1. These things come in threes
Hawthorn's come-from-behind three-point win over Adelaide was its third straight three-point victory. It followed results of the same margin over the Western Bulldogs in round three and St Kilda in round four, and came in dramatic style, with the Hawks kicking three goals in the final eight minutes to snatch the win over the Crows. Adelaide led by 15 points when Luke Brown kicked a long goal at the 18-minute mark and looked set to clinch an important win away from home, before Paul Puopolo, Cyril Rioli and then Puopolo again booted majors. Puopolo won a free kick for a push in the back with a minute to play and coolly slotted the shot from the pocket to be the Hawks' hero. The three-time premiership winners have shown already this season that even when they look beaten, there is always another punch to be thrown.

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2. Eddie's fast start
Eddie Betts was the standout small forward of 2015, but his two quietest days of the season came against Hawthorn. In two outings against Hawks' defender Ben Stratton, Betts could compile just seven kicks and one goal. So all eyes were on Eddie on Friday night, having enjoyed another strong start to this year with 13 goals in the opening four rounds. Betts got the perfect start, kicking more goals in the opening quarter (three) than he had in his previous three games against the Hawks. Stratton held him under guard for most of the remainder of the game (Betts had only four more kicks after the first term), but Betts' impact was vital early in giving the Crows the upper hand and getting them going in a gripping contest. 

3. Little guys, huge impact 
Adelaide's small forward wasn't the only shorter player having a big say on the game. Sam Mitchell gathered 12 disposals for the second quarter (and finished with 31) as Hawthorn slammed on six goals to three to win back the lead after a quarter-time deficit. But just as important was the less heralded Puopolo. The small forward, alongside champion Cyril Rioli, was Hawthorn's spark. The pair combined for a couple of classy goals in the second quarter – Puopolo from a set shot and Rioli from a mid-air kick – and made things happen while Hawthorn's taller targets struggled for impact. Puopolo's five-goal and 23-disposal game was perhaps the best of his career, and Rioli's four-goal bag was also critical. Between them, Puopolo, Rioli and Mitchell were Hawthorn's three best for the night.

4. Friday night goes alright
The AFL would have lamented a couple of average Friday night encounters in recent weeks, but there could have been no such complaints about the quality of the corresponding round five fixture, with the Hawks and Crows putting on a show for footy fans. The high scoring, shoot-out style of play was in keeping with a more attacking brand across the competition in 2016, but there were also clever goals, big marks and moments of brilliance from both teams. And it was like that from the very start. Adelaide and Hawthorn combined for five goals in the first five minutes of the game and kept up the scoring throughout the first half. The frenetic pace caught up with the players in the third quarter when scoring dried a little, but by the final siren there was still 34 goals kicked. More of these games to start the weekend, please. 

5. From the suburbs to the MCG
James Sicily and Jake Lever have this year established themselves as emerging players in the competition. While Sicily's goals have caught the eye – and were match-winning against the Bulldogs two weeks ago – Lever's dependable work in defence has been vital for the Crows. On Friday night the pair lined up on each other, but their stories date back far further. They have been opponents since they were six years old in Melbourne's outer suburbs, with Sicily playing for Sunbury and Lever his opponent for Romsey. The best friends and their families spend holidays together every year and have progressed through the ranks in representative teams, so their match-up had an extra little bit of meaning on Friday night. Sicily finished with two goals, and Lever again played above his years in a confident display.