Digby’s AFL Preview – Adelaide v Hawthorn

Posted on June 21, 2017June 7, 2018 | Posted by Digby Beacham

Thursday, 22 June

Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval 5.50pm

Hawthorn’s most recent visit to Adelaide Oval this year didn’t go well and barring something unforseen, this match isn’t one they will remember all that fondly either. In saying that, there have been a myriad of upsets in 2017 and a Hawks victory against the odds would follow a trend that has left tipsters scratching their heads in disbelief for the most part.

What we do know for sure is Alastair Clarkson will do everything in his power to avoid a shootout. And understandably so. The Hawks don’t have the wheels, arsenal forward of centre or the talent to go head-to-head with the ladder-leading Crows, who resume after their mid-season break in good health and confident.

The absence of Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton deprives Hawthorn’s defence of key components and as we have seen in the past 18 months, anything less than a committed, complete back line can be ruthlessly exposed by an Adelaide forward line featuring Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts, Tom Lynch and Charlie Cameron.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 45 points

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