Adelaide vs Hawthorn AFL finals LIVE: Crows roll the dice with their sub choice, Hawks’ chance to pounce

1 day ago 6

Adelaide’s assignment: Footy history to avoid

7.27pm

Photos: Pre-match build-up

Young and passionate Adelaide fans get set for the match.

7.24pm

Finals selection news

Almost a year after his AFL grand final heartbreak, Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney has earned a recall for the Lions’ semi-final Q Clash with Gold Coast at the Gabba.

And in selection news for Friday night’s semi-final at Adelaide Oval, Hawthorn have recalled forward Mitch Lewis for the injured Calsher Dear (hamstring), while the Crows have recalled Josh Rachele (knee).

The Lions have opted for a genuine two-ruck strategy for Saturday night’s meeting with Gold Coast.

It means McInerney, who missed last year’s premiership triumph over Sydney after dislocating his shoulder in the preliminary final, might get a chance at winning the flag this season.

McInerney, who replaces Sam Day in the side, will team up with Darcy Fort in a one-two ruck punch against star Suns big man Jarrod Witts.

Witts tallied 21 disposals, 44 hitouts and eight clearances in a huge display against Fremantle’s ruck pairing of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson last week.

The gracious way McInerney accepted his grand final fate last year won him a legion of fans, and teammate Jarrod Berry praised the 31-year-old.

AAP

See the AFL semi-finals teams HERE

7.21pm

A chance to reminisce

Remember this AFL classic finals finish in 2007?

7.15pm

The substitutes tonight

Adelaide have made a fascinating choice. They’ve opted for Josh Rachele as their sub in his return match from injury. It’s quite a similar situation to last week when the Giants went for Josh Kelly as their designated replacement player on the bench.

7.10pm

That man, Jack Ginnivan

Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan gave the finger to Adelaide fans last time he visited Adelaide Oval.

Ginnivan is never far from the spotlight.

7.02pm

Today’s footy news … Melbourne has a new King

Steven King’s outstanding presentation and “clarity” about how the Demons would play were key factors in his surprise choice as Melbourne’s new senior coach.

In confirming the choice of King, ahead of four other candidates including Collingwood great and grand final coach Nathan Buckley, Melbourne chief executive Paul Guerra said it had not been an easy decision, given there were “five quality candidates” for the job in the end.

According to a separate source with knowledge of the discussions, Buckley had informed the Demons that he would be meeting with Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale next week.

Buckley had been the perceived favourite for the Melbourne job, and is now a frontrunner to be inaugural coach of the Devils, who are slated to enter the competition in 2028.

Guerra said King’s “presentation was a standout ... [he had] real clarity about how he wanted to play the game”.

Read the full story from Peter Ryan and Jake Niall here

6.45pm

What happened last time?

By Scott Spits

It was only a few weeks ago ...

Well, five weeks to be exact. Hawthorn travelled across the border for a clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, and the highly regarded home team got the points. But, in case you’ve forgotten, the man in the spotlight that night was none other than Hawthorn goalsneak Jack Ginnivan.

Jack Ginnivan playing the pantomime villain in Adelaide.

6.33pm

The teams as selected

ADELAIDE
Backs: Josh Worrell 24, Mark Keane 48, Rory Laird 29
Half-backs: Wayne Milera 30, Nick Murray 9, Mitchell Hinge 20
Centres: Isaac Cumming 44, Jordan Dawson 12, Daniel Curtin 6
Half-forwards: Ben Keays 2, Riley Thilthorpe 7, Alex Neal-Bullen 28
Forwards: Zac Taylor 19, Taylor Walker 13, Darcy Fogarty 32
Rucks: Reilly O’Brien 43, James Peatling 25, Jake Soligo 14
Interchange: Josh Rachele 8, Luke Pedlar 10, Sam Berry 3, Max Michalanney 16, Brodie Smith 33
Emergencies: Lachlan Murphy 4, Jordon Butts 41, Billy Dowling 31
In: Josh Rachele
Out: Hugh Bond (omitted)

HAWTHORN
Backs: Josh Battle 24, Tom Barrass 37, Blake Hardwick 15
Half-backs: Jarman Impey 4, James Sicily 6, Massimo D’Ambrosio 16
Centres: Kark Amon 10, Josh Ward 25, Dylan Moore 13
Half-forwards: Connor Macdonald 31, Mabior Chol 18, Nick Watson 34
Forwards: Jack Gunston 19, Mitch Lewis 2, Jack Ginnivan 33
Rucks: Lloyd Meek 17, Jai Newcombe 3, Conor Nash 11
Interchange: Jack Scrimshaw 14, James Worpel 5, Sam Butler 30, Josh Weddle 23, Changkuoth Jiath 9
Emergencies: Luke Breust 22, Cam Mackenzie 28, Ned Reeves 7
In: Mitch Lewis
Out: Calsher Dear (injured)