Thursday Fallout: Hawks turn up the heat on cold Crows

If ever a top six team needed a win, it was Hawthorn on Thursday night.

The Hawks entered Round 11 on the back of a draw and two defeats - a winless run of three that saw them drop back to sixth.

A loss to the Adelaide Crows would’ve seen them tumble further and the heat would’ve been turned up. The Hawks needed to show the footy world they still had a key part to play in the 2026 season.

They trailed by 17 points late in the first term and Sam Mitchell was visibly irate. Not a good start.

But the Hawks rallied on their ‘home’ deck in Launceston - which they’ll soon leave behind - booting five second-quarter goals to crank up the temperature on a cold night. It helped them pull off a 75-66 victory.

Without Jack Gunston they required some nous inside forward 50. Enter Blake Hardwick, more often than not a miserly defender, who kept them in it early before finishing with four goals.

It was just the tonic the Hawkers needed after a few subpar showings.

The Crows bookended the game with strong first and last quarters but the middle phase, when conceding seven goals and kicking only two, ultimately cost them.

They went cold despite having their heater on the bench. It was 6° though.

Matthew Nicks and his men had been making headway with three triumphs on the trot. A win in Tassie would’ve done wonders but a loss was more expected than not given their opponents were chasing 12 in a row at UTAS.

They enter the bye with a 6-5 record which has them holding eighth spot (for now). They'll be sweating on Izak Rankine's calf. Regroup, rest and reset.

The Hawks get no such luxury but they’ll likely be happy with that scenario. Gaining momentum no doubt on the agenda.

Next up is St Kilda which they’ll be expecting to win under the roof. That would take them to 8-1-3 and right in the top four mix.

Andrew Slevison