1. Crows break the hoodoo
After a tight first half, Adelaide found their mojo in the third term and then blew the game wide open in the fourth. The Crows kicked 11 goals to the Hawks' five in the second half, beating Hawthorn for the first time since 2011. Crows big man Sam Jacobs was outstanding in the ruck and an imposing figure when he pushed forward. With the new ruck rule, the Hawks had no answer for Jacobs, as he dominated for four quarters. The ruckman finished the game with 43 hit-outs, took six marks and had 15 touches around the ground, and was the catalyst for the Crows midfielders being able to gain the ascendency in the second half.
Match highlights from Round 2
2. Umpires under the pump
After Friday night, the umpiring department would have been hoping for a controversy free day at the MCG. But 19 minutes into the third term, football fans were left shaking their heads after Hawk Paul Puopolo was paid a confusing free kick in front of goal. Crow David Mackay tackled Puopolo in the Hawk's attacking 50, rolling him to the side and then locking the ball in. To most, it was a perfectly executed tackle, but the umpire in charge, saw it differently, blowing his whistle and paying a free kick for 'in the back'. It was one of the more bizarre decisions, and one that didn't go unnoticed on social media with fans inciting a twitter frenzy and former coach Paul Roos calling it; "as bad a decision as you will ever see in a game of football".
3. The Jaeger-bomb arrives
The highly-prized Hawthorn recruit arrived at Waverley from the Gold Coast with a mountain of pressure on his shoulders. Having not played a senior game in almost two years Jaeger O'Meara was a huge unknown heading into season 2017. But the midfielder appears to have put his knee issues behind him and after a serviceable performance in round one against the Bombers, he backed it up with career-high figures. O'Meara had 36 disposals, surpassing his previous best tally of 32 achieved at the Suns back in round 14, 2013, coincidentally against the Crows. It's just the fourth time in his short career that he has gathered 30 possessions or more.
4. Crow taken to hospital
The Crows lost Josh Jenkins in the opening term when he clashed with Hawthorn debutant Teia Miles during a marking contest at the 10-minute mark. The key forward fell to the ground, immediately clutching the left side of his rib cage. He walked gingerly from the ground in the hands of trainers and was taken straight into the rooms. Several minutes later paramedics followed to assist the Crows' medical staff. With Jenkins struggling to breath, he was taken to Epworth hospital in Richmond for further treatment.
5. Poppy flies
He might be pint-sized, but Hawthorn forward Paul Puopolo sure can jump. The 29-year-old took a spectacular mark in the second quarter, which most certainly will be a contender for mark of the year. Puopolo launched himself on the wing, riding up on the shoulders of Crow Josh Kelly, and plucking the ball from the sky. It was a magnificent grab and one of the highlights of the match.
