Live: Crows rocked by stunning Hawks start in sudden-death semifinal

After a couple of massive 50-50 contests, including a beauty between Sicily and Walker on the wing, the Hawks are able to break forward and set up a chance for Weddle to fly.

He came arrived late from the blindside to sail behind the pack and mark. The set shot from 25 was no issue. Hawks extend their lead.

First Mabior Chol misses a very gettable set shot for Hawthorn, then Jordan Dawson took a flying shot on goal when Isaac Cumming had the whole 50 to himself and was screaming for a pass.

Pressure has not dipped at all to start the second quarter. No goals in it yet.

Crazy, crazy first quarter.

In Hawthorn’s insane first couple of minutes and then Nick Watson’s ridiculous goal late in the term, Adelaide largely controlled the game and saw it played on its terms.

But those surges of Hawthorn brilliance have been enough for the Hawks to take a lead into the first change, and you can’t say they don’t deserve it. Jai Newcombe is playing some sort of game in the middle, and everything is stemming from his grunt work.

The Crows won’t be too upset, indeed things looked like they could be heading to a much darker place at one point. But it’s the visitors who lead it early.

Absolute genius from Nick Watson. A burst of pace took him clear of the congestion at the stoppage, his clean hands got him gave him a look at goal but the finish from the pocket – running towards the line and away from goal – was simply special.

“What now?” he says to the crowd, which seemed to include a family of Crows fans happy to smile and applaud. Maybe not the reaction he was expecting.

James Sicily is steaming. He’s ready to take on anyone right now – umpire, opponent, teammate, doesn’t matter. Peatling certainly bought the free with a little drop and shrug, but the umpire bought it.

The set shot was very nice though. Incredibly, it’s 20-20.

The Crows now lead the inside 50 count and are putting the Hawthorn back six under immense pressure. Eventually a forward 50 stoppage brings the second goal.

Walker plucked it out, handballed over the top to Keays in space and let him do the rest. Tidy left-footed snap for goal.

Right, so this is now officially a better start for Adelaide than the last time these two teams met, if you can believe it. Thilthorpe’s goal ends the Hawks’ opening salvo at three goals, rather than the five from that round 21 game.

They have settled though, Adelaide. Dawson is finding plenty of the ball and they managed to set up well defensively to force those repeat looks on goal. Eventually a lead and mark from Thilthorpe brought the chance, and he doesn’t miss many.

A rushed behind gives Adelaide its first score, but more importantly it comes after a few repeat entries and an extended period of field position.

Crucial thing for the Crows is that they keep their nerve. After round 21, they’ll know very well there is still a route to victory in this game.

This is absurd! The Crows can’t get hands on the footy and look terrified of what is already unfolding around them.

An insufficient intent free at half-back gave Ginnivan the footy. He squared his pass inboard to Amon, who took his time before launching one from all of 55 out. Never looked like missing. Crows absolutely rattled beyond belief here.

We’ve only played 37 seconds! Jai Newcombe won his second centre clearance of the game, some chaos broke out inside the Hawthorn attacking 50 and the Wizard was the right man to cash in.

He sharked the handball, steadied and slotted from 40 out. Simply incredible start from the Hawks.

This crowd is absolutely pumping now. At least until Jai Newcombe is awarded a free kick within two seconds of the opening bounce.

The long ball comes in, Gunston is left all alone at the back of the pack and he had a very simple snap from 25 out. What a start for Hawthorn! It only took 21 seconds.

The Welcome to Country and national anthem have been well observed, concluded with the sort of roar you only find at footy grounds come September.

A final huddle, final handshakes between coaches, final deep breaths. This semifinal is ready to go.

Hearty roars for both sides, but clearly the bulk of the noise comes for the Crows who are tonight chasing their first finals win for eight years. The pressure is all on them tonight.

This was a bad night to be a score worm.

Round 21 was the last time Adelaide played Hawthorn, at Adelaide Oval as we are tonight. Adelaide ended up winning by 14 points, but that doesn’t tell half the story.

The Hawks kicked the first five goals of the game, only for the Crows to respond with the next eight. Then the Hawks managed another surge to take the lead back by three-quarter-time, before the Crows came home with a wet sail to pinch the points.

It was a bad game, end to end and with some of the biggest fluctuations we saw all year. Let’s hope for something similar tonight.

A bit of news from around the league. This afternoon Melbourne announced it had appointed its new coach, with Geelong assistant Stephen King to take the reins at the Demons.

King will continue in his role as midfield coach at the Cats until their season ends before beginning life as Simon Goodwin’s successor.

Not many better places in the country to host a game of this magnitude.

The home crowd advantage wasn’t enough for Adelaide last week, can it lift the Crows this time out? The Hawks fans have certainly travelled in numbers, as you may expect. Atmosphere not going to be an issue this evening.

At the end of a brilliant home and away season, last week’s qualifying final defeat to Collingwood was a significant blow for Adelaide. Without the spark of Izak Rankine, the Crows were too often flat and lifeless against the Pies and the forward line trio of Thilthorpe, Walker and Fogarty failed to ignite. A lot will need to be immediately improved tonight to avoid a similar fate against the Hawks.

Hawthorn was a more inconsistent bet throughout the year, finishing eighth and leaving itself the long way home to a premiership. The challenge isn’t daunting the Hawks though, and the performance against the Giants was one filled with confidence and swagger – except for a random 20 minute period in which they fell to bits entirely and nearly blew the game. But they didn’t, and they will believe they are the sort of team capable of a run to a flag from outside the top four.

At home the Crows should be favourites, but as always in the second week of finals the team with momentum feels like a good thing. I certainly wouldn’t want to be facing the Hawks in this one.

No late changes for either side.

There was one change each named earlier in the week. Adelaide is delighted to be welcoming Josh Rachele back into the fold, with Hugh Bond making way for him. The Hawks have lost Calsher Dear to a hamstring problem, with big Mitch Lewis in to replace him in the forward line.

Rachele will start as Adelaide’s sub, Changkuoth Jiath will wear the vest for Hawthorn.

Hello, and welcome to ABC Sport’s live blog coverage of the 2025 AFL finals series. There are no tomorrows left for any of our remaining teams, with that sense of jeopardy keenly felt by both of tonight’s sides.

It’s the first semifinal, and for Adelaide and Hawthorn their 2025 dreams are on the line. The Crows are at risk of a straight sets exit, something which would come with some embarassment for the minor premiers. The Hawks were impressive in victory over the Giants last week and have visions of keeping this run alive, on the same stage where their campaign ended this time last year.

The reward for the winner is a preliminary final against Geelong. The result for the loser is a long, long summer of what-ifs and regrets. These are two entertaining and attacking teams, setting up a potential final to remember. Stick around and keep me company as we enjoy it together.