctured lung.
GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Puopolo 3, Roughead 2, Mitchell, Shiels, Vickery, Rioli
Adelaide: Betts 3, Mackay 3, Walker 2, Lynch, Jacobs, Cameron, Atkins, McGovern, Otten, Sloane, Brown
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, O'Meara, Puopolo, Gunston, Burgoyne
Adelaide: Jacobs, Sloane, Smith, Mackay, Crouch, Betts, Talia
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Shiels (left leg), Smith (leg), Birchall (jaw)
Adelaide: Jenkins (ribs)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Nicholls, Mitchell
Official crowd: 37,420 at the MCG
